What is the Blues? with Catherine Russell Tickets

In this hour-long interactive concert, families will learn all about the fundamental musical concept known as “the blues.” With support from a soulful live band, this afternoon performance will be hosted by the charismatic Catherine Russell, named “the best blues singer today” by the Wall Street Journal.

The blues is one of the most foundational and widespread traditions in music—and it can mean a lot of different things! Audiences will enjoy live performances of songs from across the genre's history, and the band will demonstrate how the music is structured, illustrate “blue notes” with their improvised solos, and lead the crowd in some lively call-and-response as Russell sings about what it means to have the blues.

Though the blues is its own genre of music, it’s also a core component of jazz and one of the roots of popular American music as a whole. Make sure you’re in Rose Theater to sing along when Catherine Russell and the band answer that classic question for budding music lovers: “What is the blues?”