It’s 8 o’clock on a Friday night and a small corner of downtown Saratoga bursts with the sound of live music. On an otherwise quiet street, when most restaurants in Saratoga are closing, the Blue Rock Shoot is just getting started.
Every Friday night at 7:30 the Blue Rock Shoot hosts a group of musicians called Thriving Artists in the Blue Rock Show Case. This group of talented individual musicians play alternative rock covers from bands such as Train and Coldplay in small groups. Every so often the audience will also be treated to an original song from one of the artists.
The ambiance in the back room of the Blue Rock is lively and relaxed when the crowd gathers around 8 p.m. There are a few small tables with candles and a comfy bench along the back wall, all facing a small stage complete with mood lighting and a great sound system. The performers themselves have fun making up the playlist on the spot and taking requests from the audience. They also call up fellow musicians from the audience in a spontaneous relaxed environment.
“I like it because it’s different from other places,” said sophomore Louise Guy. “It’s nice because the people who play want to be there and they are very talented. You can really tell that they love what they do and it shows in the music.”
There are a wide range of musicians who play on Fridays, but regulars to the venue are familiar with all of the artists’ unique styles. There is a closely knit community of artists and regulars, but newcomers are welcomed with open arms. Although the audience includes a diverse dynamic, people can enjoy themselves with the easy listening music and relaxed environment.
In addition to the Friday night shows, The Blue Rock Shoot also hosts a variety of music shows Thursday-Sunday. There is an open mic night on Thursday, a Live Featured Show Saturday and a Jazz and Blues Jam Sunday.
All these performances provide entertaining experiences, but Friday night has the best environment for easy listening. What’s even better is that these shows are completely free, although they do have a donation box. It may seem like a hidden jewel in Saratoga’s quaint Downtown, but the Blue Rock Shoot is always crowded by 8:30 Friday night.
