Tonight (Friday, July 30) at Off Broadway you can catch a special screening of M for MISSISSIPPI, a road trip documentary that explores the birthplace of the Blues.  Originally released two years ago this will be the first public screening in St. Louis for the the winner of the 2009 Blues Music Award for DVD of the Year.  After the screening there will be a special performance by Terry “Harmonica” Bean.  I love the Blues (my left ear is still messed up thanks to Buddy Guy’s insanity years ago) and always have so I’m dying to see this movie. 

Living in St. Louis I feel like exploring the roots of the Blues helps to give us all a better understanding of how music has developed over time.  There’s a rich musical history here in St. Louis  that should be kept alive.  In that vain make sure to take part in Bluesweek, a 10-day celebration that begins on August 26 with the Blues Society Cocktail Reception ($10 at the door w/ complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres) at Union Station’s Grand Hall and continues with the Saint Louis Bluesweek Festival August 27-28 at the steps of the Peabody Opera House (free to the public).  You can also take part in the Soulard Blues Cruise the weekend of September 3-4, which features 10 bands in 10 bars for $10 each night.  Here’s a couple of trailers for the movie, it looks like a must-see to me.