“Hurricane” Elaine Hudson Brings the Blues to BPL on September 12
Meet the Tiny Lady With the Big Voice at Books, Blues & BBQ September 12 at the Central Library
BPL's Loud at the Library Presents “Books, Blues & BBQ”
📅 When: Friday, September 12, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
🎶 Who: “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson
💵 Admission: Free & Open to the public
For more information, visit our website www.cobpl.org or follow BPL on social media.
Birmingham, AL – Blues and barbecue are a perfect pairing. When you add books to the mix, it’s a recipe for an unforgettable evening. The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is bringing back its popular Books, Blues & BBQ event on Friday, September 12, at the Central Library downtown.
Headlining this year’s free, public concert is “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson, a Birmingham blues legend inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist in July 2019. She will deliver two hours of original hits and bluesy renditions of classic R&B favorites.
Elaine, known as both “The Hurricane” and “The Tiny Lady with the Big Voice,” is just 4’9.” But when she takes the stage, her voice fills the room with power and soul. Whether performing her originals like “Black Alabama Blues” and “Hard Work Low Pay” or giving her own spin to classics such as “Love Changes,” Elaine’s music blends blues, R&B, and jazz into an unforgettable performance.
A Lifetime of Music Across the Globe
Elaine’s musical journey began at age 12 in a local family band. After joining the Army as a Telecommunications Operator, she found her way into the US Europe Army Band and Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany, where she served for three years. She went on to win 1st Place in the All-Europe Army Star Search (1986), record with Klangk in Germany, and sign a three-year contract with RCA Records in London, releasing her first album in 1990.
From Europe to Birmingham, Elaine has performed in countless venues and collaborated with renowned musicians, eventually forming The Force of Nature in 2012. In 2019, she was inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist.
Most recently, in August 2025, Elaine and her band “The Force of Nature” reunited with Klangk in Germany for a two-show revival and also performed in Cologne before returning to Alabama. Elaine and her band have become crowd favorites while performing at local clubs and festivals.
📚🎶🔥 Books, Blues, and BBQ — A Feast for All the Senses
During the Books, Blues & BBQ concert attendees can:
Watch live performances from Alabama Hall of Fames blues singer "Hurricane" Elaine Hudson
View photos of "Hurricane" Elaine Hudson and other musicians in Tara Stallworth Lee's art exhibit in the Central Library's First Floor Gallery
Enjoy delicious barbecue sandwiches from Full Moon Bar-B-Que & Rusty's Bar-B-Q (while supplies last).
Shop a mini-sale hosted by the BPL Friends Bookstore, featuring great bargains on books with proceeds benefiting library programs and services.
Celebrate the kickoff of National Library Card Sign-up Month by renewing or signing up for a library card.
Enjoy fun activities for children of all ages
Whether you’re a lifelong blues fan, a barbecue lover, or simply looking for a night of great music and community, this is an event you won’t want to miss. And it's free!
Join us at the Central Library on September 12 to experience the power, soul, and energy of “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson live.
To hear some of “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson's music, click on her website www.elainehudson.com.
Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Director - Birmingham Public Library
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