Join us for our continued bi-weekly Tuesday night blues jam session tradition, hosted by NE Ohio all-star blues musicians John Markovic, Ryan Neuman, & Erik Diaz! Bring your axe or horn & wail the blues as part of this ongoing musical series at BLU! The “BLUesday Tuesday” Blues Jam band carries 60+ years of combined experience in and around the Greater Akron Blues scene. They enjoy blending their deep roots & varied influences to bring hot, stylish electric blues to the stage – always listening, always feeding off each other’s energy and always laying down soulful, groove-laden blues with feeling. Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm *Free Admission* Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Join us as we ring in 2026 with the legendary tunes of Steely Dan, played by The FM Project! Tickets includes complimentary toast at Midnight! Doors: 8:00 Show: 9:30pm Tickets: General Admission ($30 in advance, $40 day of show) NYE Food Specials! Black Angus Thick-Cut Prime-Rib Hassle Back Potato/ Spinach Au Gratin/ Horseradish Crème Fraiche -$42 Beef and Duxelle Roulade Butter Braised Carrots/ Whipped Farmers Cheese/Burgundy Peppercorn Sauce/Fresh Local Greens -$36 Classic Cocktail Shrimp Lemon Poached Shrimp/House-Made Cocktail Sauce -$13 Southern Fried Calamari Served with Spicy Agava Mustard and Pickles -$15 

Join us for a thrilling Saturday of classically fueled jazz featuring local saxophonist Max Schlenk and his quartet! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) Featuring: Max Schlenk: Saxophone Garret Folger: Trumpet Kevin Martinez: Bass Jeremy McCabe: Drums 

Eli Leder returns to BLU Jazz+ with an all-new band playing a mix of their favorite standards and originals! Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) Eli Leder: bass Garrett Folger: trumpet Liam Melnick: organ Evan Palermo: drums Eli Leder is a bassist and composer from the west side of Cleveland. He currently studies Jazz Bass Performance at William Paterson University, 20 miles outside New York City. Eli treats music as exploratory, searching for new sounds and considering all genres. You may catch him playing Baroque string music, bluegrass, 2010s pop, and straight-ahead swing all in one weekend. He synthesizes all of his experiences into both his bass playing and writing. 

We’re back at it again. Thursday Night Tonight returns on January 22nd, 2026, now taking the stage at Blu Jazz+ in downtown Akron. New date, new venue, same charming mayhem. Thursday Night Tonight is a topical late-night comedy show digging into the strange and overlooked corners of Northeast Ohio. Host Adam Bonomo leads audiences through the oddities that capture his attention, using a familiar format that veers into the unexpectedly absurd. It’s a world full of surreal characters and compellingly bizarre talents. Venue Change: The show will now be held at Blu Jazz+. Parking: Free at the Library Parking Deck across from the Akron Art Museum (40 S. High Street) Doors: 7 PM Show: 8 PM Tickets: $20 General Admission One Rule: No busters allowed. 

Blue Lunch is a Cleveland-based 8 piece band with multiple vocalists and a 3 piece horn section, that has been performing it's brand of Blues, Soul, Jazz, and New Orleans Rhythm and Blues throughout the region for 41 years! For the January 23 performance, the band is excited to add veteran Akron-based musician, Tim Longfellow on organ. Tim has performed with a wide range of bands, including recording and performing with Todd Rundgren. Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Tickets: General Admission ($20 in advance, $25 day of show) Blue Lunch has performed at numerous clubs, community concerts, and festivals including the Tri-C JazzFest, Pittsburgh Blues Festival, and Columbus Jazz and Ribs Festival. Blue Lunch has appeared at iconic Northeast Ohio venues, the Beachland Ballroom, and The Bop Stop, as well as multiple times at BluJazz+ throughout the years. Blue Lunch has also produced 8 CDs, including "Saxophone Shootout II, Live at Nighttown", which was voted one of the top 5 independently produced CDs at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and is completing their 9th CD. Blue Lunch has also been a backing band/collaborated with internationally recognized musicians, including Billy Price, Tad Robinson, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, and Candye Kane, among others!