Red Beans & Rice is turning 30, and hosts a family reunion of past and present band members to celebrate.

Red Beans & Rice’s first performance happened on Aug. 3, 1993, at Monterey Brewing Company in Monterey. Back in those days, there were two key band members who helped shape the band – Earlee “Big Steve” Stephens and Sherman David. Songwriter and sound engineer Gil Rubio compares Stephens’ vocal style to Chicago’s Howlin Wolf, an early blues influencer with a booming voice. Perhaps that is how RB&R became known as a blues band.

But just like their namesake Cajun dish, RB&R are so much more versatile, with Americana roots and myriad blues styles flavoring their songs. Throughout the band’s career they’ve expanded their repertoire as new members let their specialties fly. As a result, RB&R boasts a huge number of originals (about half) and a slew of out-of-the-box covers.

Though the current lineup doesn’t have a frontman, Rubio is thrilled with the current membership (Rubio on guitar, John Nava on drums, Thomas McNamara on bass, Daniel Webb on trombone, and Jim Stainton on saxes, clarinet, and flute) – it adds two new horns (trombone and sax) and some Mardi Gras flair to the band’s sound.

Fans will have a chance to taste the different styles that the band has developed during the group’s 30th anniversary celebration at Deja Blue on Oct. 28. “We’re going to journey through the history and growth of the band, from our first CD to the present,” Rubio says. “It’s going to be an epic blast.”

All of the original members who played on the first CD Nothin’ But the Blues (1995) will be there, including harmonica player/vocalist Terrence Kelly (fresh off his Oct. 20 induction into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame), Sherman Davis and Steven Mann. Also present will be Steve Blum, Josh Thomas, Jason MacIntosh, Michael Chatfield, Joe Vallaire, Tom Lawson, Jamey DeMaria and Tamas Marius.

Red Beans & Rice is a ubiquitous local band, performing at festivals and benefits all over Monterey County. But there will be no deja vu at Deja Blue – the group prides itself on mixing it up, and the expanded horn section will make even familiar songs sound fresh. “Even if you feel like you’ve heard us before, come on out,” Rubio says. “We’re not the same band we were 20 years ago.”

RED BEANS & RICE 30TH ANNIVERSARY 2pm Saturday, Oct. 28. Deja Blue, 500 Broadway Ave., Seaside. $10. 324-0044, redbeans.com