Live Blues in Charlotte NC

I blogged earlier about the Charlotte Blues Festival, that's still happening this weekend. I wanted use this space to call out a joint that has been hosting blues acts since 1973.

It's located in the Elizabeth neighborhood in Charlotte NC, and was established when the neighborhood and Charlotte looked a lot different.

The place started out as a pub - a risky business in Charlotte in 1973. It later hosted local musical acts and then moved on to hosting national acts. The first big show they had was the Dixie Dregs.

Musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughn have played at the Double Door. Their website includes a story about how Eric Clapton came to the bar after his huge show at the Charlotte Coluseum and sat in with one of the bands there.

The Double Door doesn't feature strictly blues anymore. Although most of their acts are bluesy, many cross genres. The sign on their door says blues, rock and zydeco. For those who don't know, zydeco is a folk music from Louisiana. The bar also features alt-country, soul and funk acts. I guess it just doesn't make it these days to have a blues only bar. Maybe it just gets too sad.