Matt Schofield

Matt SchofieldThough he holds a British passport and is an inductee of the British Blues Hall of Fame, Matt Schofield has been making his mark globally as one of the top players in the new class of six string wunderkinds. As The Los Angeles Daily News explains, “[i]n Schofield, the UK has produced the best Blues guitarist from any country in decades, head and shoulders above the herd,” while Guitar & Bass Magazine rated him in the top ten British blues guitarists of all time ranking him alongside icons Eric Clapton and Peter Green. Those who have seen Schofield in the handful of appearances he has made in the Portland area know that these accolades do not come without reason. His dynamic performances have drawn raves and comparisons with players like Robben Ford and Buddy Guy, so he is always worth the effort to catch him whenever the chance arises.

That chance is going to happen on Sunday, June 18 out at The Birk, 11139 Hwy 202, Birkenfeld, OR. This is an afternoon show starting at 3:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at TicketTomato.com for $15.00 advance; $20.00 at the door day of show.

Matt Schofield will also be appearing at the Four Peaks Music Festival in Bend on Saturday, June 17. Check out their website for information on tickets and other performers at 4peaksmusic.com.

Duffy Bishop & The Rhythm Dogs

Duffy Bishop & The Rhythm DogsHaving Duffy Bishop return to the Pacific Northwest is always a treat since she moved to Florida. But what is an even rarer treat is when Duffy regroups with her original band, The Rhythm Dogs, for a once-every-now-and-then show. That treat will occur once again in Portland at The Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta Street, on Sunday, June 18 for an 8:00 pm performance.

Back together again, Duffy Bishop and her guitar playing/songwriting husband will be joined by the original bandmates that started it all more than twenty years ago: Henry Cooper on guitar, Keith Lowe on bass and Dave Jette on drums. All are still musicians sought out for their excellence today and when they’re together it’ll raise the roof every time. This is Northwest blues at its very best.

Tickets for Duffy Bishop & The Rhythm Dogs can be purchased at TicketBiscuit.com for $20.00. This is an all ages show with minors permitted when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Doug MacLeod

Doug MacLeodIf there’s ever an artist performing today who is a troubadour, it would have to be Doug MacLeod. Constantly on the road, performing mostly solo while telling stories of his lifetime, the man has few equals who can engage and capture an audience as completely as he so easily does. He has played with many of the legends of the blues and learned firsthand at their feet. Carrying on the tradition, his albums and his performances have earned him perennial Blues Music Award recognition. His shows will always leave you thinking and his humor will place a smile on your face every time.

Doug MacLeod will be returning to the Northwest in promotion of his newest release Break The Chain, with shows in Oregon and Washington. Catch his Oregon performances starting out with a free, short, live in-store appearance at Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside Street in Portland on Friday, June 16 at 6:00 pm.

On Saturday, June 17, MacLeod will be in The Dalles performing for a benefit for Ole St Peter’s Landmark, 405 Lincoln Street. Tickets for this 7:00 pm performance are available for $20.00 at Waucoma Books in Hood River or at Klindt’s Bookstore in The Dalles. Opening the show will be  fingerstyle guitarist Kit Garoutte. This is a stunning venue to catch and acoustic show.

Then on Monday, June 19, Doug MacLeod returns to The Lake Theater & Café in Lake Oswego for what will certainly be another sold out performance at the venue. Located at 106 N State Street, tickets can be purchased in advance for this 7:00 pm show at Laketheatercafe.com for $15.00 general admission.

John Nemeth

John NemethOver the past two decades-plus, John Nemeth has been setting the bar for blues vocalists and harmonica players. He continues to be one of the hottest stars in the musical firmament, touring nationally and internationally with his Memphis band and taking the world by storm. His soulful voice has landed him annually among the leading candidates for the Blues Music Awards, where he has been a winner twice and is nominated again this year for the BB King Entertainer of the Year award.

Touring in support of his latest release, Feelin’ Freaky, where John Nemeth has broken usual blues tradition by encompassing strains of hip hop and rock into his soulful groove tunes, he will be appearing in Portland for one night at The White Eagle Saloon on Tuesday, June 20. Tickets for this show are $12.00 in advance through CascadeTickets.com and $15.00 at the door. Show time is 8:00 pm, with New York-based roots duet Tough Old Bird  will open. The White Eagle is located at 836 N Russell Street.

Roy Bookbinder

Roy BookbinderIt is not often that Oregon gets to see acoustic blues master Roy Bookbinder heading through our region, so it is important that we let you know when such an event occurs. Even if it means taking a little drive to see him perform.

Roy Bookbinder has the goods: the original, the bare-knuckle, the low-down . . . blues. Who can say they were friends with the Rev. Gary Davis, Pink Anderson and Robert Lockwood Jr? And toured with Arthur Big Boy Crudup, Hot Tuna, JJ Cale, and Bonnie Raitt ?  Roy can. He has the stories, the licks, and the mystery of timeless music in his fingers. He’s been featured on a PBS special and interviewed by Terry Gross on “Fresh Air.”  He’s also a regular at Fur Peace Ranch, where he teaches along with Jorma Kaukonen. When he brings his  ‘Tour Bus’  to town, a one-man blues-fest ensues. He plays and he entertains, feeding us music and stories, and the evening is a celebration for us all. We’re privileged to have Roy here to preserve and extend the tradition of great American blues music.

Roy Bookbinder will be making two appearances in Oregon in June. On Thursday, June 22, he will be playing an in-store show at Tsunami Books, 2585 Willamette Street in Eugene. Contact the bookstore for ticket information and time at 541-345-8986.

On Friday, June 23, Bookbinder will be doing a house concert that is open to the public in Cannon Beach at The Cape Concert Series hosted by Maggie & Henry at Sandpiper Square, 172 N Hemlock. Tickets for this are available by calling 503-436-1718. Performance time is 7:00 pm.

(Please note that a Portland area performance is being attempted to be scheduled at this time, watch the CBA Facebook page for any potential show update)

No matter where he’s currently residing or where he is traveling, Monti Amundson will forever be a Portland blues icon. After moving to Nashville a few months back and just finishing with a European tour that took him through The Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium with multiple dates, Monti will be coming back home for a short visit and of course he is going to be bringing his guitar. Known for his fiery performances and guitar solos, the man sings larger than life. When Monti gets compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan or Johnny Winter he just says “thank you.” The fact is, the big man has his own style. “I’m a blues guitar player in a band that plays rock n’ roll,” Monti explains. He doesn’t so much as straddle the line between the genres as bend it, ignore it, or race back and forth across it until both sides go up in flames. The blues of Big Monti comes straight from the heart, cuts through your soul, and is as real as it gets. Monti has several dates lined up for his trek back to Oregon, and it will all start on Thursday, June 22 when he is joined by Allen Hunter at the Downtown Dog, 780 S Main Street, in Lebanon, OR. Show time for the Big Monti Duo will be 6:00 pm. On Friday, June 23, Monti will be returning to one of his favorite venues, The Trails End Saloon where he once held court every Wednesday night hosting a jam. This appearance will feature the Big Monti Trio with Allen Hunter on bass and Cory Burden on drums. Show time is 8:30 pm. The Trails End is located at 1325 Main Street, in Oregon City. The following Tuesday, June 27, Monti will be a guest at AC Porter’s regular gig at The Blue Diamond, 2016 NE Sandy Blvd, in Portland, beginning at 8:30 pm. Then on Thursday, June 29, the Big Monti Trio will be heading across the river to Vancouver, WA for a performance at Billy’s Blues Bar, 7115 NE Hazel Dell Avenue at 8:00 pm.. Friday, June 30 will find the Big Monti Trio at The Half Penny in Salem with special guest Robbie Laws. Located at 3742 Commercial Street SE, the show will start at 9:00 pm. The tour caps off on Saturday, July 1 as the Big Monti Trio opens the day at noon on the South Main Stage at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in Tom McCall Park in Portland.

Monti AmundsonNo matter where he’s currently residing or where he is traveling, Monti Amundson will forever be a Portland blues icon. After moving to Nashville a few months back and just finishing with a European tour that took him through The Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium with multiple dates, Monti will be coming back home for a short visit and of course he is going to be bringing his guitar. Known for his fiery performances and guitar solos, the man sings larger than life. When Monti gets compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan or Johnny Winter he just says “thank you.” The fact is, the big man has his own style. “I’m a blues guitar player in a band that plays rock n’ roll,” Monti explains. He doesn’t so much as straddle the line between the genres as bend it, ignore it, or race back and forth across it until both sides go up in flames. The blues of Big Monti comes straight from the heart, cuts through your soul, and is as real as it gets.

Monti has several dates lined up for his trek back to Oregon, and it will all start on Thursday, June 22 when he is joined by Allen Hunter at the Downtown Dog, 780 S Main Street, in Lebanon, OR. Show time for the Big Monti Duo will be 6:00 pm.

On Friday, June 23, Monti will be returning to one of his favorite venues, The Trails End Saloon where he once held court every Wednesday night hosting a jam. This appearance will feature the Big Monti Trio with Allen Hunter on bass and Cory Burden on drums. Show time is 8:30 pm. The Trails End is located at 1325 Main Street, in Oregon City.

The following Tuesday, June 27, Monti will be a guest at AC Porter’s regular gig at The Blue Diamond, 2016 NE Sandy Blvd, in Portland, beginning at 8:30 pm.

Then on Thursday, June 29, the Big Monti Trio will be heading across the river to Vancouver, WA for a performance at Billy’s Blues Bar, 7115 NE Hazel Dell Avenue at 8:00 pm..

Friday, June 30 will find the Big Monti Trio at The Half Penny in Salem with special guest Robbie Laws. Located at 3742 Commercial Street SE, the show will start at 9:00 pm.

The tour caps off on Saturday, July 1 as the Big Monti Trio opens the day at noon on the South Main Stage at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in Tom McCall Park in Portland.

23rd Annual Gorge Blues and Brews

23rd Annual Gorge Blues and BrewsNow celebrating its twenty-third year, the Gorge Blues & Brews Festival returns to the Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson, Washington for the biggest blues event in the Columbia River Gorge. The festival is only a short drive from Portland and will host multiple Northwest bands along with beer from sixteen craft breweries, regional wine, and a variety of local, fabulous food. Kick-off is Friday evening, June 23, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, and this first night offers free admission.

The main event begins on Saturday, June 24, at noon and runs until 10:00 pm. Performances scheduled for this full day in order of appearance are: The Big River Blues Band, Kenny Lee & The Sundowners, Idle Poets, Ellen Whyte Trio, Mike Klinger Blues Band with Little Mike, Billy D & The Hoodoos, Robin Barrett & The Coyote Kings featuring Tiphony Dames, Sister Mercy, Thunder Brothers, Franco Paletta, and the Rae Gordon Band.

Tickets for Saturday’s performances are $20.00 this and you may purchase them in advance through TicketTomato.com. Your admission also includes one token for a full glass of beer or wine and a commemorative glass. Beer and wine tokens are $1.00 each, sold on the event grounds only. Saturday’s show is 21 and over only.

The Skamania County Fairgrounds is located at 710 Rock Creek Drive, in Stevenson, WA. Reservations for onsite camping sites are available for $75.00 a night, and are limited to three nights. Other offsite camping and lodging is also available. Please check out the festival website for more information including accommodations and other frequently asked questions at gorgebluesandbrews.com.

Proceeds from past Gorge Blues & Brews Festivals benefited Washington Gorge Action Programs, which assists with a variety of deserving, local programs. Future recipients may include the food bank, domestic violence prevention, homeless housing, and others.

Ty Curtis Acoustic Trio

Ty Curtis Acoustic TrioTy Curtis is one of the brightest young performers on the rise in the country. Currently living in Austin, Texas, he splits his time with frequent trips back home to Oregon for multiple shows. All of these performances are special, but the ones that really stand out are the intimate laid-back acoustic shows that he  does on rare occasions. His outstanding songwriting skills certainly shine in this setting. With Ty Curtis on his Austin-made acoustic Collings guitar, Dave Kahl on bass and Jerry Jacques on cajón, this show promises a stripped down, rootsy vibe that has proven itself to be a crowd pleaser.

This acoustic night with Ty Curtis will take place on Monday, June 26 at The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street in Lake Oswego. Tickets for this 7:00 pm performance are $15.00 general admission and VIP tables seating four closest to the stage are $80.00 can be purchased at Laketheatercafe.com.

Join us at the Waterfront Blues Festival After-Party! Catch some of the festival’s biggest acts at the After-Hours concerts at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom. All shows start at 10:30 p.m. with doors opening at 9:30 p.m. These are all 21+ shows. With a Blues Buddy multi-day pass, these after-hours shows are only $5. Regular tickets are $15. Admission to after-hours shows is included with the purchase of Benefactor and Patron passes.

The Saturday, July 1 show features Big Head Blues Club—with Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Billy Branch, Mud Morganfield & Cedric Burnside; and JD Mcpherson.

The Sunday, July 2 show features Galactic and Pimps of Joytime.

Passes and tickets are available through Ticket Tomato at https://www.tickettomato.com.

DME Blues Cruises

DME Blues CruisesCruise the beautiful Willamette River and hear the blues in an intimate setting on the Portland Spirit. A no-host hors d’oeuvres buffet and full bar are available on all cruises. To avoid disappointment, purchase your ticket before the festival begins. The popular DME Blues Cruises sell out quickly.

All DME Blues Cruises board from the seawall at S.W. Salmon and Naito Parkway, in front of Salmon Street Springs Fountain, just north of the Oregonian Front Porch Stage. Bring your photo ID—all passengers 18 years of age and older must present photo ID upon boarding. All carry-on bags are subject to inspection, and passengers may be photographed.

The cruises will head south up the Willamette River to Oregon City, and/or north past the Port of Portland docks. Afternoon cruises are open to all ages and board at 2 p.m., returning to dock at 4:30 p.m. All evening cruises board at 10:15 p.m., returning to dock at 1:15 a.m. DME Blues Cruise tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.

Visit http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com for links to purchase tickets.

Friday, June 30, 2017
DME Hoodoo Moon Blues Cruise – 10:45 P.M. Featuring Eric Gales, Greyhounds, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Terry Robb & Lauren Sheehan. Boarding: 10:15 p.m. This is a 21+ show. Tickets $39.

Saturday, July 1, 2017
DME Sail On Sister Cruise – 2:30 P.M. NW Women in R&B featuring Claudette King, Southern Avenue, and Greta Kohan. Boarding: 2 p.m. This is an all-ages show. Tickets $29.

DME Rock The Boat Dance Cruise – 10:45 P.M. Featuring Brother Yusef, Dexter Allen, and Marilyn Keller’s ‘Da Pipes & Da Killer Band’. Boarding: 10:15 p.m. This is an all-ages show. Tickets $39.

Sunday July 2, 2017
DME Rollin’ On The River Blues Cruise – 3:30 P.M. Featuring Sonny Landreth, Blynd, and Brooks Robertson. Boarding: 3 p.m. This is an all-ages show. Tickets $29.

Monday, July 3, 2017
DME Midnight Shanghai Cruise – 10:45 P.M. Featuring Monkey Junk, Chris Cain, and TBD. Boarding: 10:15 p.m. This is a 21+ show. Tickets $39.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017
DME Driftin’ Blues Cruise – 2:30 P.M. Shari Puorto Band, additional acts TBD. Boarding: 2 p.m. This is an all-ages show. Tickets $29.