Pre-jam entertainment: "We invite the winners of our Dayton Blues Challenge to come to our Christmas Party and play a set each before the jam starts. We've got some really good acts. Joe Tellmann, who is going back down to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis as our Youth Showcase representative, will start things off at 7 o'clock. Then we've got Dan Holt, who won the solo/duo category at our Dayton Blues Challenge earlier this year."
Double trouble: "We've also got Johnny Fink & the Intrusion, who represented Cincinnati in Memphis last year. He won the solo/duo category in Cincinnati this year and then signed his band up for the Dayton challenge and won that too. That's amazing. It's a heck of a tribute to his talent."
Music with friends: "We've done the Christmas Party Jam every year since we started the organization. There's no cover charge. We just get together each December and try to have a good time. We've had the Christmas Party at a few places. This is the first year doing the party at the Phone Booth Lounge but we have the Youth Showcase there every year and they're really good to us."
Open stage: "We normally have a good turnout for the Christmas Jam, which starts around 9:30. It's an open jam but I'll usually call around. I'll make special invitations to a few people but anybody can come in, write their name down and perform. You never know who is going to walk through the door. It's a lot of fun and a lot of Christmas cheer."
Busy season for blues: "This is a busy time of year for Dayton Blues Society. We have shows in December, January and February. The Christmas Party will give people a sneak peek at the acts before they perform with Stacey Mitchhart at our annual Winter Blues Showcase at Gilly's on Jan. 21. Then we have the Youth Showcase at the Phone Booth on Feb.18. We've got a few other things working. We're trying to keep our hand in the cookie jar so to speak so we're still involved."
WANT TO GO?
What: Dayton Blues Society's Christmas Party and Blues Jam with the Joe Tellmann Band, Dan Holt and Johnny Fink & the Intrusion
Where: Phone Booth Lounge, 1554 E. Stroop Road, Kettering
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Blues jam at 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.daytonbluessociety.com
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