News from The Blues Foundation
September 2021
International Blues Challenge
We are in countdown mode! After a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all eager to gather at the 2022 International Blues Challenge (IBC), scheduled for Jan. 18-22 in Memphis. Many of you are preparing for your local blues challenges in order to send your winning band and/or solo/duo artist(s) to the competition.
Keeping the Blues Alive Awards
The Keeping the Blues Alive Awards (KBAs) are always a highlight of the International Blues Competition. In 2022, the KBAs will be presented on Jan. 21. KBAs are awarded exclusively to non-performers based strictly on merit and are selected by a panel of blues professionals. Nominations are accepted exclusively from blues societies that are current Blues Foundation affiliates, past KBA recipients and current members of The Blues Foundation Board of Directors. Additional information about eligibility requirements and the nomination process can be found on the Blues Foundation’s website https://blues.org/keeping-the-blues-alive-award/. Please submit your completed KBA nomination and all required documentation to Keisha Moore-Alston at keisha@blues.org or by mail to The Blues Foundation; 421 S. Main Street, Memphis, TN 38103, by 5 p.m. CST on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Blues Affiliate Survey Results
Thanks go to all of you who completed our Blues Affiliate Survey. While your responses didn’t reveal any real surprises, the information provided will help The Blues Foundation as we develop programs and strategies to respond to your current needs. Based on your feedback we learned:
- When asked whether their memberships have increased or decreased over the past five years, 46% of responding affiliates indicated that their memberships had decreased, 23% said their memberships remained the same and 15.38% indicated that their memberships had increased. (The remaining respondents had not been in existence for more than five years.)
- 61.54% of responding affiliates indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their membership numbers.
- Affiliates ranked supporting local blues artists, building a community of blues fans, and holding their local IBC competition as their top priorities, in that order.
- The overwhelming majority of respondents indicated that they would like to discuss strengthening their local blues society at the next Affiliate Roundtable.
Sharing information and networking is always a highlight of the Affiliate Roundtable. Based on your response to the Blues Affiliate Survey, the 2022 Affiliate Roundtable discussion will focus on successful strategies for strengthening your blues society. A panel of affiliate representatives will present their best practices for managing membership, succession planning, engaging younger people and other pertinent topics. The Affiliate Roundtable will be held during 2022 IBCs, with the specific dates and other details announced closer to the date.
Resources to Support Local Blues Artists
Many blues societies have prioritized supporting local blues artists as they face hardships resulting from the ongoing pandemic. With venues closed and limited opportunities to present live performances, many artists are facing financial difficulties. Your blues society can help local artists by sharing information about The Blues Foundation’s COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund.
Since March 2020, The Blues Foundation has distributed nearly $300,000 to help full-time blues musicians address essential needs such as rent/mortgage, phone, utilities and car payments.
You can help them connect with this crucial resource by sharing information about the COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund in your newsletter and encouraging them to contact keisha@blues.org.
Many blues musicians have delayed or foregone their medical needs during the pandemic. The Blues Foundation established the HART Fund (Handy Artists Relief Trust) for blues musicians and their families in financial need due to a broad range of health concerns. Encourage blues musicians in your community to apply by contacting elizabeth@blues.org
Key Events and Save the Dates! September 2021
9/9 Allman Betts, Roseland Theater (CBA c0o-sponsored event)
9/11 CBA Journey to Memphis Competition, Artichoke Music
9/11 Sonny Hess Birthday Bash/Street Fest, Blue Diamond
9/24 Duffy Bishop, Alberta Rose Theatre (CBA co-sponsored event)
9/24 Beacon St. Titans, Lovejoy Rooftop at the Botanist (CBA co-sponsored event)
9/26 The Kingsmen & Friends Present a Celebration of Mike Mitchell, The Aladdin Theater
9/29 Too Slim & the Taildraggers, Alberta Rose Theatre (CBA co-sponsored event)
9/30 Ruthie Foster, Mary Flower, Alberta Rose Theatre
10/3 Triple CD Release Party-Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys, Sugar Roots & Mick Schafer, The Garages
10/10 Oregon Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert, Aladdin Theater
10/15 Robert Cray, Aladdin Theater
10/15 NW Women In Blues-Sonny Hess (CBA co-sponsored event)
10/17 Blues for Slim Lively, A Benefit for Greg Johnson, Crystal Ballroom
10/18 John Hiatt and the Jerry Douglas Band, Revolution Hall
10/22 Midnight at the Crossroads, Echo Theater
11/3 Mini Muddy Awards—The Covid Edition, Lovejoy Rooftop at the Botanist
11/7 Chris Hamann Celebration of Life, Catfish Lou’s
11/9 Paul Thorn, Alberta Rose Theatre
11/14 Los Lobos, Aladdin Theater
11/11 JJ Grey and Mofro, Crystal Ballroom
11/18 The Record Company, Roseland Theater
11/22 Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real, Crystal Ballroom
12/1 Marc Broussard, Revolution Hall
12/12 CBA Holiday Party, Moose Lodge
2022
3/23 Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Revolution Hall
4/21 Buddy Guy, Tom Hambridge Duo, Revolution Hall
Thanks to Mike and Debra Penk for adding to and editing this!
CBA Presents:
Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys
(First in a Series)
By Marie Walters
Located under the protective cover of expansive canopies where the old On Deck sports bar used to be, Botanist House hosts Lovejoy Rooftop, a venue offering great views, creative cocktails and a delightful menu. And it now features live entertainment at least four nights a week.
On July 21 on a rooftop in the Pearl District, Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys nearly caved in the rooftop floor during their powerful performance. Presented by the CBA, the Wednesday evening show marks the “new normal” post-COVID, with the return of live music in front of unrestricted audiences, the opening of a new venue, new partnerships forged and the delayed celebration of our most recent Journey to Memphis winners.
This inaugural event, co-sponsored by Soundstage Events and Muse Media Collective, solidifies a new partnership that will see future CBA events at this location with a focus on presenting blues music to new audiences. By partnering with Soundstage Events and Muse Media Collective, the CBA will help advocate for and address the need to support our local venues, staff, musicians, bartenders and restaurant workers from the devastating effects of the music industry shutdown.
Many thanks to everyone who attended; with the generous support of members and volunteers, we were able to donate a portion of ticket sales to the Elevate Unity Benefit Music Series, a vital collaboration created from the necessity to reconnect with our community, unite our efforts for positive change, and help heal our city and country through the message of music! This ongoing effort in turn supports various nonprofits such as Ethos Music Center, Black United Fund, Legacy Mentor & Friends of Noise, and the Jazz Society of Oregon. For more information see their full calendar of events at: http://www.tickettomato.com/calendar?search=Botanist&city=all
Welcome Mike Day-CBA Treasurer!
Hi, I’m Mike Day and am looking forward to joining the CBA Board as your new Treasurer! I have a Master of Public Administration degree and currently work in public health IT management. For several years, I was the Secretary/Treasurer for a volunteer, non-profit association based in California. That background led to my interest in joining the CBA board and helping where I can. I’m looking forward to being more involved.
We are all excited about Mike joining us!
The CBA Presents Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys
Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
6:30 PM 8:30 PM
Botanist/Lovejoy_Patio
910 NW 14th Avenue in the Pearl
Admission: $10 members/$15 public
Tickets at Eventbrite
We sent them on their Journey To Memphis where they stormed Beale Street as finalists in the 2020 IBC… now we celebrate!
Tradition has it the CBA Journey To Memphis winner plays the next summer’s Waterfront Blues Festival. Since that hasn’t happened yet, let’s celebrate our winners Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys in downtown style at the Lovejoy Rooftop at the Botanist in the Pearl District, 910 NW 14th Avenue. With the perfect amount of sun and shade, fresh air and elevated energy… join us on the event side of @lovejoy_rooftop.
Together with Muse Media Collective and Soundstage Events, the Cascade Blues Association is thrilled to bring you this Portland favorite front and center for a special event that supports local musicians.
A portion of proceeds will go towards the Unity Benefit Music Series, a collaborative effort created from the necessity to support artists, reconnect our community, and promote Unity through the healing message of music! The focus of the Music Series partnership is to advocate for social equality and address the need to support our local venues, production staff, restaurant workers, and musicians from the devastating effects of our industry shut down. Tickets at Eventbrite
April 7th Member Drawings – How to WIN!!!
If you are a current CBA member, we are offering you a chance to win prizes during the “Virtual CBA Membership Meeting/Livestream”
This month, in addition to our usual CD give-a-way, you can also win a table for 4 for the Sonny Hess Trio show at Artichoke Music on Saturday April 18th.
Here is how to win during the livestream that starts at 7pm:
- For the CD drawing…in the “comments” type in “I’m a proud CBA member”
- If you’d like to be entered to win the show tickets too, type in “I’m a proud CBA member and I love live music”
I’ll be using the current membership file plus any PayPal online renewals through April 6th.
Winners will be announced on Facebook in the Cascade Blues Association Group by end of day Wednesday April 8th.
CD’s will be mailed to the address we have on file for you. If you win the show tickets, I will let you know how to redeem them. Please be prepared to follow current Covid guidelines.
Good luck! Shelley
A Special Thank You Announcement from Randy Oxford
Hey everyone,
After more than four decades in the music business, I have made the decision to retire from it all.
For me, this is the right decision at the right time.
I have had a fun and fulfilling career that I would not trade for anything in the world if given the opportunity to do it all over again.
It would be a monumental undertaking for me to mention and to thank all the people, organizations and places of music by name that have had a meaningful impact on my career and in my life.
So, for now, I want to send out a heartfelt “thank you”! To all in the music world (both on and off stage) and to the many fans who have enriched my life in ways that cannot be expressed in writing.
I am truly fortunate and incredibly grateful to have experienced such a career, meeting so many amazing souls along the way.
I will not be a stranger to the music world. I will still be a big supporter of live music and you will never know when or where you may see me next. 😊
I hope to keep in touch with everyone now and then, and I can always be reached through my email account at oxfordrandy@gmail.com
Life is short. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Faith, Hope and Love have been the driving forces for me throughout my career and will continue to be for this next stage of my life.
Thank you all and God bless.
Randy
Inaugural Village Blues Festival
Eugene’s Rainy Day Blues Society presents the first Village Blues Festival to be held in Cottage Grove, Oregon, on Saturday, September 5 at The Village Green. Eugene is located in a county who have moved beyond phase one of the Covid-19 regulations, so they’re able to hold outdoor events that can allow larger crowds. This event will be socially distanced and safety precautions will be in place.
Performing at the event will be a multitude of Northwest favorites, headlined by Portland’s Anni Piper; the Pacific NW Women’s Blues Revue with Sonny Hess, Joanne Broh, Kathryn Grimm and Theresa Fratto; and Fret Logic with Jerry Zybach, Stan Welch, Rick Markstrom and Mike Hatgis. The day’s festivities will be hosted by Froggy.
Village Blues Festival, Saturday, September 5, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. The Village Green, 725 Row River Road, Cottage Grove. Advance General Tickets $40.00 ($30.00 for Rainy Day members) at Rainydayblues.org
Schedule:
11:00 am – Froggy
11:45 am – Henry Cooper Trio
12:50 pm – Lloyd Tolbert Band
2:00 pm – Jimmy Haggard Band
3:15 pm – Fret Logic
4:30 pm – Pacific NW Women’s Blues Revue
5:45 pm – Anni Piper
Blues in the Gorge Now An Online Camp
Like so many other performances and events during the time of pandemic, the Menucha Blues In the Gorge has also had to adapt. But rather than cancelling or postponing as many have done, they’ll still be holding their acoustic guitar classes, but it’ll happen online.
Since the class size for this camp has always been limited, with so many students per each class and instructor, all will be held through the magic of the Internet. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in a long weekend of classes, conversations, and music-making with four world class blues players/teachers. You’ll be able to attend up to 12 classes via Zoom AND you will have access to the other 12 class recordings for a year! That’s 24 classes! Each teacher will teach 6 different classes (we’ll have the descriptions up soon).
As always, the instructors are world-class, led by Portland’s own Mary Flower, she will be joined by Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, Jim Kweskin and Kristina Olsen
It’ll all take place ther weekend of October 7 – 11. Enrollment is $300.00; though the classes may already be filled, go to https://menucha.infusionsoft.app/app/form/blueswaitlistform?cookieUUID=9e7a5b2a-0be5-4183-9e42-8eed32ff44dc for further information as often they have cancellations.
Co-Sponsored by Cascade Blues Association