By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

HOOVER – A bluesy vibe overtook the dining room of Greystone’s Founders Clubhouse as two members of local band 2BLU & The Lucky Stiffs performed at a Greystone Ladies Club luncheon Jan. 13.

Bruce Andrews, the band’s harmonica player and lead vocalist, and guitar player and vocalist George Dudley played a selection of songs featuring a mixture of blues, rock, funk and gospel. Andrews also provided commentary throughout the performance.

“He (Dudley) and I have been writing and playing songs together for 20-plus years,” Andrews said.

The duo covered songs by Jimmy Reed, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Bill Withers and other artists whose works have influenced the landscape of American music.

As a surprise, each club member was given a harmonica to play, as Andrews led a brief instructional session at the end of the performance.

In addition to the band, Andrews stays busy as executive director of the Shelby County Arts Council, a non-profit volunteer organization headquartered in Columbiana.

Andrews talked about several of the SCAC’s outreach programs, including Artabilities, weekly art and music classes offered in multiple public schools in Shelby County, and Take Back our Kids, a program serving the county’s at-risk youth at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center in Columbiana.

The organization also hosts gallery exhibits and music artists in the SCAC Black Box Theatre throughout the year.

For more information, visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Information about 2BLU & The Lucky Stiffs is available at 2blumusic.com.