8th Annual Freedmen's Colony Blues Jam [Concert Preview]
The 8th Annual Freedmen’s Colony Blues Jam will be held on Friday, February 17th starting at 7:00 p.m. featuring performances by Ironing Board Sam, Big Ron Hunter and the local band Old Enough to Know Better. Click here to join the official event page on Facebook.
This will be Ironing Board Sam’s first appearance on the Outer Banks.
Born in South Carolina in 1939, Sam invented his ‘button board,’ a homemade portable keyboard which he mounted to an ironing board that simulated the Hammond B3 organ sound in the 1950s.
Click here to listen to “Cherry Pie” by Ironing Board Sam!
His memorable stage acts into the 1970s ranged from performing his blues show underwater in a 1,500 gallon tank to appearing on the streets of New Orlean’s French Quarter inside a giant eight-foot tall homemade wooden jukebox. His wild shows often included a drummer who would ignite his drumsticks on fire during their performances, at which time Sam was billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and also performed with a toy monkey named “Little George” who would drum along with the rhythms of his keyboard during solo performances.
- Ironing Board Sam in action
Watch Winston-Salem native Big Ron Hunter doing Muddy Waters’ “Blow Wind Blow” using the player below!
Moving from its former venue, this year’s show will be in the auditorium of the College of the Albemarle Roanoke Island Campus, Manteo, NC. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at either of the Front Porch Cafe locations, The Music Store and at Radio Shack.
Below is a flashback of the late blues legend David “Honeyboy” Edwards (1915-2011), photographed by Matt Artz at the 2nd Annual Freedmen’s Colony Blues Jam on February 17, 2006.
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Will there be beer?
Event organizers tell us there will be no beer or refreshments this year. Sorry.