The Blue Light celebrating 25 years as entertainment hub

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A piece of Lubbock’s entertainment scene is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

What started as a vacant building in 1999 is now one of the city’s most well-known attractions.

Musicians from all over the South Plains have gotten their start and honed their craft at The Blue Light over the past 25 years. These names include Josh Abbott, William Clark Green, Flatland Cavalry and many more.

107.7 Red-Dirt Rebel morning show host JR Hayes moved to Lubbock in 2011. He remembers his first experiences at The Blue Light.

“I actually got to go and start making it my place and it just became my regular place to go,” Hayes said. “Every Friday, Saturday, any other day I could fit in shows. At one point it was like seven days a week of live music and we were going to The Blue Light.”

The environment at The Blue Light has also captured the essence of the West Texas music scene over the past quarter century.

“Everyone has a Blue Light story,” Hayes said, “if you’re involved in the music at all or like the music at all, everyone seems to have a Blue Light story and I love that.”

Hayes has seen many artists perform on Buddy Holly Avenue, even turning down a big concert just to come see a young William Clark Green at Blue Light.

“I gave away my tickets to George Strait so I could go see him play,” Hayes said, “and I think it was in front of 20, 25 people at The Blue Light and we just had ourselves the best night.”

Green and many others returned this week to take part in the celebration.

“The 25th anniversary week is such a nostalgia bomb and I absolutely love it,” Hayes said. “It’s one of those really cool things of everyone coming home to their home stage. There’s some people who couldn’t make it and they’re missed, but at the same point, we’re celebrating what we have and it’s really great.”

The festivities honor the music that has come before and the artists that will soon find The Blue Light help them find their way into the Lubbock music scene.

“The Blue Light is just really one of those special places,” Hayes said. “If you haven’t made it to a show on any night, it’s really one of those places that will hold a special place in your heart and you’re gonna wanna come back.”

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