JC Smith has long been one of the true aces on the Bay Area blues music scene.
The vocalist-guitarist, who has released several fine blues records during his award-winning career, tears it up on a regular basis at top clubs in San Francisco and his native San Jose.
He’s also performed at such celebrated music gatherings as the Monterey Jazz Festival and the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest.
And what do all those fine venues/festivals share in common? Well, among other things, they typically charge admission.
But that won’t be the case if you want to see Smith and his mighty blues band on Sept. 13 when they perform a free concert at the Music at the Mansion Summer Concert Series in Hayward. It’s the finale of the 2026 series, which also featured Puerto Rican music act the Latin Rhythm Boys, swing band 3 O’Clock Jump and R&B/funk group Chocolate Ice earlier.
The series is hosted by Bay Area slack key guitar great Patrick Landeza, who has performed with Smith on previous occasions and hopefully will do so again at this show.
The music runs 1 to 5 p.m. at Mt. Eden Mansion, 2451 W. Tennyson Road. For more information, visit thehardfoundation.org.