Nikki Hill

Nikki HillThose who have seen Carolina girl Nikki Hill sing her ass off agree—this isn’t just another newcomer on the scene, this is a ‘whiplash’ moment. Where did this fireball come from? Why haven’t I heard of her before? If you haven’t heard of Nikki Hill yet, you soon will, and once you see her perform, you won’t forget her.
Hill and her band, featuring her Blues Music Award winning husband Matt Hill on guitar, have been touring extensively following the independent 2015 release of Heavy Hearts Hard Fists and the debut album Here’s Nikki Hill released in 2013. With a no-filter energy, and explosive live show, they deliver a sound that will make you believe in rock ‘n’ roll again! Nikki’s unique voice, with raw rock and soul dynamics mixed with the strength, passion, and honesty of blues shouters of the past, steers the driving guitar and a tight rhythm section to create a breath of fresh air with their fast forward approach to American roots music.
Nikki Hill returns to Dante’s in Portland for what is certain to be another raucous, heart-pounding performance on Thursday, December 7 at 9:00 pm. This is a 21 and over only show, with tickets available at Ticketweb.com for $15.00. Dante’s is located at 350 West Burnside Street. Portland’s Redray Frazier opens the show.
Nikki Hill also plays on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 pm in Medford at Johnny B’s, 120 E 6th Street. Contact the venue at (541) 773-1900 for admission information.

Robert Cray To Play the Elsinore Theater

Robert Cray To Play Elsinore TheatreRobert Cray has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. He has been bridging the lines between blues, soul and R&B for the past four decades, with five Grammy wins, over twenty acclaimed albums and has played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and for his most current release, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, he traveled to Memphis to work with producer Steve Jordan and a gathering of the musicians who helped shape the sound of classic soul.

Robert Cray and his band will be returning to Oregon where he first broke out on the blues scene for a concert in Salem at the Elsinore Theatre, 170 High Street SE on Tuesday, December 5. Tickets for this all ages event can be purchased at TicketsWest.com, ranging from $25.00 to $55.00. Special exclusive tickets packages are also available: the Premium package for $123.00 includes seating in the first ten rows, a T-shirt and an 8X10 autographed photograph; for $193.00 the Ultimate package offers seating in the first three rows, a T-shirt, autographed 8X10 photo, a commemorative laminate and a personal photo op with Robert Cray.

Robert Cray will also be appearing at The Rogue Theatre in Grants Pass on Wednesday,December 6. Check with the venue for ticket information.

Northwest Women Rhythm & Blues Christmas Concerts

Northwest Women Rhythm & Blues Christmas ConcertsFor the 19th year, Sonny Hess and the Northwest Women Rhythm & Blues will be gathering for a couple shows to help bring in the holiday with a little soul and blues. This year’s cast will feature a stellar line-up of some of the Northwest best, including Sonny Hess, Lisa Mann, LaRhonda Steele, Lady True Blue, Rae Gordon, Ellen Whyte and Kathryn Grimm, while the downbeat will be held together by Jim Hively and Kelly Pierce. These concerts are fundraisers for The Candlelighters, helping kids with cancer, something very close to Sonny’s heart as a cancer survivor herself.

The first show will be held Wednesday, December 6 at The Blue Diamond, 2016 SE Sandy Blvd and will feature Sonny, Lisa, Lady True Blue, Ellen and Kathryn. Show time is 7:00 pm.

Then on Sunday, December 10, the ladies will be joined by LaRhonda and Rae as they come together at the Carvlin Hall, 2408 SE 16th for a 6:00 pm performance.

Tickets for both shows can be purchased in advance at nwwomenblues@gmail.com, ranging from $22.00 to $39.50. Help spread the good cheer and as they’ll tell you, “We’ve got the rhythm, you bring the soul.”

 

 

 

Party Time With The California Honeydrops

Party Time With The California HoneydropsThe California Honeydrops don’t just play music—they throw parties. Led by dynamic vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski, and drawing on diverse musical influences from Bay Area R&B, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second-line, the Honeydrops bring vibrant energy and infectious dance-party vibes to their shows. They’ve taken the party all over the world, playing festivals of all kinds and touring widely across North America, Europe and Australia. In 2016 the Honeydrops were honored to support Bonnie Raitt on her North America release tour—and in the past have been privileged to support the likes of B.B. King, Allen Toussaint, Buddy Guy, and Dr. John. Whether in those high-profile performances or in more intimate venues where the band itself can leave the stage and get down on the dance floor, the California Honeydrops’ shared vision and purpose remain: to make the audience dance and sing.

The Honeydrops have appeared in Portland numerous times since their first visit found them at Produce Row in 2009. A few band personnel changes and several acclaimed recordings since, they have become one of the most in-demand bands on the West Coast. They’ll be returning to Portland on Friday, December 8 for a 9:00 pm showcase at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell. Tickets for this 21 and over concert are $18.00 to $20.00 at Ticketfly.com.

Harpdog Brown

Harpdog BrownWith a briefcase filled with awards, including three Maple Blues Awards naming him the best harmonica player in Canada, Vancouver’s Harpdog Brown has been called a blues evangelist — and that’s a very  fitting moniker. He delivers his messages in the traditional sound of early electric blues. Think of the old Chess Records and Sun Records of the late 40’s and early 50’s. Harpdog tells us that “blues has a healing power. It’s a beautiful celebration of our perfectly flawed lives. We help people forget about their issues of the moment and then they realize that we all have our issues, and that’s ok.”

Andy Grigg from Blues Revue calls Brown, “the bona fide, totally authentic purveyor of heart and soul, down-in-the-alley blues. And, believe you me, Harpdog Brown is a purveyor with pedigree.”

Called the best blues band in Canada, which is no overstatement, Harpdog Brown & The Travelin’ Blues Show will be bringing their classic blues to Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Avenue, for a special Play It  Forward event to raise funds for United By Music on Saturday, December 2. Harpdog is the first Canadian mentor for the program who will be doing an opening set at Catfish Lou’s. The United By Music North American band is made of both neuro typical and neuro diverse musicians with professional mentors such as well renowned artists like Janiva Magness, Bobby Rush, Tommy Castro, Northwest musicians Dave Fleschner, Lisa Mann, Ben Rice and many others.

Admission for this show is $15.00 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Tickettomato.com for $10.00. Show time is 8:00 pm.

Journey To Memphis All-Stars

Here is a great opportunity to help support our local acts representing the Cascade Blues Association at the 2018 International Blues Challenge. Travelling to Memphis is not inexpensive and every cent counts to assist in getting our musicians to Tennessee. All three will join forces for one night on December 1 at the Trails End Saloon, with each playing a full set of music, and your $10.00 admission divvied up to support them all.

Opening the night will be the Youth Showcase representatives Timothy James and the Portland Blues Revival, starting at 7:00 pm. All under 21 years of age, they are a cohesive and talented conglomeration of musicians giving you a good feeling of what the future of Portland’s blues scene has to offer for the future.

At 8:15, our Solo/Duo entry, Julie Amici, will hold court on the stage. Partnered with long-time Portland bassist Dean Mueller (The Insomniacs, Duffy Bishop Band), vocalist Julie Amici brings forth the sultry, savvy style of blues made popular by artists like Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. This two-time Muddy Award nominated duo will take you back to the intimate sounds of a smoky jazz lounge of the 1950s.

Two-time Journey to Memphis champions Sister Mercy will take the stage at 9:45. With a reformed band this past year, they are hotter than ever with the hypnotically powerful voice of April Brown leading the charge. Nominated this year for the Muddy Award for Contemporary Blues Act, the band has been featured at multiple festivals and venues consistently.

The Trails End Saloon is located at 1320 Main Street in downtown Oregon City. Reservations are highly recommended. It’s gonna be rockin’ when these three acts come together. Come out and support our artists make their way to Beale Street! They might even have a Christmas song or two included during the night.

Lake Theater & Café

If you want to throw together a dance party featuring local blues artists, then you cannot do much better than bringing in Kevin Selfe, Lisa Mann and Jimi Bott. These three award winning musicians combine for a true powerhouse trio that is certain to bring the crowd up to their feet. It’s a rare opportunity to catch them all together as they’re more than likely working with their own bands or touring somewhere around the country or even the world.
Get your dance shoes and head on over to The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street, Lake Oswego, on Monday, December 4 for this 7:00 pm party. General admission is only $12.00. And they’ll be clearing the space in front of the stage so there’ll be plenty of room for dancing.

Third Annual Red & White Affair

Third Annual Red & White Affair For the past two years, the Red & White Affair Concerts have been held in the Seattle area to help raise funds for the Nurture Foundation to help feed and clothe the homeless.  This year’s rendition will also take place in Portland at the Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Avenue, on Friday, December 15.

The Third Annual Red & White Affair features host, Seattle based vocalist Lady A, whose repertoire encompasses blues, soul, funk and gospel. Also on the bill will be Mississippi bluesman Dexter Allen, renowned award winning singer/songwriter, musician and former guitarist for the Bobby Rush Band.

Show time is 9:00 pm for this 21 and over show, with tickets available at Ticketweb.com for $12.00.

Sugar & Spice - A Holiday Treat

Sugar & Spice - A Holiday TreatEvery year around Christmas, Music Mondays presents a Holiday Showcase titled “Sugar & Spice – A Holiday Treat.” Two of the Portland area’s favorite vocalists, LaRhonda Steele and Julie Amici, have been honored with multiple Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award nominations and wins. They will be showcasing various styles of jazz, blues, R&B, soul, and of course a touch of Christmas. Supporting these two amazing voices will be a stellar grouping of Alan Hager on guitar, Dean Mueller on bass and Dave Fleschner on piano.

Sugar & Spice will take place on Monday, December 18 at The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street, in downtown Lake Oswego. Show time is 7:00 pm and tickets can be purchased in advance at laketheatercafe.com for $20.00 general admission, with VIP tables available in the lower section closest to the stage for $100.00 for seating for four.

Acoustic Guitar Summit Christmas

Acoustic Guitar Summit ChristmasThe holiday season cannot be complete without a performance by the Acoustic Guitar Summit. Combining three of the area’s most talented guitarists, the magic of the season comes to life with their fingerstyle playing.

The Acoustic Guitar Summit is made up of Doug Smith and Mark Hanson, who won a Grammy in 2005 for their contributions to the Henry Mancini – Pink Guitar CD. The third member, Terry Robb, has been the perennial winner of the Cascade Blues Association’s award as the top acoustic blues guitarist, and recently was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. The Summit’s music is heard on national television (Martha Stewart Living, American Idol), major films (Twister, Moll Flanders) and National Public Radio (Echoes and West Coast Live). In addtion, their music is regularly licensed for syndicated TV and radio broadcasts, and regional and national advertising campaigns. Together the Acoustic Guitar Summit performs a wide range of music, though of course this concert with focus on their renditions of the Christmas classics.

Catch the Acoustic Guitar Summit at The Lake Theater & Café on Monday, December 11 at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at laketheatercafe.com for $20.00 general admission. The Lake Theater & Café is located at 106 N State Street in Lake Oswego.