Eilen Jewell

Eilen JewellCrafting a unique style that mixes poetic ballads with swinging rockers, Eilen Jewell ranks among the best in the Americana genre today. As the reigning Queen of the Minor Key, Jewell leads a tight quartet who blend influences of surf-noir, early blues, rockabilly, and 1960s-era rock and roll, all brilliantly displayed on her newest recording, Down Hearted Blues. Eilen’s fans marvel at her warmth, unique wit, and onstage humor alongside her beautiful songs and fiery performances.

Eilen Jewell will be taking the stage at the Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta Street, on Friday, June 22, for an all ages performance. Show time is 8:00 pm, with tickets going for $20.00 advance at albertarosetheatre.com or at the door for $24.00 day of show.

Harpdog Brown and The Uptown Blues Band

Harpdog Brown and The Uptown Blues BandCanada’s Classic Blues icon, Harpdog Brown is on the road again, and now he’s bringing a whole new show to Oregon.

Harpdog Brown has acquired a reputation as a real-deal purveyor of classic electric blues — think old Chess Records and Sun Records of the late 40’s and early 50’s. These days he’s been touring more and more as Harpdog Brown & the Uptown Blues Band — a vintage New Orleans Blues sound featuring slide trombone, keyboards, bass, drums, and often a sax and clarinet. Still a vintage vibe, but just a different vintage, and this music will move you! They perform mostly originals yet often include great songs of the masters from that era, e.g., Louis Jordan, Satchmo, Sonny Boy Williamson, Wynonie Harris, even Duke Ellington. Audiences are raving about this new show!

Harpdog Brown & The Uptown Blues Band will appear at The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street, in Lake Oswego, on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 pm. General admission tickets are $20.00 and may be purchased in advance at laketheatercafe.com. Limited, special VIP tables seating four, closest to the stage can be reserved for $100.00.

What’s on Tap for October’s General Membership Meeting

Wednesday, June 6 – 7:00 pm
Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave., Portland
Member always Free – Non-members $5.00
(Members please show your current cards at the door)
Opening set – Bayou Boyz
Second set – Arrogant Bastards

Summer is quickly approaching and that means that there will be a lot of music happening throughout the region over the next few months. From festivals to touring acts hitting the venues and our local artists performing in parks and fairs, there is always something going on all summer long in Portland. And of course, even during the summer months, you know that you’ll always find some of the best blues entertainment happening at the Cascade Blues Association monthly membership meetings.

For June, we have a real treat in store for you. For the past few years, prior to the closing of Blackwell’s, the Bayou Boyz had become a staple for Sunday night blues. Despite the venue’s departure, it did not mean the end of the band. In fact, there weekly calendar doubled up as not only are they appearing on Sunday nights at their new home at Spirits, but also on Monday nights at Mekong Bistro.

With a name like Bayou Boyz you just know that they’re going to bring you some swampy Louisiana goodness to the musical front. And they’re always at the top of their game, bringing happy faces and happy dancers.

The band will feature for this show Louisiana’s own Steve Kerin on the keys, drummer and master soulful vocalist Brian Foxworth, guitar slinger Dan Berkery and Dave Kahl handling those fierce rhythms on the bass. These are all Muddy Award winners and some of the absolute best players in Portland, making this set one not to miss.

The second set will feature a newer band making their CBA debut performance, the Arrogant Bastards, who came together in early 2017 with a desire to create and perform music that is raw, exciting and entertaining. Primarily blues based, they’ve put together a group of players that have clicked from the very beginning with  backgrounds as diverse as the songs they play.

Paul (Rhythm Guitar and Lead Vocals) brings that gritty, swampy, soulful sound of the Gulf Coast, Mike (Lead Guitar and Vocals) has the hard driving blues of Texas and New York rock and roll. John (Bass Guitar) holds down the bottom end with a flash of Motown R&B and a splash of West Coast free spirit. Brad (Keyboards) sprinkles in his East Coast and Southern jazz influenced runs and James (Drums) drives the beat forward with the funkiness reminiscent of the Minneapolis sound.

They are guaranteeing that they will make you want to tap your toes, stomp your feet and get up ‘n’ shake it, as only a funky blues band can do and will not disappoint.

Remember, Catfish Lou’s fills up quickly for the meetings, so get there early enough for the best seats, have some Southern cooking, and don’t forget those drawing tickets at the door for your chance to take home some great prizes. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

New Music to Note-September 2021

Here’s a list of new music of note received at the CBA office, purchased personally, or listened to this past month:

Allen Toussaint – Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky: The Hit Songs & Productions 1957-1978 (Charly)
Beth Hart – Front And Center: Live From New York (Provogue)
Blue Owens Band – Blue As Can Be (Self Produced)
Dana Fuchs – Love Lives On (Get Along Records)
Jeff Jensen – Wisdom & Decay (Self Produced)
JJ Vicars – Irreverent Dissident (Annie Gator Records)
JT Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters – Blue Eyed Soul Volume 1 (Hunter Records)
Kathy and The Kilowatts – Premonition Of Love (Nola Blue Records)
Luke Winslow-King – Blue Mesa (Bloodshot Records)
Meg Williams – Maybe Someday (Self Produced)
Michael Kaeshammer – Something New (Linus Entertainment)
Victoria Ginty – Unfinished Business (Blue Door Records)

The eighth annual Cider Summit PDX is back June 29 and 30 at The Fields Park, 1099 NW Overton St. in Portland’s Pearl District. Presenting nearly 200 hard ciders, regional favorites and international classics served in festival commemorative glassware. The event will feature a variety of food vendors, a dog lounge, live blues music on the Jim Miller Memorial Stage, and an on-site store featuring festival merchandise and select bottles to go from participating cidermakers.

“Cider Summit annually exposes thousands of cider lovers and the cider curious to some of the best beverages on the market,” explained event co-founder, Alan Shapiro. “Portland is one of our signature events, due to an incredible selection of Northwest cidermakers, and its setting in a stunning venue with the iconic Fremont Bridge as a backdrop.”

Tickets available through Cidersummit.com. General admission tickets include a souvenir tasting glass and 12 tasting tickets and cost $25 if purchased before June 1; $30 if purchased between June 1 and June 28; and $35 at the gate. VIP tickets include a souvenir tasting glass, 16 tasting tickets, and one hour early admission on opening day and cost $35 if purchased before June 1, and $40 if purchased between June 1 and June 28; quantities are limited and may run out. Designated driver tickets are available for $5 and include a bottle of water; DD tickets are only available at the gate. Minors are not allowed at the festival.

Plus a great Blues line-up this year

Friday
Robbie Laws and Ed Neuman: 3:15p-4:30p
Ty Curtis Duo: 4:45p-5:45p
Lloyd jones: 6:00p-7:15p

Saturday
Norman Sylvester: 12:30p-1:30p
Ellen Whyte Trio: 1:45p-3:00p
Lisa Mann Band: 3:15p-4:30p

The event is a benefit for Cascade Blues Association, Northwest Cider Association, Dove Lewis Emergency Pet Hospital, and The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research.

The local music community is stepping up to perform a two-day benefit concert — “Raise The Roof” — to help re-open The Garages Music & Event Center in Beaverton. Due to Beaverton’s revised building codes, the weekly concerts were abandoned until upgrades to the building could be completed. Dozens of scheduled concerts had to be postponed/cancelled. However, the bands that have played there over the past nine months approached owner Kent Drangsholt to offer their talent to raise the money required to get the large stage music venue back open by this coming fall/winter. $3,200 has been donated thus far to cover event costs. The upgrades to the building will cost over to $80,000.

Tickets for the event are available online at tickettomato.com for $15.00 per day. Admission at the door is $17.00. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales, beer & wine profits, sponsorships, and direct individual donations by check, cash or on the event’s gofundme.com account will go towards the needed upgrades. Other bars like downtown Portland’s Catfish Lou’s have reached out to assist with the cause.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3 from noon until 9:30 pm and will be held outdoors in a large tent at The Garages Music & Event Center location, 4810 SW Western Avenue, in Beaverton. Beer & wine garden, tent vendors, food pod, dancing and more activities!

So many music venues have closed over recent years that the music community and local business owners want to reverse that trend by helping a local business owner with the funds to get it back on track.

The Line-Up:

June 2, Saturday

  • Taska Barlow
  • The Lightning Kings
  • Billy Hagen & The Adventure
  • Rae Gordon
  • Hyatus
  • Pin & The Hornets with Jon Koonce

June 3, Sunday

  • The Cliffhangers
  • Garry Meziere & Joanne Broh
  • My Happy Pill
  • Norman Sylvester Band
  • DK Stewart
  • DC Malone & The Jones

Plus others scheduled to appear: Lloyd Jones, Phamous Phaces, Sabroso, and Timothy James.

Acoustic Guitar Summit Terry Robb

Acoustic Guitar Summit Terry RobbGrammy Award winners Doug Smith and Mark Hanson, along with Oregon Music Hall of Fame member Terry Robb, make up the Acoustic Guitar Summit – one of the region’s most accomplished musical groups. Providing their diverse musical journey to appreciative audiences for over 20 years, these three impeccable musicians offer impressive finger-style guitar playing and perform unique versions of classic favorites, Blues, Jazz, and Hawaiian slack key. Their wide-ranging, genre crossing repertoire rejoices in the rhythm and power of the instrument.

Acoustic Guitar Summit only performs a handful of shows every year, so it is always going to fill whatever venue they appear in. They will be performing at The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street, in Lake Oswego, on Monday, June 18. Tickets can be purchased for $20.00 at laketheatercafe.com, and limited VIP tables close to the stage, seating four are also available for $100.00. Show time is 7:00 pm.

JT Wise Band and Reverb Brothers

JT Wise Band and Reverb BrothersThe Laurelthirst Public House will host a special night of music featuring two popular Portland area bands — The JT Wise Band and The Reverb Brothers — for one sensational show on Thursday, June 7 at 9:00 pm.

JT Wise Band will bring its original roots rock and blues for the opening set. This band is not to be missed with its excellent guitars, rhythm, and harmonies. Portland College Radio and Kink Radio have praised their original tunes and live shows.

The Reverb Brothers original songs and obscure gems blend blues, country, soul, New Orleans R&B, country blues, and rock & roll. Claes Almroth and the band are eclectic and decidedly non-mainstream. They bring energy, joy, and just plain fun to every show.

Admission is $5.00 at door day of show.  21 years and over. Laurelthirst Public House is located at 2958 NE Glisan St.

Pay It Forward For The CBA

Pay It Forward For The CBAEvery month, the good people at the Muddy Award winning venue Catfish Lou’s tries to hold one event where they pay it forward, giving back to charitable organizations. And the beneficiary for June is none other than your own Cascade Blues Association.  The evening will feature a wonderful double header with two-time Journey to Memphis winners/International Blues Challenge semi-finalists Sister Mercy and 2017 Journey finalist Gabe Cox. Two Muddy Award nominated acts with powerful songwriting, instrumentation and over the top vocals.

This special pay it forward night will take place on Friday, June 15, with Sister Mercy starting the night out at 7:00 pm, followed by Gabe Cox at 9:30 pm. Admission is $5.00 with 50% of the door and 10% of all bar sales being donated to the Cascade Blues Association, plus we’ll be having a raffle with 100% of the proceeds going to the CBA, too. There will also be drink specials offered to CBA members only. If you’re not a member this will be a great opportunity to join. Plus it’ll be one more chance to sign up for volunteering to help out with the CBA merchandise booth during the Waterfront Blues Festival.

Please join us at Catfish Lou’s and help keep the Cascade Blues Association with their efforts to spread the word about the fantastic blues scene in our region. Everybody wins as Catfish Lou’s and the amazing bands give back with this special night of music.

 

4 Peaks Music Festival

North Mississippi Allstars 4 Peaks Music FestivalThe 4 Peaks Music Festival was born as a musical vision of four friends and for the past twelve years has evolved and grown. Striving to keep the festival experience as intimate and friendly as possible, they have brought great national, regional, and local acts to Central Oregon to create a community of artists and attendees. The music is an eclectic mix featuring roots musicians covering the realm of blues, jazz, bluegrass, folk, rock, and everything in between.

This year’s line-up will host many well-known performers, including the popular blues-rock act, the North Mississippi All-Stars, who’ll bring their mixture of traditional Hill Country blues, trance blues, and rock to the Bend area. Other acts highlighting the festival include Scott Pemberton, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Poor Man’s Whiskey, Greensky Bluegrass, The Brothers Comatose, Mother Hips, Molly Tuttle, and much more.

The 4 Peaks Music Festival happens at the Stevenson Ranch, 21085 Knott Road in Bend, Oregon, Thursday, June 21 through Sunday, June 24. Ticket packages start at $25.00 for Sunday and go up to $900.00 for the full four days with accommodations in a furnished yurt. Check out the website 4peaksmusic.com for further information.