Another session of live music kicked off March 1 at RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar.
Blues by Budweiser was sponsored by MK Distributors and featured Jerry McCoy & the Groove Diggers.
The band is fronted by Jerry McCoy on lead guitar and vocals. Other members of the band include Kenneth McDougald on accompanying guitar, Ben Arrington on bass and Dave Williams on drums. The band has been together for four years.
“Before we were the Groove Diggers, there were a couple of different guys in the band and we called ourselves ‘The Space Monkeys,'” McCoy said. “We were informed there is already another band by that name so we changed it to ‘The Hammers.’ With the fellows we have now, we decided on a new name and Groove Diggers just seemed to fit.”
McCoy’s legendary career includes touring and recording with the Allman Brothers Band, performing as a regular member of the Port City Blues Players and recently playing slide guitar with the Tina Cossey Band on their new CD, “Roll With It.”
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Port City Blues Society spokesperson Dave Sadler emceed the event.
“We are so glad to have you here tonight to kick off our new 2025-26 Blues by Budweiser Concert Series,” Sadler said.
He also thanked the proprietors of RJ’s for providing the venue for music and food on the first Saturday of each month.
The group kept the crowd engaged for the entire three hours of high-energy cover numbers as well as an occasional original.
The new Blues by Budweiser Concert Series goes through November with the following upcoming shows:
Fonky Donkey — April 5;
The Arkadelics — May 3;
Chad Marshal Band — June 7;
Tina Cossey Band — July 12;
Kent Burnside Band — Aug. 2;
Big Al & the Heavyweights — Sept. 6;
Garry Burnside Band — Oct. 4;
Charlotte Taylor & Gypsy Rain — Nov. 1.
Shows for December, January and February will be hosted by Joe Spadoni’s Mid-Town Tire & Auto and Foster Towing.
The three shows in the Mid-Town Blues Series are yet to be announced.