Eugene Huggins

Prepare for a dose of authentic, “drenching wet” blues as the legendary Eugene Huggins takes the stage at The Saloon. As San Francisco’s oldest bar, The Saloon is the perfect cathedral for Huggins’ raw, unfiltered sound. A North Beach institution in his own right, Huggins brings a lifetime of blues pedigree to Grant Avenue, delivering a high-fidelity performance that makes the sawdust on the floor feel like a holy relic of the city’s musical past.

The Sound: Huggins is a master of the Harmonica and Traditional Blues. Having “cut his eyeteeth” on the style of Little Walter, his playing is defined by a deep, crying tone and a relentless rhythmic drive. His sets are a journey through the heart of the blues—from the smoking shuffles of Muddy Waters and Junior Wells to gritty renditions of Chuck Berry and Howlin’ Wolf.

The Pedigree: This isn’t just a local gig; it’s a masterclass. Huggins has shared the stage with icons like Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Carlos Santana, and Tom Waits. That “first-call” level of musicianship is evident in every note, whether he is leading his full band through a high-energy dance set or engaging in a soulful, improvisational dialogue with a burning lead guitarist.

The Saloon Experience: There is no better place to hear Eugene Huggins than under the low ceilings and neon lights of The Saloon. The energy is high, the dance floor is usually packed, and the barrier between the band and the crowd is non-existent. It’s an unpretentious, high-energy “joint” where the music is the only thing that matters.

No Cover: Like many of the best things in North Beach, Huggins’ performances at The Saloon are often accessible to anyone with a few dollars for the tip jar and a thirst for real blues. It remains one of the city’s most elite, yet accessible, cultural experiences.

About Eugene Huggins

A Sausalito native and a fixture of the Bay Area scene since the late 60s, Eugene Huggins has fronted legendary outfits like The Casuals and Eugene and the Bluejeans. Known for his “down-to-earth” stage presence and virtuosic harmonica skills, he has spent decades preserving the “Chicago-to-West Coast” blues tradition. Whether he is performing with his long-time collaborators or leading a new generation of players, Huggins remains a “restless melodist” whose music continues to “open up and soothe the soul” of San Francisco.