In the fall of 2004, on Monday nights, I would frequent a place called “Jim’s”…you might have heard of it. Upon entering, I was often greeted by the friendly owner, Jim, a guy named Karl, and bartender Pat. I’d belly-up to the bar, order a slice of pizza and a cold Shipyard Export and find a table. A group known as The Waiters would then perform and absolutely charm and capture the audience. Consisting of Miss Evan, Bernie, Al and others, they would play everything from jazz standards to soul to contemporary music and always left us satiated, yet excited about the next Monday night. Sadly, Jim’s closed in January 2005 and Mondays vanished like a Maine summer. Blue arrived on the scene on Friday, April 29, 2005 and later saw the long-awaited return of Miss Evan, Bernie, & Al with various guest musicians (i.e., trumpeters, bassists, drummers, etc.) to this venue known as Blue, formerly Jim’s.
~ Barry P. Martin, Proprietor of Blue

Ed is one of America's finest fiddlers in the Scottish and Cape Breton styles. His playing was heavily influenced by the Cape Breton community in Boston and by native Scots players he brought to town while he was performer and director of the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club from 1981 to 1999.  Ed is a popular fiddle instructor in Portland and elsewhere; in October, he taught and performed in Scotland at the Blazin Fiddles traditional music camp.  Ed and his son Neil perform in their family band, Highland Soles.  Neil, a talented multi- instrumentalist in his own right, will join Ed on the piano and mandolin.  Neil has not only played Scottish music all his life, but also plays piano in the jazz quartet, Indigo For Now.

Seisún (session) is a tradition throughout Ireland, in the town Pubs, where musicians, who are often patrons, gather in a large circle and acoustically perform the traditional music of Ireland. Seisún takes place right here at Blue each and every Wednesday evening around 9:00 P.M. If you have not experienced it, come down to the Blue, have a $3 (20oz) Guinness and enjoy the night.

Pam Baker

Starting out as a solo folk musician in the early 80's, Pam is back to her roots.  Growing up on Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Joan Baez, and a love for the ladies of jazz and blues (Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan), it's no wonder she's back out singing with her guitar.   

Both an outstanding vocalist and an adept performer onacoustic guitar, this able songstress captivates her audience with the intensity of her performance.  Her strong background in blues and contemporary folk music provide a unique twist as Pam offers up the work of blues legends like Bessie Smith to more contemporary performers anding a few of her songs to the mix.

Opening for artists such as Savoy Brown, Tab Benoit, Coco Montoya, Debbie Davies, Popa Chubby, James Montgomery and Duke Robillard, Pam weaves a spell around her audiences, capturing and holding their attention. 

Meghan Yates

“Her songs come from a true desire to bring her audiences closer to themselves, to get something to happen, to move people into an awareness of the moment and their experience." Steven Williams...."Haunting"...."Meghan Yates is like nothing you or anyone anywhere has ever heard. She is a classic original voice in the sense that billie or sarah or lena had classic, original voices. I never got to hear billie or sarah or lena live, but I have listened to Meghan Yates. and therefore I have gotten goosebumps hearing them all roil gloriously back at me.. all at once.. from one voice. American music will be reminded through Meghan of its true history and purpose, and its about damn time."

The Mutineers

The Mutineers play traditional folk, blues and old-time country music.  With the necessary ingredients (guitar, mandolin, acoustic bass, dobro, banjo) the songs are adapted and arranged in ways that are at once traditional and unique. The songs are selected, arranged and sung by Stuart MacDonald, who has been collecting, learning and playing traditional folk music for a number of years. He is joined by multi-talented stand-up acoustic bassist Rod Pervier. Rod has a wealth of musical experience and is an accomplished, and highly sought-after musician, playing contra dances and other events. Dick Hodges rounds out the trio with tasteful mandolin, dobro and lead guitar picking. Having played in a wide variety of bands previously, Dick lends his knowledge & varied musical background.

Sarah Blacker & Tanner Walle

Described as a “unique combination of Ella Fitzgerald and Ani DiFranco,” “the female version of Maynard James Keenan,” “the next Janis Joplin,” “this generation’s Tracy Bonham,” and “the kamikaze karate kid,” people are pleased to find elements of familiarity in her music, yet hold steadfast to the fact that Sarah Blacker possesses a sound all her own.

With the constant, ongoing emergence of singer-songwriters today, it's refreshing to hear an artist who sets himself apart from the rest with such an impeccable, passionate, harmonious voice and entertaining presence. Tanner Walle brings these finely honed skills to the stage as an accomplished and well-established songwriter. Originally from Minneapolis, Kansas (that’s right; Kansas!), Tanner spent his high school years in Phoenix, Arizona on countless stages in theater and performing with his successful band Oddbox. He then returned to the middle of the map to pursue a college degree at the University of Kansas while continuing to perform numerous shows on Lawrence and Kansas City stages. While building his career over the past few years, Tanner has had the opportunity to perform with The Samples, Graham Colton, Pat McGee Band, and numerous good friends from Ari Hest to Marc Broussard, Matt Wertz, and Dave Barnes. With the rapidly growing interest in his unique sound and style, he has decided to pursue a full time career in musical entertainment.

Anyone who has seen this fve time winner of the Best Female Vocalist Award in the Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll sing in any setting knows she delivers with passion and conviction every time she takes a stage. Her CDs have received critical acclaim from publications including The Boston Globe who called Chace's Take Your Shot "a stunning collection of original roots rock, folk, and blues." With her band, Chace has opened for such national acts as Joan Jett, America, Judi Collins, The Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Littlefeat, Delbert McClinton, and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes to name a few. Most recently performing solo acoustic, she tours continually and her ever-increasing fan base continues to be enchanted and inspired by her performances.

Sorcha’s vocal strength and versatility are as captivating as her songs. She is a singer-songwriter whose music has folk roots but often leans toward blues and jazz. Accompanied by acoustic guitar, Sorcha’s voice has been described as “sultry” and “jazzy” (Portland Pheonix) and “luminous…[one of the] driving forces behind her jazz-folk sensibilities” (Portland Press Herald). Her debut CD Balance was released in 2001 and her second album is currently underway. A dynamic performer and inventive lyricist, Sorcha keeps people coming back for more.