Opening Round of Journey To Memphis Set for First Weekend In June

The 2017 Journey To Memphis competition to determine who will represent the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis, Tennessee next January begins the first weekend in June. Hosted by The Vinyl Tap, 2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd, the CBA will have eleven contestants taking part this year for the opening round, with the top two scoring acts from each night advancing to the Waterfront Blues Festival on Tuesday, July 4 to choose the overall winner.

Admission for each night is $10.00, and the proceeds from the door goes to help defray traveling expenses for the acts going to Memphis, therefore the only free admission either evening is for the musicians performing that night. All guests, wives, husbands, kids, roadies, pets, etc. must pay admission to help out.

Friday night, June 2 will have five acts compete, starting at 8:30 pm. Sets are half-an-hour each with ten minute set changes. All acts will play through the same equipment and will be scored by three judges on blues content, vocal talent, instrument talent, originality, and overall performance.

Saturday night, June 3, will begin at 8:00 pm with six acts scheduled. All of the acts were drawn at random for their set times.

Schedules for each night are as follows:

Friday, June 2
8:30 – Holfar Blue
9:10 – Rogue Rage Duo
9:50 – Sister Mercy
10:30 – Jason “J.T.” Thomas
11:10 – Gabriel Cox

Saturday, June 3:
8:00 – Timothy James & The Portland Blues Revue
8:40 – David Pinsky
9:20 – Louis Creed & The Geezer
10:00 – Julie Amici Duo
10:40 – Lightning Kings
11:20 – Randy Morrison Band