Oh, if those walls could talk at Darwin’s, they’d probably say, “There sure is something about them blues.” Oh yeah, the strummin’ of a guitar, and the lure of a bluesy harmonica at the start of a tune like Muddy Waters’ “Baby Please Don’t Go,” sets just the right vibe to captivate an audience and keep ’em coming back.
This story originally appeared in the June/July 2016 edition of Living Northside Magazine.
Even so, the renowned nightspot has had a winding road for nearly two decades. Marietta’s Roswell Road location served as a bait shop, an Irish biker bar, a drive-up beer store and a two-bedroom house. Kay Rowedder bought it in the late 1990s, putting Darwin’s on the music map. She featured artists such as Jimmy Thackery, Bob Margolin (a guitarist for Muddy Waters) and Delta Moon, whose drummer John “Mighty” McKnight now plays Monday nights with the New Yankee All-Stars.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind place,” says Tom Samples, who became a regular patron around 1999.
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Rowedder sold the business in the late ’00s. The subsequent owner eventually closed Darwin’s. Its structure became rundown and was condemned in February 2011.
Today, blues aficionados have a revived Darwin’s thanks to current owners Jonathan Akin and Lindsay Wine. The couple, both 35, were not considering a live music place when they discovered the closed space back in spring 2011, but they instantly felt the storied history bouncing off the walls of photographs displaying musicians who have performed on the small bandstand. Akin and Wine spent four months remodeling and bringing Darwin’s back to life.
Faithful patrons of the old Darwin’s took some convincing to return, Akin says.
“When we bought the place everyone was so standoffish because they were afraid we were going to do something crazy like put in karaoke,” Akin says. “So when we kept the blues they were all behind us 100 percent. Eventually the blues did start to grow on both of us, and now we totally get it.”
Samples was one of the skeptical returning patrons. He gave the new owners a list of bands that would bring others back, too. The retiree eventually became a partner and also helps out with parking, as well as collecting money at the door. “I decided, what better place to invest in than the one you go to almost every day,” he says. “It’s got an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else in town. It’s a music room, a listening room, and not a sports bar. There are no TVs. It’s smoke-free.”
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Darwin’s capacity is a mere 72 people. Wine and Akins’ dog, Dukes, a mild-mannered rescue pit bull, occasionally roams the dimly lit juke joint while patrons are rapt in music that has some dancing one minute and crying another.
“On some nights I have 60-year-old men sitting at the corner of the bar, right in front of the band,” Wine says. “And they’re bawling their eyes out because the music touches them in a certain way.”
Regular Jeff Brashears adds, “Every time I’ve been there the musicianship has been incredible, and I’ve been blown away.”
“It’s got a tiny stage and a back deck where people can go and hang out,” he says. “It’s always been a good time.”
Darwin’s presents local, regional and national acts, and is helping to pass the blues music torch onto younger generations, says bartender Phillip Bridges.
“You can bring your kids in here,” He says.
Bridges doubles as vocalist in the band Poverty Level, and his girlfriend, singer Katie Martin, hosts Darwin’s Saturday afternoon open mic sessions. An assortment of musicians shows up, such as drummer Blake Jones, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. His 8-year-old son, Alex, plays bass.
Akin and Wine’s commitment to music has garnered them a 2016 Keeping the Blues Alive Award by the Blues Foundation. The Memphis-based organization of 4,200 members and blues societies recognizes non-performers for their efforts in keeping the art form alive and moving forward. Darwin’s is one of 15 recipients named for the 2016 honor.
“A lot of places dabble in the blues but Darwin’s is totally dedicated to it,” says Atlanta Blues Society member Joanne Parry.
“They’ve put as much love into it as anybody could, not only the building itself but the music, the whole scene,” Bridges adds.
Wine says she and Akin seriously considered a food truck business before they came upon the Marietta gem.
“It totally grabbed our hearts,” Wine says. “We didn’t know anything about the blues. We just kept it because the bands and customers had so much passion for it. It’s a community bar.”
Darwin’s Burgers and Blues, 1598 Roswell Road, Marietta. 470-300-4060. hdarwinsburgers.com
insider Tips:
Burgers prepared on the grill in a brand-new kitchen have brought Darwin’s added acclaim.
Darwin’s has different musicians performing live music six nights per week, as well as Saturday afternoons. There’s $10 admission on Friday and Saturday nights. All cover charges go to the band.
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