Murphy's Blues Explosion Ignites the Stage at Nova Arts

Jim Murphy of Keene wears many hats. He's a fine art painter, a photographer and a musician, band leader of Murphy's Blues Explosion, and he just completed his fourth album. His son, Jeff Murphy, and daughter-in-law Eliza are co-owners of Brewbakers and Terra Nova Coffee, the exact location of Nova Arts. Murphy says, "Nova Arts is great nonprofit which Jeff and Eliza started. Eric Gagne runs it and Eric is amazing because he knows so many musicians from all walks of life." "And Jeff is an excellent bass player," adds Jim Murphy in a recent phone call with The Keene Sentinel. "I used to take him to (music) jams when he was 14 years old and get him home at one o'clock in the morning on a school night," he adds with a laugh. Murphy started a weekly blues jam in Keene in the 1990s and that is where he met many of his current band members. "In 2004, Jeff and I started playing as a duo and then we started the band that has lasted for 16 years. Jeff is now with Robert Michaels, who is the leader of The Rear Defrosters," Murphy says. Murphy's Blues was the house band of the legendary Rynborn Blues Club starting in 2004. The band continued as a regional favorite until the pandemic. "Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it was sort of as if somebody had died. It all sort of fell apart. So I built it up again by asking all the players I used to play with to join again," adds Murphy. The current lineup, Murphy's Blues Explosion is a Blues-Rock band "rooted in soul, groove and lived experience." The band draws deeply from the Blues tradition while weaving in elements of rock, soul, jazz and rhythm-driven world influences. He then added two singers, who are "really talented and great singers which adds a lot to the band." At their last show at Nova Arts they had the best response ever. People were saying it was "inspirational." "We love our community and enjoy entertaining them and getting them up to dance. It's always a full house and getting people up, carrying on and having big-time fun is our goal," says Murphy. When asked how he explains their particular genre, he adds, "Blues-Rock is anything especially popular in the late 60s to the end of the 70s. It has to do with just your basic rock n roll with electric guitars, electric bass, drums and a singer and everything else is added on or subtracted." Murphy's Blues will have a core group of seven at their Jan. 9 show. The band will include: Jim Murphy of Keene, bandleader, vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Marisol Zelske of Keene on vocals; Ella Bogdonoff of Winchester on vocals; Dave Maclean of Chesterfield on drums; Jonah Erikson of Keene on guitar; Josiah Erikson of Belchertown, Mass. on vocals and keyboards and Chris Beam of Balston Lake, N.Y. on bass. The band Tattooed in Blue opens the show. According to publicity materials, alt-indie rock project Tattooed in Blue emerged in 2022 as the brainchild of Massachusetts-based queer singer-songwriter Christa Renee, who'd been searching for catharsis following a period of heartbreak. Blending alt-indie sounds with elements of motown, reggae and soul paired with a relatable lyrical approach that acts as an exploration of heartbreak, resilience, and hope. Tattooed in Blue has earned a diverse and growing fanbase, as well as airtime from Frequenze Musicali, Lovers Radio, and Glacier FM. Thanks to support from Savings Bank of Walpole, this show has an Access for All option which lets you name your price for one ticket. IF YOU GO: WHAT: Murphy's Blues Explosion, a favorite local Blues-Rock band performs covers and originals. WHEN: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 Doors at 7:00 p.m., Music at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Nova Arts (Brewbakers), 48 Emerald St., Keene TICKETS: Seating is limited, so first come first served. Buy tickets in advance at: novaarts.org/events/murphysblues19 MORE INFO: murphyarts.com