Free Blues Show Happening at the Central Library, Celebrating Its 40th Birthday

It's a blues and BBQ birthday bash! Loud at the Library (L@L) and the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) host Earl "Guitar" Williams and The Juke Band as a part of the Central Library's 40th anniversary. Adding to the celebration, two Art for Everyone exhibitions also feature the show's legendary local performers and more. 

Bring out your family for a free concert and free birthday cake and BBQ while supplies last!

Libraries—More than Meets the Eye

For the first time ever, Loud at the Library proudly presents Earl "Guitar" Williams and The Juke Band for L@L's first blues show! They are performing at the Central Library this Friday night, September 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Williams will be joined by vocalists Elnora Spencer, "Hurricane" Elaine Hudson, and Jock Webb Sr. on the blues harmonica. Williams and Spencer are both inductees in the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame. All of the showcased musicians played regularly at local juke joints the Red Wolf and Gip's Place (which is featured in Roger Stephenson's photography exhibit—more on that later). The Juke Band promises a show you don't want to miss.

Special thanks to the Alabama State Council on the Arts for sponsoring Loud at the Library programs.

In partnership with Loud at the Library, Central Library is hosting the blues show as a part of its 40th birthday celebration as well as games, birthday cake, and BBQ while supplies last.

The best way to celebrate this birthday is with a library card!

It's the perfect program for National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Show us your library card on the way in or take a selfie with your card and one of our props and tag the BPL on socials!

We understand that not everyone is able to get a library card, so this program and the concert are free, open to the public, and welcome to all ages. A library card is not required for entry.

However, the Circulation Department will be open throughout the evening to create cards, update accounts, and accept donations for the Food for Fines campaign. Patrons can also apply for a library card online ahead of the program. 

To apply for a library card, patrons must show their photo I.D. and provide proof of current address. All you need is your driver's license with your current address listed. If you I.D. doesn't have your current address, please bring a piece of mail postmarked within the month that shows your correct mailing address. Other types of photo I.D.s are accepted as well if you don't have a driver's license—check with your library on what is accepted before coming to apply.

Free cards are available for Jefferson County residents, people who work within Jefferson County, residents in temporary shelters, and students attending a local college or boarding school. Residents outside of Jefferson County and businesses may also apply for one if they pay the annual nonrefundable $50.00 fee.

Food for Fines Gives Another Reason to Celebrate 

You can even clear up to $10.00 in late fines off your account by donating shelf-stable foods at the show!

Each year in September for National Library Card Sign-Up Month, the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) hosts the Food for Fines campaign at all JCLC members, including all BPL locations. Food donations are accepted at the Circulation Desk, and each library chooses who they give their donations to. Check with the local food banks in your area to see what items your community needs the most.

Each item donated throughout the month removes $1.00 in fines from the card holder's account, maxing out at $10.00. Fine forgiveness only applies to fines accrued on a card holder's account for returning an item past its due date. Charges for lost or damaged items are not eligible for Food for Fines.

All types of shelf-stable foods—baby food, snack foods, side dishes—are accepted except for:

• Expired food
• Donations must have visible and legible expiration dates
• Open food packages
• Damaged items, including rusted and dented cans

Art for Everyone Features Special Blues Inspired Exhibitions

The Central Library is currently hosting three art exhibits in the Art for Everyone visual art series, including two special blues exhibits.

Leanna Leithauser-Lesley’s retrospective exhibit Shaken by the Roots showcases her needlepoint portraits of jazz and blues musicians. The portraits are in the form of framed pictures, vinyl records, and "story quilts," quilts made with squares featuring different textures, images, or other elements to tell a story. You may see some familiar faces from The Juke Band show in her portraits.

A new photography exhibit opened this month featuring the works of Roger Stephenson. He is the official photographer for the Blues Foundation at its Blues Musician Awards and International Blues Competition. This timely exhibit comes from his vast collection of black-and-white photographs of local and internationally known jazz and blues musicians. Stephenson even captured the heyday of Bessemer's juke joint, Gip's Place.  

Nelson Grice rounds out the trio of featured artists. He created the 15-foot, 2800-pound bronze statue of Miss Fancy in Avondale Park. Nelson's exhibit displays his chimerical ceramic and bronze sculptures. Each piece is assembled from mismatched replicas of various creatures' body parts. 

All the featured artists and exhibits are listed below:

• Lobby Gallery
• Things Great & Small: Sculptures by Nelson Grice
• First Floor Gallery
• Shaken by the Roots by Leanna Leithauser-Lesley
• Fourth Floor Gallery 
• Stop, Look & Listen by Roger Stephenson

Join the Central Library again the next day on Saturday, September 14, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for an artists reception to chat with the artists over light refreshments. Select exhibition works may be for sale at the reception, and the artist will receive 100% of all sales but may choose to donate a portion of the proceeds to the BPL. All of the exhibits and the reception are free and open to the public.

The Art for Everyone visual art series is made possible by sponsorship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. 

Event Details

• Event: Earl "Guitar" Williams & The Juke Band
• Date: Friday, September 13, 2024
• Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
• Location: Birmingham Public Library | 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Details: Loud at the Library and the Birmingham Public Library hosts Earl "Guitar" Williams and The Juke Band at the Central Library as a part of its 40th birthday celebration. There will be a live blues show, birthday cake, and BBQ while supplies last! At the celebration, patrons can get their library card, update their account, or donate canned goods to the Food for Fines campaign to waive up to $10.00 in late fines off their account for National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Coordinating Art for Everyone exhibits depicting the musicians are available for viewing during the program in the First Floor Gallery and the Fourth Floor Gallery. Attend the artists reception at the Central Library on the next day, Saturday, September 14, 3:00–5:00 p.m. The concert and celebration are intended for all-ages, and all the above programs are free and open to the public. Loud at the Library and Art for Everyone are sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Free parking is provided to patrons in the parking lot attached to the Central Library's East Building.

Visit the Birmingham Public Library's online Calendar to see more of our programs, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more updates. 

By Cheyenne Trujillo | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Public Relations Department