Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Johnny Burgin and Joel Astley

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with Johnny Burgin and Joel Astley

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music
Present Chicago/Seattle Blues Duo
Johnny Burgin and Joel Astley

Two Great Sounds That Sound Great Together!

We are excited to host two incredible musicians from out of town: Guitarist Johnny Burgin, returning to Portland from time spent in NOLA and points east; and Seattle-based harpist Joel Astley, multi-award winner at the Washington Blues Society. Some may recognize Johnny’s Chicago sound, while others enjoyed Astley’s regular live stream art+music shows over the past year.

The Membership Meeting is going LIVE and IN-PERSON in August!

We’ll be live streaming the performance on Facebook PLUS up to 48 CBA members and friends can watch from inside Artichoke Music.

Doors will open to Members-only at 6:15pm. Pending available seating, both Members and Guests may enter after 6:45pm. First come, first seated. CBA members get in free and Guests pay just $5.

Johnny Burgin earns his name as The Worldwide West Side Guitar Man by performing up to 250 shows a year in Europe, Japan and coast to coast in the US.  Johnny grew up in Mississippi and went to University of Chicago at 18, but ended up attending “blues university”.  Johnny met a DJ on the college radio station who took him to see the Howlin’ Wolf-style singer Tail Dragger on the West Side of Chicago.  Tail Dragger took Johnny under his wing and gave him his first professional gigs, and from there Johnny learned quickly and went on to tour or gig with blues legends such as Pinetop Perkins, Sam Lay and Billy Boy Arnold.  He’s been praised by the Cascade Blues Association for his “stunning guitar playing– the pure Chicago styled sound”.

Johnny’s played on dozens of records as a sideman and as a leader, he’s released ten CDs on Delmark and Vizztone records.  His Johnny Burgin Live features special guests Charlie Musselwhite, Nancy Wright and Rae Gordon and debuted at #3 on the Living Blues Blues Radio Chart.  His latest effort No Border Blues: Japan came from Johnny’s many tours and long relationships in Japan and is the first American compilation of the underground Japanese blues scene.  Vintage Guitar stated: “Stellar fretwork, gloriously loose, earthy and immediate Chicago blues”.  Johnny and his blues partner Stephanie Tice host the No Border Blues podcast, the only blues podcast focused exclusively on international blues artists.  He was nominated for a BMA for Best Traditional Blues CD of 2017 for Howlin’ at Greaseland, a Howlin’ Wolf tribute, Best Live Recording in 2020 from Blues Blast magazine, and is up for three Independent Blues Awards in 2021.

“His guitar style is raw and rude and real– on the vocal side, a nice original style– he’s damn good!” –Elvin Bishop

“An adventurous musician who’s never shy about taking chances.”  – Marty Gunther, Blues Blast

 

Award winning singer, songwriter and harmonica player Joel Astley was a visual artist for 20 years before abruptly jumping headlong into music. Since starting his first band in 2014, he has been performing around The Pacific Northwest and beyond, and has quickly risen to local favorite. He has been recognized by the Washington Blues Society with several music awards including Best Blues Harmonica 2018-2021, Best Male Vocalist 2019 & 2021, Best Songwriter 2020-2021, and in 2020 released award-winning album Grit City with the T-town Aces. He currently leads Seattle-based High Note Group.

“[Joel] can sing like Lowell Folsom and play like Cary Bell.” – Bluesletter article February 2018

“Joel you can write, you can play harp, and boy can you sing.” – Leslie Fleury KSER Blues Odyssey DJ

 Virtual Tip Jars:

Johnny PayPal:

Johnny Venmo: Johnny-Burgin-1

Joel PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/JoelAstley

Joel Venmo: @Joel-Astley

 

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Livestream with Adam Scramstad

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music
Present Livestream with Adam Scramstad

The Cascade Blues Association in partnership with Artichoke Music, brings the July edition of our Monthly Blues Meeting on Wednesday, July 7th the Livestream is at 7pm on the Artichoke Facebook Page.Adam Scramstad

Adam Scramstad is an award winning Solo Acoustic Finger-style & Blues Musician, born and raised in Oregon. Scramstad’s repertoire covers a broad range of early American Folk, Blues artists’ work, although he is primarily known as a strong and creative songwriter in his own-right. Adam’s debut Solo album “No Sun Around Blues” climbed to #33 on the Roots Music Radio Blues Chart. December 2020 marked the highly anticipated release of Scramstad’s new album “It’s a Long Way to Go”. From CBA President Greg Johnson’s January Blues Notes Review: “It has been a long time since his 2006 debut release, No Sun Around Blues, but rest assured he has not been idle during those years. Working on his music and playing with friends, he has put together a new disc that proves he is an artist ready for worldwide attention. That disc, It’s a Long Way to Go, easily stands among the absolute best acoustic blues and Americana releases. Simply said, it’s that good and more.” Although he maintains a focus on Solo Acoustic Delta Slide & Country Blues, Adam is also known for his work with Blues Guitar Legend Terry Robb as an acoustic duo. You can hear Adam’s electric guitar work throughout the Terry Robb Band releases “Muddyvishnu” & “Confessin’ My Dues”.

“He plays a driving kind of solo acoustic blues reminiscent of another Oregonian, the late John Fahey” – “guitar playing is quite good throughout, clean and acoustic” – Gary Whitehouse, The Green Man Review

“Adam Scramstad, an insanely talented delta/country bluesman that shouldn’t need an introduction.” – “Adam’s beautiful and humanistic playing pops up now and again as I endlessly scroll through repetitive memes, and I always stop and take a listen” – Corvallis Advocate

PayPal.Me/AdamScramstad

www.adamscramstad.com

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Livestream with James Clem 

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music
Present Livestream with James Clem 

The Cascade Blues Association in partnership with Artichoke Music, brings the June edition of our Monthly Blues Meeting on Wednesday, June 2. 

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Livestream with James Clem This month’s meeting will feature American Roots musician, James Clem. With over thirty years of playing down home roots music, he has performed in about every style of music in the genre. His main focus now is a mix of acoustic Delta blues, ragtime, vintage country and swing for which he has received worldwide acclaim. Calling the Pacific Northwest home, he has played throughout the region and has toured Europe several times. In addition to his soulful vocals and finger picking and slide guitar skills, Clem is also known as a premier ukulele player. He has played several festivals including the Seattle, Portland and Irish ukulele festivals and the London Ukulele Cabaret in England, as well as multiple blues guitar gigs in England, Belgium, France and Holland. Aside from performing, Clem also teaches guitar and has released three outstanding recordings, Stuff You Gotta Watch, Sugar Moon and Road’s Getting’ Muddy. 

Inspired at a young age living in Los Angeles by the blues musicians he saw at the famed Ash Grove folk club, including artists like Bukka White, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb and Johnny Shines. Clem worked with local bands, The Spruell Brothers and Tobacco Road opening shows for local acts like The Blasters, John Hiatt, Rod Piazza and James Harmon. He even toured with renowned Detroit-based musician Chick Willis whose single “Stoop Down Baby” was a regional hit. 

Clem eventually found himself favoring working as an acoustic artist, playing clubs in Los Angeles on acoustic guitar. One night he had an enamored fan approach him, he stated, “I just have to tell you that you are one of the best guitarists I’ve heard and I love what you are doing.” That fan turned out to be John Fogarty. 

Wednesday, June 2, 7:00 pm. Free simulcast on Artichoke Music’s Facebook live music feed. 

Please tip James during his performance at paypal.ce/JamesClemmusic  

CBA / Artichoke Music Present King Louie & Renato Caranto

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music 
Present Livestream with King Louie & Renato Caranto

The Cascade Blues Association in partnership with Artichoke Music, brings the May edition of our monthly blues meeting on Wednesday, May 5.

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with King Louie & Renato CarantoThis month’s meeting will be an evening of jazzy-flavored blues featuring Oregon Music Hall of Fame Louis “King Louie” Pain on B-3 organ and Muddy Award Hall of Fame saxophonist Renato Caranto. These two have been performing together for more than 20 years in various formats of blues, jazz and soul, but perhaps most notably behind the legendary Oregon drummer Mel Brown at both Jimmy Mak’s and Jack London Revue (prior to the pandemic lockdown), as well as regularly at the Waterfront Blues Festival.

Louis Pain originally moved to Oregon from San Francisco. He spent several years as the organist for the famed Paul deLay Blues Band, touring the United States and Europe. He has worked with musicians such as Linda Hornbuckle, LaRhonda Steele, Lloyd Jones, Ty Curtis and has a longtime partnership with soul singer Sweet Baby James Benton.

Philippines-born Renato Caranto has put his horn prowess behind many local musicians since moving to America in 1991. Locating in Portland, he worked with various Top 40 bands, laid down his grooves behind the Norman Sylvester Band and jazz greats such as Tom Grant and Michael Allen Harrison. He has also played with and toured with a number of national touring acts such as Bernard Purdie, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Arturo Sandoval and most recently with Merle Haggard and Esperanza Spalding.

This will be an exciting evening of instrumental blues and jazz.

Wednesday, May 5, 7 p.m., live feed on Artichoke Music’s live Facebook feed.

Venmo or PayPal: @KingLouiePain

CBA Membership Meeting Livestream with Jody Carroll

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

CASCADE BLUES ASSOCIATION / ARTICHOKE MUSIC
PRESENT Livestream with Jody Carroll

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7th, 7:00 PM,
LIVE FEED ON ARTICHOKE MUSIC’S LIVE FACEBOOK FEED.

CBA Membership Meeting Livestream with Jody CarrollFor our monthly blues performance, the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music present Jody Carroll, a blues and roots performer and songwriter who effortlessly creates bold interpretations of old blues and American folk music, his own songs, stories and improvisational musical journeys. He is a finger style/slide guitar master and amazingly soulful singer, blending flavors of old blues, folk, mountain music, jazz and rock into a true, power-packed gumbo.

His music can be hypnotic and mind-bending with its original styles of acoustic roots guitar as a solo artist or leading the boundary-breaking band Woodbrain. Having performed across the country, in Europe and Japan, Jody has opened for and shared stages with the likes of Buddy Guy, Honeyboy Edwards, Jack Owen, Johnny Winter, RL Burnside, Shemekia Copeland, Sonny Landreth, John Mayall, Robert Cray, Charlie Musselwhite, Roy Book Binder and many others.

Twice Jody’s recordings were selected by the Cascade Blues Association to be entered into The Blues Foundation’s Best Self-Produced CD competition. The first, Rain of Days, made it to the final five in 2007. The second entry, Get Inside This House, won the overall competition in 2011. Judges were mesmerized by Jody’s authentic new approach that carried the acoustic blues into an exciting new territory, foregoing many stereotypical paths of the genre.

​Five years ago, Jody began living the life of a true troubadour, moving into a motorhome. He wanted to get to know America better and living it in order to write about it correctly. For a couple of years he landed in the Carolinas and lived the solitary life in his motorhome in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He began to woodshed and write new songs. A collection of his material from the last couple of years came together during the past year’s lockdown, which he recently released as the outstanding double-disc, World of Man.

Aside from music, Jody has also earned a master’s degree in fine arts and has taught painting and drawing at the university level. He has also lectured and presented concerts and private functions on American music. Subjects have included the works of Robert Johnson in a 101-year celebration and a two-part tribute to the ethnomusicologist Harry Smith and the impact of his highly admired collection, Anthology of American Folk Music.

Wednesday, April 7, 7 p.m., live feed on Artichoke Music’s live Facebook feed. https://www.facebook.com/events/259634338991226,

This will be posted to YouTube the day after the show.

Karen Lovely & Ben Rice Stream From Artichoke

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Karen Lovely & Ben Rice Stream From Artichoke

Karen Lovely & Ben Rice
Perform Together for
March Live Stream From Artichoke

For our monthly blues performance, the Cascade Blues Association along with Artichoke Music present two of the most beloved artists on Portland’s music scene, Karen Lovely and Ben Rice. Both rose to fame representing the Cascade Blues Association at the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN and have gone on to tour the world as in-demand performers and have each garnered multiple award recognitions.

Vocalist Karen Lovely traveled to the International Blues Challenge in 2010 after winning the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey to Memphis. She took Beale Street by storm taking second place overall in the competition that brings musicians from around the world. That win brought huge attention that has not lapsed, with four Blues Music Award nominations, three Blues Blast Award nominations, and multiple Muddy Award nominations and wins. Six recordings, including stand-out releases Still The Rain, Ten Miles of Bad Road, and Fish Outta Water, have all received high critical acclaim through outlets like Downbeat, Living Blues, Roots Music Report and Billboard.

Those following the Oregon blues scene have literally watched Ben Rice come up as a musical prodigy since his early teens. As a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and band leader, he has all the skills needed to carry him on a continual path to great heights. Rice also represented the Cascade Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge, the first time in 2008 with his band The Youth of Blues. He has been two more times since, making the band finals representing the Cascade Blues Association and as a solo/duo performer with Lucy Hammond representing the Ashland Blues Society when he also took home the St Blues Cigar Box Award for best guitarist. Rice had won the honor to represent the Cascade Blues Association again in 2019, but his recording Wish the World Away was nominated for three Blues Music Awards, thus making him ineligible to compete furthermore in the event. He has won the Blues Blast Sean Costello Rising Star Award and has a multitude of Muddy Awards from over the years, including induction into the Muddy Award Hall of Fame.

Karen Lovely and Ben Rice have worked together numerous times over the years including touring to locations in Europe and across the country in both band and duo formats. There’s a little magice that happens when these two come together onstage and it’s obvious how much they enjoy working with one another from their ever-present smiles (though you may not see this with masks worn due to Covid, you just know they’re there).

Wednesday, March 3, 7:00 pm, live feed on Artichoke Music’s live Facebook feed.

Karen Lovely – PayPal karen@karenlovely.com  Venmno: @Karen-Lovely

Ben Rice – PayPal.me/BenRiceMusic  Venmo: @Ben-Rice-12

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Mary Flower

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Mary Flower

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Mary FlowerAs our past Cascade Blues Association monthly live meetings were something that could be looked forward to as a place to listen to some of the finest blues in our area, we’re hoping that you’re enjoying our simulcast presentations each month from Artichoke Music. Of course, it can’t take the place of being in the room with your friends, dancing and enjoying the music with a cold beverage and meal, but in these times of self-quarantine it’s still a great place to hang for world-class performances.

For February we do not plan on disappointing. We have scheduled a musician who is recognized as one of the world’s elite fingerstyle and lap-slide acoustic guitarists, Mary Flower. We have been fortunate that she has called Portland home since 2004. A two-time winner at the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship, a four-time Blues Music Award nominee, and an inductee into both the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Awards Hall of Fame, Mary is a much-in-demand artist for festivals and guitar workshops around the world. She has released 10 recordings, including her latest, “Living With the Blues,” on the Little Village Foundation label, and eight instructional videos on various guitar techniques. She also hosts her own guitar workshop at the Menucha Retreat every fall, featuring world-renowned guest instructors.

Please join the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music for what will be an astounding night of traditional and contemporary acoustic blues as only Mary can deliver.

Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 p.m. live simulcast on Artichoke Music’s Facebook page.

Please show your appreciation for Mary’s playing by sending tips and donations to her PayPal.me/MaryFlowerMusic account or through Venmo Mary.Flower-1

Both the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music are nonprofit businesses and donations may also be sent to them at:

www.cascadebluesassociation.org
www.artichokemusic.org

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music Present Mitch Kashmar & Terry Robb 

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music
Present Mitch Kashmar & Terry Robb 

Mitch Kashmar photo by Greg JohnsonThe new year is rolling forth, but the pandemic doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. But the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music are not going to slow down as we plan on bringing a special night featuring a pair of the West Coast’s finest blues musicians: Mitch Kashmar & Terry Robb. 

Mitch Kashmar is renowned as one of the premier harmonica aces who have made their mark on the Left Coast following a long line of masters like George “Harmonica” Smith, William Clarke, Kim Wilson and Paul deLay. From his beginnings in the early ‘80s fronting his band The Pontiax, Kashmar’s reputation continues to grow, with a successful solo career with multiple superb recordings, to a short stint blowing harp for the rock band War. He has garnered two Blues Music Award nominations and repeated Muddy Award wins for best harmonica and induction into the CBA’s Muddy Awards Hall of Fame. 

Terry Robb is a West Coast legend. Considered one of the premier acoustic guitarists performing today, he is just at home on the electric. His technique is fluid and precise, with string work that is dazzling to behold and a pleasure to listen to. He has played in the Portland area for decades and has received induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. With the Cascade Blues Association he has won so many Muddy Awards, including more than 20 straight years taking home the Acoustic Guitar Award that his name now adorns that award, retiring him from the field. But that does not stop him from other categories, as shown with his 2019 recording, Confessin’ My Dues, which won the Muddy Award for Northwest Recording of the Year. It also received a nomination from The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards for Acoustic Album of the Year. 

When you team up two artists of such high caliber, you know that sparks are going to fly from the Artichoke stage. Join us at Artichoke’s Facebook page at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. Share the event, let all your friends know, and please tip the band. 

Join in and go to the Mitch and Terry’s online payment sources to help these fine musicians make ends meet during these trying times of limited performance opportunities.  

Mitch Kashmar – www.Paypal.me/mitchkashmar 

Terry Robb – www.Paypal.me/terryrobbguitar or Venmo @terryrobbguitar 

You can also join or donate to the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music (both are not-for-profit organizations).
www.cascadebluesassociation.org
www.artichokemusic.org  

 

Coming in February – Mary Flower. 

 ***special note to CBA Members…watch for the January newsletter to find instructions on how to win CD’s during the live stream!

Cascade Blues Association/Artichoke Music Present Steve Cheseborough 

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Cascade Blues Association / Artichoke Music  Present Livestream with adam Scramsted

Cascade Blues Association/Artichoke Music
Present Steve Cheseborough 

Historian, musician, author. Steve Cheseborough wears many hats. A life-long student of the early blues and its progenitors have consumed his own passion for playing and recreating those innovative sounds that bridged the development of modern music over the years. A performance by Steve Cheseborough is so much more than just his playing guitar and harmonica; it is in itself a history lesson as he recounts the stories of his heroes, such as Bo Carter, Charley Patton, Blind Boy Fuller and those who birthed the blues and American music. Steve is also the author of the essential guide to visiting the Mississippi Delta for those seeking the background of those inspiring artists and more. Titled Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues, which is a living work as he updates its content continuously and it has seen multiple printings to date. He was also a featured artist in the film Last of the Mississippi Jukes. 

Steve Cheseborough joins us for the Cascade Blues Association’s second presentation of our monthly streamed showcase in collaboration with Artichoke Music (where Steve also offers classes in both acoustic guitar and harmonica). This is certainly going to be an entertaining night of music and stories from one of the very best at early blues and the progression of the music throughout the years. Steve himself has been one of those bridges that brings everything to life. 

Wednesday, December 2, 7:00 pm. Online with Facebook Live on Artichoke Music’s event page. Please share with your friends to allow the largest audience for these performances each month as we can. 

Please join in on the broadcast and remember to visit Steve’s online payment outlets at: 

Venmo @Steve-Cheseborough or PayPal chezztone@gmail.com 

Every little bit helps our musicians struggling to make ends meet during Covid and the loss of most if not all of their regular working gigs. 

You can also donate to both the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music, two non-profit organizations working to bring you live music and supporting our local musicians and venues at: 

www.cascadebluesassociation.org
www.artichokemusic.org 

The Cascade Blues Association & Artichoke Music Present Kim Field & The Perfect Gentlemen Live Online 

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The Cascade Blues Association
& Artichoke Music Present Kim Field
& The Perfect Gentlemen Live Online 

Wednesday, November 4, 7 p.m. PST 

This is a streaming online performance. Listen in at www.facebook.com/artichoke.music/live_videos 

It has been several months since the Cascade Blues Association has been able to bring live, in-person monthly meetings to our members and friends due to COVID-19 restrictions. We are now teaming up with Artichoke Music to help remedy this situation, by offering once-a-month live streaming performances from some of our favorite musicians. 

Presented live from Artichoke Music’s home stage, our first musical guests will be 2019 Muddy Award winners for Best New Act, Kim Field & The Perfect Gentlemen. 

Join in and go to the band’s online payment sources (to be announced) to help our local musicians make ends meet during these trying times of limited performance opportunities. 

You can also join or donate to both the Cascade Blues Association and Artichoke Music (both are not-for-profit organizations). 

www.cascadebluesassociation.org 

www.artichokemusic.org