WHERE TO FIND THE BLUES

The number of blues venues in Orange County fluctuates weekly, but here are a few of the top spots featuring blues on a regular basis:

* Heritage Brewing Co., 24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. (714) 240-2060. Blues on Tuesday and Saturday evenings, beginning at 9. The pub will add Thursday nights starting in September. A microbrewery, the bar also features outstanding beer.

* Cafe Lido, 501 30th St., Newport Beach. (714) 673-5056. Blues on Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 9, and Sunday beginning at 8:30 p.m., featuring a welcome variety of different styles each day. Blues acts are occasionally booked on other nights as well.

* Perq’s, 117 Main St., Huntington Beach. (714) 960-9996. Longstanding dedication to playing the blues. No blues nights are set in stone, but blues performers play regularly Thursday through Saturday, beginning at 9 p.m. The bar is a little rough around the edges but that only adds to the appeal on blues nights.

* Newport Roadhouse, 1700 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa. (714) 650-1840. There are those days when you don’t feel like waiting for the night to hear live blues. The Roadhouse schedules blues on both Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. as well as Monday night beginning at 8:30.

* Studio Cafe, 100 S. Main St., Newport Beach. (714) 675-7760. Same concept as Newport Roadhouse, featuring blues on both weekend days, but with Thursday and Friday nights thrown in beginning at 9.

Other clubs worth checking out include:

* Blue Marble, 1907 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. (714) 646-5776. Features blues occasionally, no set days.

* Club Mesa, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. (714) 642-8448. Occa sionally, no set days.

* Champions, 2343 S. Bristol, Santa Ana. (714) 549-8860. Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 9 p.m.

* Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. (714) 496-8930. Occasionally, no set days.

* Dana Point Cafe, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. (714) 661-6003. Occasionally, no set days.

* The Depot, 26701 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano. (714) 496-8181. Occasionally, no set days.

* Five Points Bar and Grill, 18685 Main St., Huntington Beach. (714) 841-3679. Sunday evenings at 8 p.m.; occasionally, other nights.

* Josie’s, 17208 Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Beach. (310) 592-5833. Occasionally, no set days.

* Marine Room, 214 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach (714) 494-3027. Occasionally, no set days.

* Randells, 3 Hutton Drive, Santa Ana. (714) 556-7700. Friday nights and often Saturday nights, starting at 8 p.m..

* Renaissance Cafe, 234 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. (714) 492-5282; 2929 El Camino Real, Tustin. (714) 832-2233; 955 E. Birch, Brea. (714) 256-2233. Four to five nights per month at each location.

* RG Fish Co., 111 Avenida Palizada, San Clemente. (714) 366-1005. Wednesday and Thursday evenings beginning at 8 p.m.

* Suds, 16582 Gothard St., Huntington Beach. (714) 841-1837. Every Saturday and semi-regularly on Friday, starting at 9 p.m.

* Taka-O, 425 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. (714) 498-7111. Occasionally, no set days.