News – Carolina Blues Preservation Society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2026

Ceasar Celebrates Musical Comeback with Debut Solo Album “Just Me (and Pancake)”

October 9 showcase introduces new music and honors a journey of faith, resilience, and one spirited rescue donkey

CAYCE, S.C. — Following several years battling throat cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Creole Soul Blues artist Ceasar is making his musical comeback. On Friday, October 9, 2026, at 7 p.m., he will present a showcase concert at Carolina Arts Café + Studios, located on State Street in the Cayce River Arts District. The evening will preview music from his upcoming debut solo album, Just Me (and Pancake), alongside classic favorites.

For the vocalist, harmonica player, and accomplished drummer, the performance represents a deeply personal milestone—a return to the stage grounded in perseverance, faith, and a lifelong commitment to music.

“The good Lord left me with my singing voice. I’ve been blessed with both a gift and talent, and I’m not going to waste it,” Ceasar said.

The album’s title offers a glimpse into another meaningful part of his life: Pancake, his 12-year-old rescue donkey and emotional support companion. Twelve years ago in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, Ceasar rescued Pancake from a situation he describes as certain death involving a South Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper. Today, full of sass and spunk, Pancake is Ceasar’s biggest fan.

Naming his first solo album Just Me (and Pancake) brings that companionship into his musical comeback story, adding a personal touch to a recording that marks a new chapter in his career.

Joining Ceasar for the October 9 showcase are:

David Herr — Bass and vocals
Dudley Birch — Drums and vocals
Richie Rez — Keyboards and vocals
Billy Gadol — Guitar and vocals

The intimate concert will give audiences an opportunity to hear Ceasar’s original music and experience the musicians bringing his signature Creole Soul Blues sound to life.

His return also includes Harmonica for Health, a new program that uses the harmonica as its primary teaching tool for breathing exercises. Inspired by his experience with respiratory illness, Ceasar is connecting music, breathing practice, and creative expression to help others.

Ceasar’s musical roots reach back to Louisiana. The grandson of Creole music legend Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, he began touring with the Ardoin Family band at a young age. His career includes sharing the stage with Bois Sec Ardoin, James Brown, The Foundations, Prince, and Maurice Williams, among others. With his first solo album, he is bringing his own musical voice and signature style to the forefront.

Ceasar also serves as president of the Carolina Blues Preservation Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and celebrating blues music across the Carolinas through preservation, education, and live performance.

The October 9 showcase invites the community to celebrate his comeback, experience new music, and hear the next chapter of his musical journey.

Visit his newly launched website, justceasar.com, to learn more about Ceasar and his music.

About Carolina Arts Café + Studios
Carolina Arts Café + Studios is a creative gathering place on State Street in the Cayce River Arts District, offering walk-in art experiences, educational programs, private events, and live performances. Guided by the tagline “Where curiosity, creativity, and wonder are on the menu,” the studio brings people together through art, music, and community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 12, 2026

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Elliott New and the Untouchables Bring Deep Blues to The Woodshed Sessions October 30

An evening of dinner, drinks, artist conversation, and live music benefits the Carolina Blues Preservation Society

CAYCE, S.C. — The Carolina Blues Preservation Society presents Elliott New and the Untouchables as the next featured artists in The Woodshed Sessions on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 7 p.m., at Carolina Arts Café + Studios in the Cayce River Arts District.

Combining blues education with live performance, this fundraiser invites guests to spend an evening with accomplished musicians, learn about their craft, and support the Society’s work to preserve blues traditions and expand opportunities for music education.

Led by guitarist and vocalist Elliott New, the Untouchables bring a sound that draws from gritty Chicago blues, Mississippi Delta traditions, Texas shuffles, and swinging West Coast jump blues. Their music pairs original songwriting with expressive guitar, soulful ensemble playing, and the energy of musicians whose experience reaches across club and festival stages in the United States and abroad.

New’s musical journey began with British blues artists before a Muddy Waters recording deepened his connection to the genre. His influences range from Otis Rush and Hound Dog Taylor to T-Bone Walker and Hollywood Fats. His exploration of Delta blues also led him to build electric cigar-box instruments inspired by the diddley bow, bringing their raw slide tones into the band’s original music.

The band’s recording history includes six releases on BluePoint Records, including Bloodhound, an album of original material that showcases the breadth of its blues sound.

The evening unfolds in three acts:

Act I — Masterclass and Artist Q&A: Meet the featured artists for a conversation about their music, influences, instruments, and creative process, with opportunities for audience questions.
Act II — Featured Artist Performance: Elliott New and the Untouchables take the stage for a 45-minute set.
Act III — House Band Performance: The evening continues with a 45-minute set by the house band.

Tickets are $50 for one person or $75 for two and include dinner and drinks.

The Woodshed Sessions creates a space where audiences can hear the music and learn from the people who make it. The October 30 event supports the Carolina Blues Preservation Society’s mission of blues preservation and education, connecting established artists, emerging musicians, and the wider community.

Event Details

What: The Woodshed Sessions featuring Elliott New and the Untouchables
When: Friday, October 30, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Where: Carolina Arts Café + Studios, Cayce River Arts District
Tickets: $50 each; dinner and drinks included
Beneficiary: Carolina Blues Preservation Society

For tickets and event information: Contact Carolina Arts Café + Studios at 803-814-3290.

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Drink Small’s Final Public Performance to Launch Carolina Blues Preservation Society

CAYCE, S.C. — On Saturday, June 20, 2026, South Carolina blues fans will have the opportunity to witness a truly historic moment: what is expected to be the final public performance of legendary blues artist Drink Small, known throughout the South and beyond as “The Blues Doctor.”

The evening will also mark the public launch of the Carolina Blues Preservation Society, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, documenting, and celebrating the rich blues heritage of South Carolina and the American South.

The event inaugurates the Society’s signature concert series, The Woodshed Sessions, and will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Carolina Arts Cafe + Studios, located at 2006 State Street in Cayce’s River Arts District.

For generations of musicians, “going to the woodshed” has meant stepping away from the spotlight to practice, listen, learn, and refine one’s craft. In blues culture, the woodshed is where traditions are passed from one generation to the next, where stories are shared, and where musicians discover their own voice. The Woodshed Sessions are designed to bring audiences into that experience.

Each evening unfolds in two acts.

Act I features an intimate conversation and audience Q&A with the featured artist, offering attendees a rare opportunity to hear firsthand stories about the music, the culture, and the experiences that shaped a lifetime in the blues.

After an intermission with libations and heavy hors d’oeuvres, the stage resets for Act II: a live concert performance.

For the inaugural session, audiences will hear from one of South Carolina’s most treasured cultural figures. Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Drink Small has carried the blues from church halls and juke joints to concert stages, schools, and festivals across the nation. At age 94, he remains one of the last living links to a remarkable chapter of American musical history.

Every Woodshed Session will be professionally video recorded and preserved in the archives of the Carolina Blues Preservation Society. These recordings will help ensure that the music, stories, and wisdom of influential artists remain accessible to future generations of musicians, scholars, educators, and music lovers.

That spirit of preservation is at the heart of the Society’s mission.

“In the blues, the woodshed is where you put in the work,” said Donald Caesar, Board President of the Carolina Blues Preservation Society and internationally renowned harmonica player and blues musician. “It’s where you listen, learn, and grow. The music you hear on stage is born in the woodshed. That’s what this series is all about—bringing people closer to the stories, the traditions, and the artists who keep this music alive.”

The Carolina Blues Preservation Society was founded on the belief that the blues is more than a musical genre. It is a living cultural tradition that tells the story of communities, families, resilience, creativity, and place. Through performances, oral history projects, educational programming, archival preservation, and community partnerships, the Society seeks to honor that legacy while helping it continue to thrive.

Tickets for the June 20 event are $94 and include libations and heavy hors d’oeuvres. All proceeds benefit the Carolina Blues Preservation Society and support its preservation, education, and archival initiatives.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on YouTube.