AUBURN— It’s widely accepted that central Maine has enjoyed a reputation of being a hotbed for blues music in past decades.

It began when the old Cellar Door hosted Chicago-based national acts like Eddie Shaw and The Wolfgang (and many others) in the 1970s and 1980s, and continued when the now-defunct Midnight Blues Club and Restaurant presented national blues acts on Sunday evenings from 2004 through 2006.

As the owners of the newly-renovated Sapphire Nightclub and Event Center look to expand beyond weekend functions, the Lewiston/Auburn area may again be alive with top-notch blues music.

The club is set to debut a new “Tuesday Night Blues Series,” beginning with three shows from 7-10 p.m. spaced two weeks apart. Audience response will be measured to see if a weekly series is practical or sustainable in 2016.

It’s a big commitment, yet one that can potentially succeed at drawing blues enthusiasts to town and generate income for other local businesses along with the host venue.

“We’re having success with what we’re doing on Friday and Saturday nights, which is nice,” club owner Amanda Cloutier said. “The 21-30-year-old crowd has chosen us as a venue they enjoy. Now we’d like to diversify and offer some top-notch blues entertainment to those who enjoy that genre of music.

“We have the facility, we have the access to great acts, and we want to invite the blues into our family. It’s exciting for us; blues music is pretty upbeat and features talented artists of all kinds. We want this to be the long-overdue renewal of a once-proud tradition for great live blues in central Maine.”

Local blues fans are familiar with the quality of blues acts seen weekly in Rockland, long known as Maine’s “Home of the Blues.” Each July, the quaint mid-coast city hosts the annual North Atlantic Blues Festival, regarded as one of the finest gatherings of its kind in the nation. Rockland is also home to veteran blues promoter and NABF founder Paul Benjamin, who will assist with lining up the acts.

“We know Paul is the best man in Maine and maybe even the country to have in support of this effort,” club manager Jeremy Fitts said. “When we considered bringing live blues to our facility, we knew we needed his level of expertise to make it work. When Paul suggested a plan to get us started, we listened. We hope to make local blues fans feel at home with us in 2016.”

The first act to visit Auburn and kick-start the series will take center stage on Tuesday, May 17. Boston-based singer/guitarist Barrett Anderson and his band will electrify fans with his brand of funky, soul-heavy Chicago blues. The former member of blues legend Ronnie Earl’s famed Broadcasters has impressive credentials, including a stint with the Monster Mike Welch Band.

“I’ve never had the chance to perform for fans in the greater Lewiston/Auburn area,” Anderson said by phone on Thursday. “I’m told they love their blues up there, so we plan to give them a show to remember. We hope to make some new friends in Auburn and share our passion for the blues.”

Advance sale tickets for the debut Tuesday blues act are available at the club for $10 each. 

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