Triad Acoustic Stage

04/07/2026

COMING SOON! The ‘Boro Sessions Presents: Lightnin’ Wells' Birthday Concert at The Flat Iron, Sunday, April 19, 2:00-4:00pm/doors 1:00pm. This is Lightnin's birthday concert! All he wants for his birthday is for YOU to come to enjoy his concert with him! He will be thrilled to see you! ADVANCED TICKETS $20 plus taxes and fees available HERE: https://tinyurl.com/LightninWellsBoroSessions41926 or at the QR code on the poster. DAY OF SHOW TICKETS will be $25 plus taxes and fees and will be available at the door.
Lightnin’ Wells (http://lightninwells.com/) is an American Piedmont blues multi-instrumentalist and singer, widely recognized for his authenticity in every performance he gives. He regularly performs as a solo music act accompanying his vocals with guitar, harmonica, banjo, ukulele and mandolin. His musical style encompasses elements of blues, country, gospel, old-time, bluegrass, ragtime, early jazz, and folk. Noted musician and radio personality Paul Brown described Lightnin’ Wells’ as “an enigma and a wonder. When you hear him, you hear the old Piedmont blues players speaking through him… More than anything, you hear something that’s sincere and real, in a way that precious little music performance is nowadays. There’s no varnish here, just the unvarnished truth expressed through a deep and good-humored soul.”Wells has released six solo albums. He contributed a chapter on the Recording Industry in North Carolina to the 2006 Encyclopedia of North Carolina, As an expert on North Carolina music, Wells has also researched the history of musical recordings and produced compilation projects on North Carolina’s Colonial Records, Chapel Hill; Renown Records, Durham; Oak Records, Elm City.
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Wells was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, United States in 1952. His family relocated to Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1962. While there Wells discovered and gained a life-long interest in Piedmont blues and old-time music. Wells began playing harmonica in the third grade and by the age of thirteen was the vocalist in a teenage band. By the late 1960s, Wells had taught himself to play the guitar and gradually developed an interest in the roots of American music. Wells started performing professionally in the Chapel Hill area in the early 1970s. While he was a UNC student, he was captivated by public performances of Piedmont blues musicians (Guitar Shorty, Peg-Leg Sam, Henry Johnson, and Willie Trice) arranged by British doctoral student in folklore, Bruce Bastin. In April 1973 Wells experienced a life altering event on the UNC campus, when Bastin presented possibly the first blues festival in the South. Bastin’s presentations greatly influenced the direction and development of Wells’ future musical career. Rather than concentrating on songwriting, Wells chose to instead become a repository of American song. His journey has left him with hundreds of old songs, which he continues to refine for musical presentation. As part of his ongoing musical education, Wells sought out still living Piedmont performers, which led him later to produce work by Big Boy Henry, Algia Mae Hinton and George Higgs.In March-May 1987 Wells arranged and performed the original score of traditional blues For Sam Shepard’s “A Lie Of The Mind,” at Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, IL.
Recordings
In 1995, Wells made his own debut solo recording, Bull Frog Blues, which was followed by Ragtime Millionaire in 1998; both released on New Moon Records. In 2002 Wells released his next album on Music Maker label, Ragged But Right, which included guest appearances by Cool John Ferguson on guitar and Taj Mahal on bass. Shake ‘Em on Down (2008) an independently produced album recorded in Port Townsend, Washington, gave Wells a chance to revisit some songs of the 1920s in a modern recording setting. In 2008, Wells also recorded Jump Little Children: Old Songs For Young Folks, a collection of children’s music. His 2017 recording, O Lightnin’, Where Art Thou?, was issued by the German-based Blind Lemon Records. Wells played all of the instruments included in the collection, which had limited distribution in the US.
Performances/Teaching
Yearly Wells has performed at Festival for the Eno; (1981 onwards). In 1998 Wells performed with Algia Mae Hinton at Blues Al Femmenile for Centro Jazz Torino, Turin, Piedmont Region, Italy. Over the years Wells has also performed at 1996Moulin Blues Festival; the Bull Durham Blues Festival (1990, 1993, 1995, 1998, and 2000); The Great Blue Heron Music Festival; 2000 Chicago Blues Festival; 2002 Gathering of the Vibes; 2006 Hampton Acoustic Blues Revival; Roots of American Music Festival at Mars Hill University, NC; and the 2021 North Carolina Folk Festival among many others. Wells has taught blues guitar as a regularly featured teacher and performer at the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival in Port Townsend, Washington, as well as the Augusta Heritage Center, (Blues Week) in Elkins, West Virginia. In addition, He’s a frequent faculty member at the Swannanoa Gathering. Wells was a touring artist for North Carolina Arts Council and was included on the American Traditions National Roster (through the Southern Arts Federation).[6] For ten years he worked on the board of directors at Music Maker Relief Foundation and he served as an advisor in the early years of Piedmont Blues Preservation Society in Greensboro, NC. Wells was featured in a 2015 independently produced documentary film, Straight-Six Blues.
VIDEOS:
Ragtime Millionaire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGaDytxo6Qc
Skeedle Loo Doo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-klmDRyCOU
Take Me Back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am9S9LWA6vQ&t=34s
More videos: https://www.youtube.com/results...

03/26/2026

Join us for The 'Boro Sessions' first concert of 2026, featuring "The House of Dues Reunion Show” on Sunday, April 12, 7:00pm (location: 816-A S. Elm St., Greensboro, NC - The Back Table). Advanced tickets HERE: https://tinyurl.com/HouseofDues041226BoroSessions are $20 plus taxes and fees/$25 Day of Show plus taxes and fees. Advanced ticket sales end online at midnight the night before the show; however TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR ON the day of Show, even if the ticketing platform says “all ticket sales have ended". This phrase only refers to ONLINE ticket sales, but tickets are available at the door, and we can’t wait to see you there!

The venue sells beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, sodas, etc. as well as pizza and bakery snacks. Free parking is available in the venue parking lot, on the street, and in the adjacent gravel lot on the corner of Gate City Blvd & S. Elm St.

House of Dues came together in 2010 for a Fat Tuesday gig and have been together since that time. House of Dues draws from New Orleans influences that incorporate jazz, funk and blues with soulful harmony vocals. They have recorded and released 2 albums “Gimme Some Hotcakes” and “Cross that Line,” the latter of which will be available for sale at this Reunion show. They play in and around North Carolina, a mixture of blues, fusion, soul and funk. House of Dues is a Greensboro favorite and are guaranteed to get the crowd dancing.

Members include veteran drummer/vocalist Chuck Cotton, AJ Diggs - Bass/vocals, Steve Blake-Sax, David Bolton - guitar/vocals, Roc Williams - Guitar, and Chris Robinson on keyboards. Scott Adair on baritone sax is a guest performer on occasion.
HOD won the 2012 Piedmont Blues Preservation Society Blues Challenge and performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. They have performed at the Carolina Blues Festival and other festivals. It is difficult to bring this band together now, because they all tour with other prominent bands and musicians. Each of these musicians is recognized individually for their masterful talent, and they are in demand! We are so fortunate to get to see them all in one place, sharing their passion for music with their fans

House of Dues was an anchor band in Greensboro, performing at blues jams and on the 2nd Tuesday each month at Fishers Grill to a SRO crowd of enthusiastic listeners and dancers. The pandemic suspended all performances in 2020 and closed all music venues for an extended period of time, ending the tradition of regular Greensboro performances by House of Dues. Logie Meachum performed often with House of Dues, and The ‘Boro Sessions presented their last performance together on December 18, 2018, only 2 weeks before his death. House of Dues is deeply imbedded in Greensboro’s music history, and left their mark permanently on the music scene here. They hope to see all of their enthusiastic and loyal fans from previous years at this REUNION concert, as well as making new friends and fans!

This will be a long-awaited REUNION for Greensboro fans, who have missed this band terribly. Bring your dancing shoes and join us all for an evening of passionate appreciation and celebration for a band of seasoned and accomplished musicians who always rock the house! PLEASE SHARE THIS POSTING!

11/16/2025

FROM PARKE PUTERBAUGH:
THE ‘BORO SESSIONS PRESENTS REVEREND BILLY C. WIRTZ IN CONCERT TODAY!
And believe me, you don’t want to miss him.
If you have reverence for explosive old-school boogie-woogie, rhythm & blues and rockabilly-style piano, served alongside a heaping helping of sanctified Southern-fried humor, then make your way to 816 South Elm Street (The Back Table) in Greensboro, NC, where the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz will perform songs and save souls from 2-4 p.m. And on a Sunday, no less! How perfect is that?
Billy has no lack of glowing accolades from music critics and fellow musicians that I could quote at length, but the truth is that he’s his own best press release. Over the years he has styled himself as Master of the 88 Key Disaster, King of the Atomic Boogie, Minister of the First House of Polyester Worship and Throbbing Teenage Desire, and the Fashion Plate of Public Radio.
I mean, what can I add to that? Well, for starters, he has released thirteen albums, a goodly number of them for the esteemed HighTone and Blind Pig labels. You want a clue about the sensibility of those long players? Billy’s debut album, released on the No Big Deal label in 1982, was titled Salvation Through Polyester. His 1996 release for HighTone bore the inspirational name Songs of Faith and Inflammation. On his most recent album, Full Circle, he was accompanied by the Nighthawks, the beloved veteran blues band from the Washington D.C. area. He will soon be entering the studio with them for his next recording project.
Beyond his lifetime’s work as a performing musician and road warrior, he has serious journalistic credentials, having written myriad music articles for such periodicals as Living Blues, Musician and Keyboard Magazine and more. Oh, and he’s published a couple of books, including one entitled Red Headed Geek, about his experience as a manager in the world of professional wrestling. For many years he has hosted a weekly radio show, The Rhythm Revival, on WMNF (88.5 FM, Tampa, Fl.), for which he spins classic gospel, soul, R&B and rock and roll. He actually started out on radio as a college student at the University of Georgia. But wait! There’s more. He’s been a headliner and guest lecturer a dozen times on the legendary Blues Cruise. He’s just finished working on a documentary about the Florida chitlin’ circuit and has given presentations on the chitlin’ circuit and the birth of rock and roll. The man knows the history of American roots music and through tireless performing, researching and writing has become part of that history himself.
I caught up with Billy as he was racing up I-95 from Florida to North Carolina, and he had this to say about his conversion to the church of rhythm & blues and rock and roll back in his wild and crazy youth: “The thing I liked about music was that it made me physically feel good. And it was like a drug. I felt better when I listened to it. It was a portal into another universe. One that I never stepped back from. I’m still stuck in that other world. That was the light switch that got thrown.”
All these years later, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz is still playing and preaching the musical gospel that saved his soul – and, presumably, yours too.
So drop whatever it is you’re doing and boogie on over to 816 South Elm Street, (The Back Table) Greensboro, NC to catch Reverend Billy C. Wirtz perform today from 2-4 pm as part of The ‘Boro Sessions concert series. For more information go to theborosessions.com.
https://theborosessions.com/

The 'Boro Sessions provides great acoustic and Americana concerts in listening room spaces in North Carolina.

11/09/2025

TICKETS: https://tinyurl.com/BCW111625
QUESTIONS: [email protected]
The 'Boro Sessions presents " An Afternoon of FUN with Rev Billy C Wirtz" Sunday, November 16, 2:00-4:30pm.
Greensboro, NC is set to receive a dose of "deep fried and sanctified" humor and masterful musicianship when The ‘Boro Sessions present Reverend Billy C. Wirtz. The concert will be Sunday, November 23, 2:00-4:00 PM LOCATION: 816 S. Elm St, Greensboro, NC (The Back Table). Doors open at 1:00 PM. ADVANCED TICKETS $20 (+ taxes & ticketing fees) / DAY OF SHOW TICKETS $25 (+ taxes & ticketing fees) will be available at the door. This is a SEATED, LISTENING ROOM CONCERT! So come & join us for a fun, relaxed afternoon of humor and masterful music.
Known for his unique blend of boogie-woogie piano, blues history, and sharp social satire, Wirtz is a veteran performer who has spent decades cultivating a reputation as both a seriously skilled blues and gospel artist and a hilariously insightful comedian. His performances are a one-of-a-kind experience, where the sacred and the profane mix in a Southern-fried stew of storytelling and rockin' keyboard work. Fans and newcomers alike can anticipate an evening of high-energy music and side-splitting comedy from a true original.
Wirtz, whose 1990 album Backslider's Tractor Pull won an award for Comedy Album of the Year, has become a favorite on the folk and blues festival circuits for his ability to seamlessly transition from virtuosic piano playing to his signature satirical routines. The "Master of the 88 Key Disaster" channels influences from Muddy Waters to Tom Lehrer, crafting songs and stories that offer a humorous, yet intelligent, commentary on life in America. Don't miss this opportunity to see one of the most entertaining and genre-defying acts in American roots music. Tickets for the November 16th concert are available now and are expected to sell quickly. See ya there!

09/30/2025

TICKETS HERE: https://tinyurl.com/BoroSessionsMaloneJacksonOct-5
QUESTIONS? [email protected]
JOIN US for an amazing concert Sunday, October 5, 2-4:00pm, when The ‘Boro Sessions presents Bob Malone with special guest Kristy Jackson, performing an afternoon of piano-based rock, blues, and ballads. Doors open at 1:00pm. Advanced tickets are $20 (plus taxes and processing fees). Tickets will be available at the door Day of Show for $25 (plus taxes and processing fees). Location: The Back Table, 816 S. Elm St., Greensboro. All concerts by The 'Boro Sessions are seated, air conditioned/heated concerts in listening room spaces. Join us for a fun show!
Called a “keyboard wizard” by The New Yorker, and “a genre-crossing master” by the Tallahassee Democrat, singer/songwriter/pianist Bob Malone has amassed a loyal international fan-base through twenty-five years of touring and nine critically acclaimed album releases. He played keyboards for John Fogerty for 13 years, and has done sessions and tour dates with Ringo Starr, Avril Lavigne, and Rickie Lee Jones.
Along with the best of his catalog of bluesy rockers and cathartic piano ballads, Bob’s live shows feature classic anthems by Fleetwood Mac, The Band, CCR, Bob Dylan and others transformed into foot-stomping displays of keyboard pyrotechnics, pulling in elements from classical, soul, blues, rock, funk and jazz into a glorious fusion that’s pure Bob Malone.
“From complex turbo-charged polyrhythmic soul-jazz excursions to the most fundamental folk-rock anthems, Malone knows how to light it on fire.” - American Songwriter

Kristy Jackson is a singer-songwriter, piano player, and passionate, emotive lyricist based in Greensboro, North Carolina. She writes about life situations, her heart writes the lyrics and her soul writes the music.
Her songs have reached millions, including the Top 5 country hit “Take It Back,” recorded by Reba McEntire, and the post-9/11 anthem “Little Did She Know (She’d Kissed A Hero),” which became the most requested track on New York radio and helped raise over $30,000 for charity. But beyond the big moments, Kristy lives for the small ones. The quiet stories. The porchlight confessions. The kind of song that finds you when you need it most. After some time away from the stage, Kristy is finding her way back, one intimate show at a time. These days, she’s performing again in music venues, house concerts, and listening lounges, wherever hearts are open and stories are welcome.