Tryon – Chase Away the Blues will take place at Tryon Fine Arts Center (TFAC) on Saturday, January 20, with a night full of music, food and fun. Doors open at 5:30 with music and food in the Blues Lounge and the Blues Tent, and the main stage will start rocking at 6 p.m. The annual, multi-stage music event invites attendees to shake off the winter doldrums with some heart thumping, down-home rhythm and blues.
“Chase Away the Blues is one of the most fun evenings on TFAC’s calendar,” said Executive Director Marianne Carruth. “There’s no better way to shake off the winter blues than sharing the evening with friends and listening to continuous, live music.”
Chase Away the Blues includes music across multiple stages at the Tryon Fine Arts Center venue. The main stage features headliner performances in a 300-seat auditorium with room to dance the night away. The evening kicks off with Asheville’s ruby-throated chanteuse Peggy Ratusz and her band. The award-winning traditional blues and soul vocalist and her band will delight audiences with their versatile style, featuring incredible guitar work, an in-the-pocket drummer and a thumpin’ bass a-holic.
Lon Eldridge will follow with talent and style well beyond his years. Hailing from Chattanooga, Eldridge is looking forward to bringing his unique blend of traditional blues, ragtime, and swing to a new audience in the foothills.
Closing out the night will be Nashville-based Stacy Mitchhart Band. They are one of the hardest-working blues bands in Nashville, playing more than 200 dates per year as the house band at Nashville Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar. Mitchhart will pepper the stage with his high-energy R&B which will surely delight the Chase Away the Blues crowd.
Blues Lounge patrons will be treated to the music of the Jim Peterman Blues Experience in the exclusive Patron’s Lounge, plus unlimited heavy hors d’oeuvres and a full open bar. A staple of the Chase Away the Blues Event, Jim Peterman was a founding member of the Steve Miller Band who now calls Tryon home and performs across Western North Carolina.
The Blues Tent will feature the music of Pearls Collide, featuring local guitarist Keith Troutman.
General Admission tickets are $40 and include all main stage performances. Beverages and food by local foodtruck Manzolina’s will be available for purchase in the Blues Tent.
Blues Patrons will be treated to a special music treat in the Pavilion Lounge, catering by Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) and Mountain Brook Vineyard will provide an assortment of offerings from the winery. Tickets are $125.
Proceeds from the event support affordable fine arts experiences for the foothills community. Other fundraisers include the Nutcracker Ball every December and an ongoing Annual Fund and sponsorship opportunities.
Chase Away the Blues was started in 2011 as a fundraiser for Tryon Fine Arts Center. After a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event has returned as one of the largest annual fundraisers for the nonprofit organization.
Tickets and additional details are available at www.tryonarts.org.