Dennis Leckington at the Blue Pepper

Salem isn't exactly known for its music scene, but if you look around there is an interesting mix of musical styles going on around the city on any given weekend.

For instance, I stopped by the Blue Pepper Coffee Shop this evening to catch up on some e-mails and blogging while sipping a cup of fine coffee and I ran into this interesting musical event. Dennis Leckington. I've never heard of him, but he sings classic rock and isn't half bad. Very melodic style. Hawaain shirt. Acoustic guitar. And it definitely draws a middle aged crowd.

What I appreciate about his style for a coffee shop is that it is definitely listenable while you work on whatever you need to do. Sometimes the coffee shops have bands that sort of require all your attention because of their style or volume, but this is a very relaxing way to spend an evening at a coffee shop.

You do need to get to the Blue Pepper early enough on music event nights or all the good seats get taken. This is a popular venue for free music events and the chairs do typically fill up although there is always standing room.

And yes, their music events are always free. They have tried to do cover events, but apparently it didn't go over well with the regular crowd, so they just went back to the free events.