Blue Jay Listening Room

By: Garret Mantle

For those of you who know, you know. For those who don’t, you’re missing out on this incredible little gem of a music venue called Blue Jay Listening Room, tucked away right here in Jacksonville Beach. It’s located directly above Casa Maria, right across the street from Bold Bean Coffee. This cozy hangout was built from the ground up by sole owner and operator, Cara Murphy. Murphy has a very keen eye, thrifting and customizing all the upholstered furniture you see within the venue, playing with deep shades of blue and creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone who comes in immediately feels like family.  Blue Jay Listening Room has been standing strong in its current location for the past three years, being open five years all together. 

Murphy’s motivation for creating this establishment came from years of watching her friends play music at bars and restaurants and sympathizing with their plight. She noticed the crowd was constantly talking over the music instead of paying attention and that her friends were encouraged to play popular radio tunes instead of showcasing their original work. Murphy took it upon herself to create a one-of-a-kind place where artists are given a platform to be seen and heard for who they truly are. Blue Jay is intimately candle-lit while artists play. The crowd is encouraged to silence their phones and remain quiet for the duration of the show. This allows for a more intimate experience shared by artists and show-goers, where their mutual humanity is given space to express and connect. Performers often feel comfortable enough to share deeply personal stories from the stage, opening a window to the inspirations which underpin their music.  It's unlike anything I’ve experienced before.  If that’s not enough, Blue Jay Listening Room also serves domestic, import and craft beer, wine and some interesting wine cocktails to sip on while the show is in progress.  The bar service is excellent and the bar staff miss no details in their drink-crafting.  

Since opening, Cara has managed to pull in some very reputable names to play at Blue Jay, artists such as John Paul White from the Civil Wars, Nathaniel Rateliff of the Night Sweats, Bernard Purdie, members of the Allman Brothers family, Randell Bramblett, Brett Dennen, Kaleigh Baker, Corey Kilgannon and a whole host of other local artists just to name a few. As Murphy explains, “we have a seriously kick-ass music scene here in Jacksonville, right under our noses,” so the talent is consistently flowing through the doors. She doesn’t just have solo artists; every other Monday Blue Jay hosts a jam band called “3” with several members from the band Mo Fro.  Every Tuesday some of the finest UNF jazz instructors host Jazz Jam, featuring the world-class musical gifts of UNF jazz students.  

Blue Jay Listening Room may also be rented for special events.  They’re no stranger to wedding receptions, surprise parties, live stream parties and video premieres. The venue’s aesthetic appeals to a comfortable, visually pleasing, understated but eclectic feeling, so it’s versatile as an event space.  With the holidays coming up, make sure you drop by and show some support for local businesses; you won’t regret it!  Gift cards and Blue Jay Listening Room merchandise are available for purchase on-site, and if you’re feeling extra generous this holiday season, scan the code below and donate to their gofundme to keep this amazing spot alive. 2020 has been an especially hard year for live music and live music venues. 

I met up with owner/operator Cara Murphy and asked a couple questions. Check out the full interview at jaxisrad.com.