Darwin’s

Annual Celebration of Sean Costello Darwin’s, Sandy Springs GA, April 13, 2019

Rhetta Akamatsu blues events, blues music, Darwin's, making a Scene, Sean Costello, Sean Costello Memorial Fund April 16, 2019

Every year in April, music lovers in Atlanta gather to celebrate the life of Sean Costello, a young bluesman who left us too soon, but whose legacy goes on through his music, this celebration and the foundation his family established, The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research The concert is also a fundraiser for […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

The Royal Peacocks and a Viper make it work at Darwin’s in Sandy Springs Feb,. 22

Rhetta Akamatsu Darryl Lee, Darwin's, Ira Malkin, llve blues, Rae and the Royal Peacocks, The Vpers February 25, 2019

What does a band do when the lead singer loses his or her voice? Most o the time, there’ a scramble to find someone to fill in Friday night, not only was Rae of Rae and The Royal Peacock out sick but the bassist, Harold Patillo, was out, too. Luckily, Darryl Lee, one of the […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Tullie Brae at Atlanta Blues Society Gathering at Darwin’s June 24

Rhetta Akamatsu atlanta blues society, blues music, Darwin's, The Tullie Brae Band, Tullie Brae June 26, 2018

Sunday, June 24, was a special day for this writer as The Atlanta Blues Society brought Tullie Brae back to Atlanta for the first time in several years. The occasion was the monthly gathering and jam, which always features a “host band” who perform for about an hour to kick the meeting off. I admit […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project – Darwin’s Blues Club, April 7

Rhetta Akamatsu Darwin's, live blues, Markey Blue, The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project April 12, 2018

The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project was at Darwin’s Saturday night and thrilled old fans and new with their usual powerful, energetic show. they professed to be exhausted, having left Florida and headed for Atlanta in the cold rain for what turned out to be an 8 hour trip due to traffic. They got in […]

INDIE Blues Scene

The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project at Darwin’s June 30

Rhetta Akamatsu americana, Atlanta blues, atlanta indie blues, Atlanta live blues, Atlanta music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, Darwin's, indie Blues, making a Scene, Markey Blue, RNB, roots rock, soul July 4, 2017

By Rhetta Akamatsu Photos by Takesi Ken Akamatsu Markey Blue has changed its name to The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project but the high-energy, nonstop joy of the group live hasn’t changed a bit! Lead singer Markey and lead guitar player Ric Latina still lead the charge into electrifying blues and blues-rock with Ron De […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Reverend Freakchild and The Mike Lowry Band, Darwin’s, June 16, 2017

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta live music, Atlanta music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, Darwin's, live blues, Live music, Mike Lowry Band, reverend freakchild, what to do in atlanta June 20, 2017

Photos by Takesi Ken Akamatsu Friday, June 16, Reverend Freakchild returned to Darwin’s as the opening act before The Mike Lowry Band. My husband and I got to talk to him before after his performance and it was like re-uniting with an old friend, even though we only met him once before, at the former […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Brandon Santini at Darwin’s in Sandy Springs GA May 19, 2017

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, americana, Atlanta blues, Atlanta live blues, Atlanta live music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, Atlanta nitelife, Brandon Santini, Darwin's, Funk, indie Blues, making a Scene, RNB, Rock, roots, soul, what to do in atlanta May 23, 2017

Brandon Santini and his band played Darwin’s on Friday night, May 19. Many fans were anxious to see Santini, who has played here enough to be a big Atlanta favorite. They were also happy to see Timo Arthur, the lead guitarist, as he lived in Atlanta and was part of our musical community before moving […]

On the Scene

Jake Holliday and Friends at Darwin’s, Sandy Springs, GA April 22

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Atlanta blues, Atlanta blues clubs, Atlanta live music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, Atlanta nitelife, blues-rock, Darwin's, Donna Hopkins, Funk, indie Blues, Jale Holliday, making a Scene, RNB, roots, roots rock, soul, what to do in atlanta April 25, 2017

Saturday night at Darwin’s, Jake Holliday rounded up Donna Hopkins and some other friends and called the show, appropriately enough, “Jake Holliday and Friends feat. Donna Hopkins.” That’s an irresistible title to anyone familiar with Jake’s fantastic bass playing and Donna’s talents as a singer, guitar player and songwriter, so off we went. There were […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Concert Review: The Jeff Jensen Band- Darwin’s, Sandy Springs GA, April 7

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Atlanta blues, blues-rock, blues-rock. live blues, Darwin's, indie Blues, Jeff Jensen Band. blues, making a Scene, roots, roots rock April 12, 2017

It was two hours before showtime on Friday night when we arrived at Darwin’s in Sandy Springs to eat and wait for The Jeff Jensen Band. We wee actually covering a convention about 10 minutes away in Atlanta but we never willingly miss Jeff, Bill and David and we knew the convention had the whole […]

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INDIE Blues Scene

The Atlanta Blues Society Meeting and Jam – Darwin’s Sandy Springs, March 26

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta, Atlanta blues, Atlanta blues clubs, Atlanta Blues Society. Darwin's, Atlanta music, atlanta music scene, Atlanta nightlife, Atlanta nitelife, blues music, blues society, Darwin's, David T and Friends, making a Scene March 29, 2017

It was the first Atlanta Blues Society meeting at the new Darwin’s location and the place was absolutely packed. Many of the people were there to see the group who were playing for us, David T and Friends, and some were there to see the new Darwin”s. The club, which won the Keeping The blues […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Mick Kolassa and The Taylor Made Band – @ Darwin’s, Sandy Springs, GA March 24

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Atlanta blues, Atlanta blues clubs, Atlanta nightlife, Atlanta nitelife, b;ues, blues-rock, Darwin's, Funk, indie, indie Blues, Indie Rock, live blues, making a Scene, mick kolassa, RNB, Rock, roots, roots rock, soul, taylor made blues, Taylor Made Blues Band, what to do in atlanta March 29, 2017

The room was buzzing at Darwin’s Friday night. Mick Kolassa and The Taylor Made Band were the first touring group to play the new location,, and people were pretty excited. By the time the music started, it was standing room only with people standing at the back wall. Aftr years of producing and making albums. […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Darwin’s opening night in Sandy Springs, GA with Mudcat March 21

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Atlanta blues, Atlanta live music, Atlanta music, Atlanta nightlife, blues clubs, blues-rock, Darwin's, indie Blues, making a Scene, Mudct, Piedmont Playboys, roots, Rootsrock. americana, Sandy Springs, tlanta blues March 23, 2017

Last night March 21, Darwin’s re-opened in the new location in Sandy Springs. The opening guest was originally supposed to be just Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck solo, but he decided to bring a couple of his Piedmont Playboys, Hobo and Dan Dan The Healing Man, along, as well as Mandi Strachota and special guest Francois Blues […]

INDIE Blues Scene

The Little House Fundrauser Festival for Darwin’s:The power of love and blues

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta blues clubs, Darwin's, Little House Fundraiser, live blues January 30, 2017

The music room at 5 Seasons Brewing Company in Sandy Springs was packed last Thursday for the “Little House” fundraiser to help Darwin’s get moved into their new location at the former Steve’s Live Music building and open for business. It was an act of love for Lindsay Wine and Jonathan Aiken and their club, […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

An Ending and A New Beginning: New Year’s Eve at Darwin’s Burgers and Blues in Marietta

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Atlanta blues, Darwin's, live blues, New Year's Eve, what to do atlanta January 3, 2017

Saturday night, New Year’s Eve, was Darwin’s last night in its Marietta location. The little house was full, mostly with people who had been coming to the club since before Lindsay and Aiken took it over. We all felt nostalgic, I believe, thinking of all the memories and bands we had heard there. But we […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Bobby Messano at Darwin’s Blues Club in Marietta July 16

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Atlanta blues clubs, Bobby Messano, Darwin's, Darwin's Blues Club, indie Blues July 19, 2016

Bobby Messano is my friend. I’ve known him around seven years now, have reviewed him many times, both his recordings and performances. Despite all of this, or maybe because of it, I am always so excited when Bobby comes to town! Messano has been in the music business or over 40 years. He has performed with Stevie […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Katie Martin and Rev. Freakchild at Darwin’s June 14

Rhetta Akamatsu Darwin's, Darwin's BLus Cllub, Katie Martin, liv blus, liv music, Rev. Freaakchild June 15, 2016

It was a small crowd at Darwin’s. in Marietta GA After all, it was Tuesday night. But Katie Martin and Rev. Freakchild didn’t seem to mind. Martin opened with a great set that included her haunting version of “:St. James Infirmary” and several other covers as well as some mesmerizing original material from her recent […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Truett Lollis has a happy homecoming to Darwin’s

Rhetta Akamatsu Darwin's, darwins burgers and blues, indie Blues, live blues, Truett, Truett Lollis March 29, 2016

Truett Lolllis looked delighted a he surveyed the crowded room at Darwin’s Friday night, March 25. “I am so happy to be home,” he told me, “and so glad to be back at Darwin’s.” Truett spent every Monday playing at Darwin’s for several years, beginning as a teenager too young to drink and ending this […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Gracie Curran and The High-Falutin’ Band at Darwin’s in Marietta, GA March 5

Rhetta Akamatsu .blues, Darwin's, Gracie Curran, live lues, The High Falutin' Band March 7, 2016

Gracie Curran brought her High Falutin’ Band to Darwin’s Saturday night an what a great time that was! Gracie is such a funny, warm and entertaining person who also happens to have an amazing voice. She was ably accompanied by her band, brothers Mike and Nick Hern on bass and lead guitar respectively, and for […]