Brought To You By Ouachita River Blues Society
NORTHEAST LOUISIANA – When you drive down Louisville Avenue in Monroe, you’ll pass a local Irish pub, Enoch’s. If you stop by on the third Thursday of the month, you’ll notice a 4×4 sign hanging next to the stage. The sign is for the Ouachita River Blues Society (ORBS). ORBS Jam Nights at Enoch’s take place on the third Thursday of every month from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
ORBS was founded in February 2023 when Adrienne LaFrance-Wells, Ira Barger, Scott Frick, Leo Nelson, Scott Tisdale, and current blues touring artist D.K. Harrell came together to create the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. With the help of many others, ORBS has grown to over 132 members.
In 2024, ORBS became an official affiliate of the prestigious Blues Foundation in Memphis. The Blues Foundation acts as an umbrella to a network of approximately 200 affiliate blues societies around the world. Louisiana currently only has one other affiliate society which is located in New Orleans.
The mission of ORBS is to “Honor the blues heritage through promotion, education, and support of live music in the Northeast Louisiana Delta.”
On jam nights, you’ll hear some of the best blues in North Louisiana. Ira Barger leads the house band on Blues Jam Night. The music covers range from legends like Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, R.L. Burnside, and Slim Harpo to many other blues masters. If you can’t make it in person, you can always tune in to the live stream on ORBS’ Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/orbs318).
The night typically begins with a spotlight on a local artist or a Blues Master. The success of the Blues Jam is evident in the number of local musicians who’ve stepped up to perform with the house band and have been well received. Musicians from East Texas, Pine Bluff, Winnsboro, West Carroll Parish, Rayville, and Ouachita Parish have all taken the stage.
Dan Sumner, one of ORBS’ board members, has also started a school for young musicians, which has helped develop talent from ages 12 to 18. These youth musicians have had the chance to perform live in front of crowds and thrive in the process.
One of ORBS’ key goals has been to send acts to the Blues Foundation’s annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. This year, ORBS hosted a local challenge where acts competed for the opportunity to perform in Memphis. Mark Taylor and the TaylorMade Band represented the band category, while Doug Duffy and Dan Sumner competed as a solo duo act. Both acts performed on Beale Street, with Mark’s band making it to the semifinals.
Plans are already underway for the 2025 challenge in September, with winners heading to Memphis in January 2026 to compete with acts from around the world.
The journey for ORBS is just beginning, and the organization continues to evolve. Other local venues have invited ORBS to host blues nights, and funds raised go to support musicians or offset costs for the IBC trip to Memphis.
The music scene in North Louisiana has embraced the efforts of the Ouachita River Blues Society, and their work has received wonderful community support. Everyone is welcome to share the stage with the house band.
So, next time you’re in Monroe on the third Thursday of the month, stop by Enoch’s and look for the ORBS sign. You won’t regret it!
To learn more about ORBS, visit the Ouachita River Blues Society Facebook page or their website at orbs318.com.
