Weekly outdoor blues jam session in East Austin, hosted by Harold McMillan and the house band Assorted Chocolates, with food trucks and BYOB.
The Blue Monday Blues Jam is back at Kenny Dorham's Backyard tonight, August 10, from 7 PM to 10 PM. It's an open jam session, hosted by Harold McMillan and the house band Assorted Chocolates, and it's been an East Austin tradition for more than 25 years. The whole point of the night is that it's an outdoor weekly where legends and newcomers share the stage, and the crowd fills in the gaps. If you play, you can sit in; if you don't, you just listen.
The jam is presented by the East Austin Creative Coalition and honors jazz legend Kenny Dorham, the trumpeter who once lived in the neighborhood and whose name the venue bears. The space itself was funded in whole or in part by the City of Austin's Elevate Grant program, and it's more than just a stage—it gathers food trailers, community gardens, and art that nod to the area's cultural history. It's an outdoor spot, so you'll be under the stars rather than inside a dark club.
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It's a family-friendly night and BYOB, with a limited free beer supply, water, and sodas on hand. There are food trucks and covered picnic tables, so you can make a whole evening of it rather than just dropping in for a set. The suggested donation is $5 to $10. It runs every Monday from 7 PM to 10 PM at 1906 E. 12th in East Austin.
