A weekly informal blues jam session in historic East Austin with open mic, food trucks, and a suggested donation.
Blue Monday Blues Jam happens every Monday at Kenny Dorham's Backyard, 1106 E. 11th Street in East Austin. It's a long-running weekly tradition in the neighborhood, an informal blues hangout that's as much about the community as it is about the music. The jam is open mic, so if you play, you can get up there and join in.
The venue itself is an outdoor music space and community garden managed by Diverse Arts, and it's named after Kenny Dorham, the legendary jazz trumpeter. The whole place is built around East Austin's cultural history, and that comes through in the atmosphere—it's an open-air spot with food trailers, community gardens, and art scattered around. It's the kind of place where you can grab something to eat from the trucks and just hang out while the music goes on.
Because it's a jam session, the night is built on local talent and deep grooves rather than a set list. It's a rootsy, low-pressure environment where the music comes from whoever shows up with an instrument. If you're not playing, it's still a good spot to spend a Monday evening listening to the neighborhood's blues players work things out in real time.
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Entry is a $5 suggested donation, and since it's a weekly thing, you don't have to time it perfectly—if you miss one Monday, there's another the following week. The food trailers are on-site, so you can eat and drink while you listen. It's a casual, open-air night in historic East Austin, and it's open to anyone who wants to hear some blues.
