About US

The Blue Note Grill is one of the Triangle's (Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill) premier live-music venues, complete with a full-service BBQ and Ribs restaurant and bar. The original Blue Note Grill opened in a non-descript strip mall in 2010 on the outskirts of Durham. Their musical reputation and Southern-style menu soon packed the house, as they quickly outgrew the tiny end space.  In June of 2015, the Blue Note Grill opened and expanded in to a new 6,000 sq ft space in the downtown Durham historic Central Park District.

• Family-owned and operated, the Blue Note Grill has consistently been voted by readers of the INDY
• Best Place to Dance in the Triangle (2022)
• Place to Hear Blues: Winner (2011-2022)
• Place to Hear Bluegrass: Finalist (2011-2022)
• Place to hear Jazz (2022)
• Place to Hear Rock & Roll: Finalist (2018)
• Open Mic: Winner (2020), Finalist (2018)
• Barbecue in Durham County: Finalist (2018)
• Wings in Durham County: Finalist (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Neighborhood Bar in Durham County: Winner (2020), Finalist (2018)

...and the barbecue and ribs are second to none!

PAST PERFORMERS AT THE BLUE NOTE GRILL

Sugaray Rayford, Bernard Purdie, CJ Chenier Jr., Eddie 9V, Paul Thorn, Chris Smither, Curtis Salgado, Alison Brown Quintet, Coco Montoya, John McEuen, Young Dubliners, Popa Chubby, Joanna Connor, The Lubben Brothers, Ghost Town Blues Band, Shemekia Copeland, The Waybacks, Carolyn Wonderland, Nick Moss, John McEuen, Wishbone Ash, Big Al & the Heavyweights, Vanessa Collier, Maria Muldaur, Larkin Poe, Walter Trout, Janiva Magness, Barrere & Tackett with Craig Fuller, Marcia Ball, Randall Bramblett, Amanda Ann Platt & the Honeycutters, Scott Sharrard & the Brickyard Band, John Hammond Jr, Ana Popovic, Davy Knowles, Albert Cummings, The Nighthawks, The Subdudes, Roomful of Blues, Jimmy Thackery, Les Dudek, Will McFarlane, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, Victor Wainwright, Samantha Fish, Tas Cru, Tommy Castro, Albert Castiglia, Selwyn Birchwood, Kelvin Holley, Tinsley Ellis, Slam Allen, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, Madeleine Peyroux, JP Soars, Delta Moon, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps, Darrell Scott, Cedric Burnside, The Quebe Sisters, Bobby Messano, Anne McCue, Ruthie Foster, Jarekus Singleton, Bruce Katz Band, Harvey Dalton Arnold, Larry Mitchell, Harper & Midwest Kind, The Gravy Boys, Wayne Sharp & the Sharpshooters, and local/regional favorites.

Join the many people who consider the Blue Note Grill a "home away from home" and visit us today.

We're open for Inside, Patio, and Beer Garden dining following all safety protocols available. Or if you prefer, GET IT TO GO!

WHERE TO PARK

Washington and Geer on-street parking.

Wye Junction's 1st floor parking deck right next door is currently free, though at some future date will require a parking charge. Entrance on Washington St.

Morris St has three neighborhood lots with FREE parking. Simply scan one of the posted QR codes located in the lot. We validate parking at the host desk when you arrive and will need your license plate #.

Durham ID parking deck 

The County Extension Office across from the BNG and up the hill on the right (after 5pm, if they don't have a function happening)

SEE PARKING MAP BELOW.

DO I NEED A RESERVATION?

We do not take reservations. We recommend arriving 1 hour before music starts if you are coming to a show.

NOTE: We do have ticketed shows with seating options. You can now pick your table and seat for these shows by going online through our link on our events page.

I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR OR HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS? CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE?

We go above and beyond to make sure that every guest is comfortable and that our building is ADA compliant. Guests with special needs should call us at 919-401-1979 in advance to make arrangements.

CAN MY BAND PLAY AT THE BLUE NOTE GRILL?

If you are interested in playing at The Blue Note, please first visit our Blue Note Grill booking page. Contact us by email: booking@thebluenotegrill.com and include the word Booking – followed by the band/artist name – in the subject line.

Make sure to send us links to your website, music links (ReverbNation, YouTube, etc) along with band bio information, available dates, band contact, etc. Please do not send us mp3 files!

CAN THE BLUE NOTE GRILL CATER MY EVENT OR HOST MY PARTY?

Absolutely! Check out Catering, then contact us at catering@thebluenotegrill.com and we'll help you feed four to forty or more!