Boise is singing the blues, and Jo Fryberger couldn't be happier.

Fryberger, a bar manager and co-owner of the Blues Bouquet during its 11-year run in Downtown Boise, is the new manager of the Sunshine Saloon at the Rodeway Inn, 1115 N. Curtis Road.

Her first point of order: Spread some sunshine by bringing back live blues, which has been missing in Boise since the Blues Bouquet was sold in 2004.

"I'm just trying to resurrect it," Fryberger says.

This may seem foolhardy. After all, if the Blues Bouquet essentially 12-bar shuffled its way out of business, how can blues possibly rejuvenate the Sunshine?

"We were so big, and our overhead was so huge," Fryberger says. "And this isn't. It's a small bar. It doesn't have a huge overhead.

"And," adds Fryberger, who managed the Sunshine back in the 1980s, "I think we can."

Gruntwerks Productions, which puts on the Hyde Park Street Fair and Eagle Island Experience every year, is booking out-of-town acts at the Sunshine.

Jim Teeter, "head hippie" at Gruntwerks, says he's attracting touring musicians with the lure of Rodeway Inn motel rooms and food, as well as modest payment. In the past few months, the Sunshine has presented concerts by Eddie Turner, the Insomniacs, and Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe. Future acts include Rockin' Jake (Aug. 10) and Peter Carp (Aug. 19). The cover charge for these shows is $5 ($3 for Boise Blues Society members). When the gigs are on weeknights, music starts early - at 8 p.m.

As you probably gathered from the name of Dikki Du's band, this isn't all blues. Teeter says his goal is simply to bring in quality out-of-town acts that will please the Sunshine's crowd, a mostly over-40 mix of music fans, neighborhood drinkers and motel guests.

"I'm probably not as strictly blues as other people when they were booking the Blues Bouquet," Teeter says. "I like to keep it kind of rocked out and see who's around."

"It could be bluegrass," Teeter says. "Who knows?"

The Sunshine is still making its transition. Right now, you'll find live music on Thursdays (local singer-guitarist Richard Soliz and friends) and on Saturdays. Next week, the Boise Blues Society will vote on whether it will move its regular jam sessions from Terrapin Station to the Sunshine. That would add live music on Mondays.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, the Sunshine still has - groan! - karaoke.

Nevertheless, it's clear that the Sunshine wants its primary attraction to be as a new live music venue.

"I think Boise's ready for a blues bar that has some variety," Teeter says.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES

® Austin, Texas-based singer-guitarist Mary Cutrufello seemed poised for big things in the late '90s. Rolling Stone compared her to Bruce Springsteen. She rocked "The Tonight Show." Toured with the Allman Brothers. But, well, life changes. Cutrufello's wicked ax-slinging skills have not, which is why you should sprint to Pengilly's Saloon in Boise at 11 p.m. Friday, July 3. Cutrufello is headlining. No cover.

® The Idaho Center Amphitheater plans to add another concert to its summer schedule. The entire tour is still hush-hush, but É let's just say if you've been "waiting for your rocket to come," you're going to like this performer. Details Monday on my "Words & Deeds" blog.

® Michael Franti & Spearhead will rock Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden on Sept. 22. Tickets go on sale July 10 for $35 and $45 at TicketWeb.

® Dear "Holly." You say you're from Weiser. You wear a BSU football jersey (and, daaang, blue bikini bottom) in your Maxim magazine "Hometown Hotties" spread online. But did you really go snowboarding topless for 10 measly bucks? And is it OK that I linked to your photos at my blog?

Michael Deeds appears Thursdays on Channel 6 News "Live at 6:00."