[Durham INC] Blues music: annual New Year's party moving to Broad St Cafe (Herald-Sun)

[John Schelp]

Blues music: annual New Year's party moving to Broad St Cafe
By Cliff Bellamy, Herald-Sun, 26 Dec 2008

Since 1996, Denise and Tim Duffy, the cofounders of the Hillsborough-based Music Maker Relief Foundation, have held a holiday house party where everyone gets the blues -- but in a good way. At this annual event, friends and supporters of the foundation would gather at the Duffys' home or the Music Maker office to hear some music from artists who have benefited from the foundation's work. 

On New Year's Eve, the Duffys will make that gathering public for the first time when they team up with Broad Street Cafe to present an evening of blues beginning at 8 p.m. Musicians who are on the bill will be familiar to local blues fans, particularly those who attend Music Maker's summer Warehouse Blues series of free concerts. Performers include Cool John Ferguson, John Dee Holeman, Book Hanks, Captain Luke, Macavine Hayes and The Rip It Ups. 

Other artists not on the bill -- like Sol Creech and Big Ron Hunter -- heard about the party and expressed an interest in performing, and likely will be at the Wednesday event, said Tim Duffy. "Probably the best North Carolina traditional blues artists who are alive are going to be there," he said. 

The house party has become a family event for the Duffys and Music Maker, said Denise Duffy. "Many of these artists are people we worked with before the foundation came about. ... They really are like family for us. A lot of the supporters who will be there also are like family to us," she said. 

In keeping with that philosophy, the Duffys have priced the evening modestly ($20), and say that children are welcome. 

Music Maker Relief Foundation raises money to help musicians who play blues and other forms of traditional American music meet basic expenses. The foundation also supplies CDs, instruments, booking services and tour support. 

Wednesday's event, however, is not really a fundraiser. "We're just trying to cover costs and celebrate in Durham," Tim Duffy stressed. "No one is making money here. ... It's a community event." 

Added Denise: "The artists love to perform ... and we wanted to keep it affordable for the community, and we're doing it because we all want to be together." 

The city of Durham already is talking to Music Maker about renewing the Warehouse Blues series in 2009. And depending on the success of Wednesday's New Year's Eve party, Tim Diffy said there's a chance it too will repeat next year. 

-> Doors open at 8PM, music begins at 9PM. Tickets include hors d'oeuvres and complimentary midnight champagne toast.