Veteran local bluesman T.J. Wheeler has long advocated for music education for young people on the Seacoast. Now, he’s giving young musicians a chance to perform live in front of a crowd—a rare opportunity for those under 21.

Wheeler will host weekly blues, jazz and roots jam sessions at Pannaway Restaurant in Rye beginning Thursday, May 5. The mostly acoustic jam is open to all ages. Participants should be at an intermediate to advanced level, be familiar with 12-bar blues song structures, and know at least a few jazz and roots standards.

Wheeler, a guitarist and educator, said he started the jam because there are few public venues on the Seacoast where young musicians can perform live. Playing outside of the classroom before an audience is vital to a musician’s development, he said.

The jam takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday at Pannaway Restaurant, 150 Lafayette Road, Rye, 603-319-4200. For more information, contact Wheeler at 603-929-0654. —MK