Bluesman to play café benefit

The celebrated blues group, James Montgomery Blues Band, will perform a concert to benefit the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) on Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Narragansett Café in Jamestown. The band will take the stage at about 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door.

"I'm a big fan of GSO," said Montgomery, who has played two previous benefit shows for the respected oceanography program and has established a scholarship fund to support its students. "I know a number of professors and I'm familiar with the important work they're doing, so I wanted to help support them and their students."

Montgomery formed the James Montgomery Blues Band in 1970 while attending Boston University, and through the years he has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers and Steve Miller. He has shared the stage with such noted artists as B.B King, John Lee Hooker, Laverne Baker and Patti LaBelle.