Mix of Art & Blues to be Featured in Local Event to Benefit Alabama Blues Project

The Alabama Blues Project is gearing up to present the '8th Annual Evening of Arts & Blues.'  The event will take place on Saturday October 4th at the Jemison-Van de Graaf Mansion in Tuscaloosa.

The fundraiser features a silent auction of gift items and artwork. Added this year will be a live auction featuring artistically painted instruments by artists featured in the concurrent Bside Art Show (Opening the night before at the Dinah Washington Center) and a live blues painting created by local Bside artist Tony Bratina onsite that night. The artwork featured in the silent auction comes from all over the nation, and includes a variety of mediums. Jamie Presley will serve as auctioneer and Tuscaloosa City Councilman Kip Tyner will serve as emcee during the auction.

The event will also feature live local blues music by the Alabama Blues Project Advanced Band, the ABP's elite students; Simple Interest; and the Infinite Monkey Typing Pool, including members Mark Hughes Cobb, Soapy Jones, Dusty Fields and Jerrell Bowden.

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bar will be available. Advance tickets $25, at the door $30 and $15 for students with a valid ID or 18 and younger. Tickets available at Manna Grocery, Oz Music or at the Alabama Blues Project office. Call 205-752-6263 or email info@alabamablues.org.

The Alabama Blues Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the blues tradition and passing it along to children in underserved areas through afterschool, in-school and summer music programs.