Cascade Blues Announcement Archives - Page 3 of 10

Blues Blast Awards Honors Ben Rice

Congratulations to Ben Rice for being named the 2019 recipient of the Sean Costello Rising Star Award from the Blues Blast Awards. It is hard for us to believe that Ben is a “rising star” as he has been such a solid presence in our region for the better part of two decades. Along with his Blues Music Award nominations, this has been quite a ride for him this year gaining much-deserved international recognition. The Cascade Blues Association is proud of Ben’s accomplishments and we foresee it as only the beginning of many more honors to come.

CBA Autographed Guitar Winner – Lina!!

Cascade Blues Announcement

Autographed Guitar winner Lina with CBA President Greg Johnson

The CBA extends its congratulations to Lina, the winner of this year’s CBA autographed guitar. Multiple signatures from some of the blues world’s renowned musicians adorned the guitar, which the CBA offered in a raffle at the Waterfront Blues Festival and other venues during the last year. Thanks as well to everyone who purchased tickets to help raise funds for the CBA.

2020 Best Self-Produced CD Competition Entries Now Being Accepted

Cascade Blues Announcement, Journey to Memphis

Since 2005, The Blues Foundation has annually held a competition to recognize excellence in independent blues recordings. The 2020 Best Self-Produced CD competition is open to affiliated blues societies from around the world to submit one entry each, preferably selected by a regional competition. The Cascade Blues Association has taken part in this event since its inception and submitted the overall winner chosen in 2011 — Joe McMurrian’s Get Inside This House.

The CBA is now accepting submissions for this year’s competition. All are welcome to enter with the exception of artists who have been nominated for or received a Blues Music Award, or recordings on labels that have been nominated or received a Blues Music Award. No compilation discs, and only artists from Oregon, Washington or Idaho will be accepted. Only CDs released after November 1, 2018 are eligible.

Entries will be judged on Blues Content, Musical Performance, Audio Quality and Production Value of the Recording, Professionalism and Visual Appearance of Cover Art and Design, and Credits and Liner Note Information.

All entries for the CBA must be received no later than the October 2 membership meeting at The East Portland Eagles Lodge. Entries can be mailed to: BSPCD c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228 or can be delivered in person at the August, September or October general membership meetings.

September General Membership Meeting

Cascade Blues Announcement, General Meetings

It may be September, but the summer heat is a long way from being over. Especially when it comes to blues performances in Portland and its region. That’ll certainly be true for the September Cascade Blues Association General Membership Meeting. And to make sure that’s the case we’re bringing back two of our strongest acts over the past few years, both who represented our organization in Memphis and continue to do the Northwest proud every time they take the stage.

Julie Amici and Dean Mueller will be kicking off the meeting with the help of Thad Beckman on guitar. Julie and Dean just recently finished their upcoming album “I Loved You So,”and since the early feedback has been so strong, they’re holding off officially releasing the album while they prepare to launch it nationally. Many of the tunes from the album will be presented during their set at the meeting, giving the CBA membership early access their original music.

This pair has been nominated for three Muddy Awards and were the winners of the 2017 Solo/Duo Competition for Journey To Memphis. Much of the material they developed for the International Blues Challenge made it onto the new record giving this Americana album a distinct blues flavor.

Julie’s strong yet sweet voice is reminiscent of the 50’s when female singers ruled the world of music, a time when jazz and blues co-mingled at the height of popular culture. Her repertoire combines the jazz of Billie Holiday with the soul of Nina Simone and the sophisticated country of Patsy Cline. Dean’s bass playing is rooted in the blues chops he earned playing with some of the finest blues legends in America and touring with the award winning international act, The Insomniacs. With this deep background of musical taste and expertise, Julie and Dean have developed their own unique style that is hard to define, yet intimately familiar and broadly approachable to a wide varied audience.

For the second set of the night, we will be bringing back Sister Mercy. Fonted by the amazing vocal prowess of April Brown, they’ve quickly become one of Portland’s favorite blues band. Winner of the Journey to Memphis in both 2015 and 2017, Sister Mercy went on to compete in in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and placed in the semi-finals in 2016 and 2018. Their latest album “Diamonds” has steadily been gaining critical international acclaim for the band’s powerhouse vocals and original songwriting.

Vocal harmonies are the key to the unique quality of the band with Scott Garcia on vocals and guitar, Roger Espinor on vocals and drums, John Webb, vocals and bass and Debby Espinor, keys and vocals.

Nominated for the Best New Band and Best Contemporary Blues Band Muddy Awards by the CBA, Sister Mercy will make you want to dance the days and nights away. Expect another album in 2020 as the band is busy in the studio writing and recording new material. And expect an fun, entertaining evening as they take the The Garages Stage.

CBA Membership Meeting-Location change for this date only to:

The Garages, 4810 SW Western Ave. Beaverton, Wednesday, September 4. 7:00 pm. Members are always free. Non-members $5.00. all ages until 9pm

We apologize for the late notice!

Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys Take Home J2M Honors

Cascade Blues Announcement, Journey to Memphis

Every July means the Waterfront Blues Festival, and that means on the fourth the Cascade Blues Association holds its finals for the Journey to Memphis competition. This year found three bands competing for the title and the right to represent the CBA and the region in Memphis next January at the International Blues Challenge: Nikki Jones Band, Fenix Rising, and Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys. With top-notch performances, a little switch in set times to allow everyone the opportunity to fully participate (thanks to all the acts for doing this), and multiple delays for starts, the end result found Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys as the ultimate winners.

A huge thank you to our three celebrity judges for this year’s finals: Tony Coleman, Marina Crouse and Monti Amundson, and also to our team of Marlena Maseterson as time keeper, Cherie Johnson as score keeper, and Shelley Garrett as judges assistant.

Now it’s time to help Johnny Wheels, our solo/duo entry Louis Creed & The Geezer and our youth showcase act Generation Headstrong raise funds to help them get to Memphis. Congratulations all!

2020 Best Self-Produced CD Competition Entries Now Being Accepted

Cascade Blues Announcement

Since 2005, The Blues Foundation has annually held a competition to recognize excellence in independent blues recordings. The Best Self-Produced CD competition is open to affiliated blues societies from around the world to submit one entry each, preferably selected by a regional competition. The Cascade Blues Association has taken part in this event since its inception and submitted the overall winner chosen in 2011 — Joe McMurrian’s Get Inside This House.

The CBA is now accepting submissions for this year’s competition. All are welcome to enter with the exception of artists who have been nominated for or received a Blues Music Award, or recordings on labels that have been nominated or received a Blues Music Award. No compilation discs, and only artists from Oregon, Washington or Idaho will be accepted. Only CDs released after November 1, 2018 are eligible.

Entries will be judged on Blues Content, Musical Performance, Audio Quality and Production Value of the Recording, Professionalism and Visual Appearance of Cover Art and Design, and Credits and Liner Note Information.

All entries for the CBA must be received no later than the October 2 membership meeting at The East Portland Eagles Lodge. Entries can be mailed to: BSPCD c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228 or can be delivered in person at the August, September or October general membership meetings.

Thank You Waterfront Blues Festival Volunteers!!

Cascade Blues Announcement

Huge thanks to the following 2019 WBF CBA Merchandise Booth volunteers!

Kurt Marion, Pat Oshea, Dan and Robbie Naser-Josue, Coila Ash, Terry Nolan, Gary Frogge, Sandie Wilkins, Cheryl Crosley, Rawleigh Pate, Bryan Olson, Jack and Karen Hamil, Robert Freeman, Shelly Hallsted, Sue Wagner, Don Geren, Karen Munson, Ken Shultz, Jim and Priscilla Miller, Taizz and Dave Medalia,

Aesha and Dave Drozdowski, Sandie Wilkins, Bryan Olson, Bobby Kovacich, Jody Gunn, Barry Gordon, Jinx Kuehn, Kathy Kiwala, and Nancy Ferry

And to your Board of Directors Members:

Randy Murphy: for moving merchandise from our vendor to storage, and being there every morning to get the booth up and running.

Brad Bleidt: for staying late after the fest and loading up your SUV, then meeting me at storage on Monday to unload.

Kimberly Allmaras, Ron Johnson, Katie Allard, Marie Walters

And even more thanks!

Jon Pierce: for using his truck to move everything from the storage unit to the park

Belinda Clark: scheduling volunteers, fixture shopping, an +8 hour set up day, filled in on booth shifts (and kept me sane)

Jeanette Aglipay: scheduling volunteers, filled in on booth shifts

Richard LaChapelle: leading the volunteers sign up committee

It takes a city not just a village! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

August’s General Membership Meeting

Cascade Blues Announcement, General Meetings

The summer is in full swing and the Cascade Blues Association has been present at a number of happenings all over the city this year. One spot that you can always count on us being at is our own monthly membership meetings, where you’re certain to be entertained by some of the finest blues artists in the region. Whether well-known musicians or new acts about to break out, we’re here to introduce, or re-introduce, this talent to you. This month however, we do not need to introduce anyone as our two acts have made their names highly regarded in our home town and well beyond.

Opening the night will be one of the world’s finest acoustic guitar players. Mary Flower has toured the world and brings smiles to all who listen to her exquisite playing and witness her charming stage personality. Mary Flower’s immense finger picking guitar and lap-slide prowess is soulful and meter-perfect, a deft blend of inventive, dexterous, and mesmerizing artistry. Her supple honey-and-whiskey voice provides the perfect melodic accompaniment to each song’s story, and her precise and well-crafted material.

Originally scheduled to perform for us last February, Mary was forced to cancel due to illness, but it works out all the better to have her play for us now as she has recently dropped her latest recording, Livin’ With The Blues Again, on the Little Village Foundation label. The album is filled with new material that will become instant favorites alongside her deep catalog of brilliant musicianship that have long been praised by fans and critics alike.

The second set of the night will be in the hands of popular harmonica playing bandleader Franco & The Stingers. Since breaking into the Portland blues scene in the mid-80s, Paletta has become one of the mainstays of the city’s blues community. His dynamic harp style, strong vocals and outstanding songwriting reflect his personality and make him instantly recognizable on stage.

There have been many variations of The Stingers over the years, and the band has twice represented the Cascade Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The current line-up may be the best yet, with Tom Gilberts’ exceptional guitar work and the dynamic rhythm section held down by drummer Chandler Bowerman and bassist Timmer Blakely. This powerful set is likely to light the East Portland Eagles Lodge on fire and bring the roof down — in a good way of course. Be prepared to party!

The East Portland Eagles Lodge, 4904 SE Hawthorne St. Wednesday, August 7. 7:00 pm. Members are always Free, non-members $5.00. All ages welcome.

CBA Sponsors Two Speical Artists at the Waterfront Blues Festival

Cascade Blues Announcement

The Cascade Blues Association is proud to sponsor the appearances of Shemekia Copeland and Vanessa Collier at this year’s Waterfront Blues Festival. Funds for this were made possible from a generous donation to the CBA from the William Schauer Estate.

June General Membership Meeting

Cascade Blues Announcement, General Meetings

What a terrific turn-out we had for our initial General Membership Meeting at The Eagles last month — so many people we have not seen for a long time and many first timers, too. Bringing music back to inner South East Portland looks like it will be a very good thing indeed for all. Well, when you have great crowds, then you definitely need to bring in some great music to entertain them as well. And we’re planning on doing just that every month.

So, for June we’re bringing back a long-time friend who hasn’t played for us in some time. James Clem is a master of not only blues guitar, but he is one of the finest ukulele players that you can find anywhere, and in 2015 Clem released an acclaimed uke-based CD, Sugar Moon. The instrument has skyrocketed worldwide the last few years and James has performed at ukulele festivals in the US and Europe. Every fall he does a four-week tour in Europe with blues gigs to a very loyal following. Be prepared to hear both uke and guitar music during his set, as he will also be presenting new material from his forthcoming blues CD, titled Stuff You Gotta Watch, set for a June 15 release date.

The second set of the night will bring another friend who has not performed for the CBA in way too long a time period, the Dan Hess Band. Primarily a blues and R&B outfit, they have a variety of older and newer blues material that is highly recognizable and extremely danceable. A very professional and tight band, that along with Dan on guitar features Fenix Sanders on sax, Juliet Teriill on bass, and Chandler Bowerman on drums. This is a sensational outfit that plays regularly around the Portland area and it’s ready to transform our meeting into a party.

General Membership Meeting at East Portland Eagles Lodge, 4904 SW Hawthorne Blvd. Wednesday, June 5, 7:00 pm. Free for members, $5.00 non-members. All ages welcome.