The Pioneers
Terra Blues149 Bleecker Street, New York 10012
The Pioneers play Terra Blues as the New York blues band associated with the club, rather than the Jamaican reggae group of the same name. The billed band carries forward the working-group tradition established around the late Moe Holmes. The available listing material does not describe a special theme, guest appearance, release celebration, tribute, or other one-off format for this performance.
The Pioneers began in the early 1990s as a rotating backing band for Moe Holmes of the Holmes Brothers, described by Terra Blues as the group’s former alto and tenor voice. Following Holmes’s death in 2008, Jr Mack, Barry Harrison, Derek Dupuis on keys, and Cameron Carrus on bass continued in his footsteps. Hayden Fogle, on guitar and vocals, or guitarist Eric Cohen may fill in when other members are unavailable. A Terra Blues audience reviewer called the group an “unbelievable” “proper blues band playing originals and covers,” praising the musicians and especially the organ player.
Terra Blues offers a focused setting where the music takes center attention in a compact room that invites you close to the performers. The venue features a bar but no full kitchen, so the emphasis is on drinks and the live experience rather than dining. Shows often run late into the night, with bands playing until 2 AM, creating a space for extended sets and deep musical immersion. The audience is there to listen and engage with the music, making it a place to savor performances without distraction. The venue’s walls and layout bring you near enough to catch every nuance of the sound, and the late hours mean your evening can stretch into the early morning with soulful blues and electric energy. Terra Blues remains a lively part of Manhattan’s music scene, hosting acts that carry on rich musical traditions.