What’s on Tap for June’s General Membership Meeting . . .

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!

What’s on Tap for the May General Membership Meeting . . .

Wednesday, May 2 – 7:00 pm
Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave., Portland
Members always Free – Non-members $5.00
(Members please show your current cards at the door)
Opening Acoustic Set – Bill Coones Swing & Standards Jazz Band
Second Electric Set – Lee Blake Band

First up will be the Bill Coones Swing & Standards Jazz Band. Don’t let the name fool you, these guys know the blues like the back of their hand and will be bringing a set of sophisticated selections covering a variety of tunes, not just your everyday boogie beat.

The band is led by Bill Coones on upright bass and vocals, who has worked in Portland for decades playing with such renowned acts as Pete Karnes, Tom McFarland, Dan Perz, Larry Adair and Janice Scroggins. Bill’s way of presenting the romantic side of the Standards uniquely his own and is a real crowd pleaser in his soulful delivery of classic tunes from Broadway Shows and the Jazz and Blues scene Drummer Duncan Branom is a graduate of the Advanced School of Contemporary Music and has played alongside some of the biggest names in jazz history, including Leroy Vinegar, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, Barney Kessell and many, many more. The third member of the band is Dave Howell on piano, who in fact is a multi-instrumentalist who studied in Cleveland before moving to the West Coast where he has worked in a number of bands covering styles as diverse as jazz, blues, funk, bebop, big band, and Afrocuban.

For the second set of the night we will see the Lee Blake Trio. Lee has been a familiar performer at our meetings over the years, including an opening set back in January where he filled in for a last minute cancellation. But he has performed mostly as a solo act at the meetings and has been requesting a band slot for some time. We want to oblige him for his patience in waiting for his chance by welcoming the band this month.

Mississippi Lee Blake is an expressive vocalist and sensational guitarist who has been performing around the Portland area since the late 1980s, as both  a solo musician and with groups such as The Rockin’ Razorbacks, The Snake Charmers and The Lee Blake Band. A true bluesman at heart, he can also deliver offerings of R&B, roots and retro-style rock, both covers and original music. Joining Lee will be Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee J. Michael Kearsey on bass. Also a former member of The Rockin’ Razorbacks, Michael has worked with many acts in many stylings over the years including UPEPO and The Brothers of the Baladi, as well as his own radio show, producing various artists and creating his own discs. Rounding out the trio is drummer Guy Maxwell, another long-time Portland music vet whose career goes back to work with acts like Diamond Hill and alongside Terry Robb in Two Lane Blacktop back in the 80s. Guy has worked with Lee over the years and also runs and teaches at his own drum studio in town.

This meeting is sure to be filled with excitement and will bring back memories of past and current Portland music greatness. Don’t miss out and remember by attending you have a chance of winning prizes, so don’t forget to pick up your free drawing ticket at the door. And remember that the acts performing are all playing for free, so feel free to throw something in the tip bucket for them. We’ll see you there!!

What’s on Tap for April’s General Membership Meeting . . .

Wednesday, April 4 – 7:00 pm
Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave, Portland
Members always Free – Non-Members $5.00
(Members please show your current cards at the door)
Opening Acoustic Set – David Pinsky & Phil Newton
Second Electric Set – Drop Dead Red

Join us at Catfish Lou’s on the first Wednesday of April for the Cascade Blues Association’s monthly general membership gathering. We will be offering two sets of top blues music this month featuring two long-time groups of friends who are always highly entertaining. Our monthly meetings are one of the best ways to catch up with great friends and see two musical acts drawn from our wealth of regional talent. Plus you’ll have the opportunity to win prizes just by being in attendance.

For our opening set, traveling from up from Medford will be the acoustic duo of David Pinsky & Phil Newton. No strangers to the CBA, they have represented our society in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge in the past. They have been a major part of the Southern Oregon blues scene for over thirty years working as both an acoustic and electric duo.
David’s propulsive guitar, welded to Phil’s harmonica chops, provide a steady groove reminiscent of the 60’s Chicago style duets. The two on occasion will also employ a twin harp attack. Both David and Phil bring decades of vocal experience, with David concentrating on his original compositions and Phil interpreting Blues and roots.
After a short break to make announcements of what’s happening and coming up in our area, and to do our popular prize ticket drawing, the stage will be taken over by Drop Dead Red. This 7-piece band is exciting and features top-notch musicians who bring decades of musical experience to this quality, talented and well-orchestrated outfit. The band plays a mixed bag of music which is sure to bring a night of listening and dancing pleasure.

Drop Dead Red consists of a diverse collection of musicians who’ve worked with some of the most recognized artists of the area and nationally. Theresa Lowe fronts the band with her vocals which she shares the vocal duties with percussionist Wilton Merritt. Jon Tennis on guitar, Tim “The Deacon” Doyle on keys and bassist Joanne Mead all also provide vocals, while Bob Anderson plays sax and newest member Chandler Bowerman is on drums. Always a hit whenever they play the CBA meetings, Drop Dead Red is packed full of mighty fun!

What’s on Tap for March’s General Membership Meeting …

What’s on Tap for October’s General Membership Meeting
  • Wednesday, March 7 – 7:00 pm
  • Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th, Portland
  • Members always Free, Non-Members $5.00 (Please show your membership card at the door)
  • Opening Acoustic Set – Chris Estes
  • Second Electric Set – Dripping Wet

Come out the first Wednesday of the month and enjoy an evening of blues music. The Cascade Blues Association celebrates the diverse collection of musicians in our region each month by presenting two sets of live performances and give-away drawings for our members. It may be called a meeting, but this more about fun and friends than business.

For our first performance of the night, we welcome long-time friend of the CBA Chris Estes. Chris plays both guitar and harmonica and sings his own music, which he says come from straight “outta the blue.” Originally influenced by the British bluesmen when he was younger, it was when he was first introduced through a high school friend that he discovered what he refers to as the “real blues.” This included the music of people like Muddy Waters, Lightning Hopkins, Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson. In fact, he just might tell you that he could very well be the soul partner of Tennesse-based blues legend Sleepy John Estes.

Chris writes and plays from his gut. He says, “It’s a feeling that comes from my emotions and personal experiences.” Something that he has been doing for more than the past 25 years.

Our act for the second set, Dripping Wet may appear to be a new band, having had its first performance just last December, but the core musicians have been playing together for a couple of years, working on harmonies and rhythms in a studio, with their only agenda to make great music. The band has evolved into a genre-spanning groove-machine based on the blues, rhythm and blues, and soul-jazz. As an ensemble they are an eclectic group, and demonstrate a wide variety of musical tastes.

The band features local studio owner Kendra Carpenter on vocals and electric cello; along with Jak Bartels on a vibey-effect driven guitar; two former players from the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – Brooks Brown on sax/flute/guitar and keyboardist Chris Azorr; and Richard Armida, a Los Angeles transplant and veteran sideman holding down the lower end on electric bass.

The band draws on its deep bench of players with talent and decades of experience to recreate classic songs in new presentations and to develop its own catalog of originals. “The band continues to grow, exponentially,” says bassist Richard Armida. “Every time we perform the band gets better and we share that joy together….it’s a gratifying experience.”

Don’t miss out on another great month of music hosted by the CBA. The perfect spot to meet up with good friends, enjoy a meal and have the chance to win prizes just by attending. We hope to see you there at Catfish Lou’s.

What’s on Tap for February’s General Membership Meeting …

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

Wednesday, February 7 – 7:00 pm
Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th, Portland
Members always Free, Non-Members $5.00 (Please show your membership card at the door)
Opening Acoustic Set – David Brothers
Second Electric Set – Timothy James & The Portland Blues Revival

As the year gets in full swing, we’re going to keep things our tradition of bringing the best in blues to our members each and every month. In February we’re pleased to bring a couple acts that display just how strong our blues scene has been through the progression of younger musicians carrying on the genre.

Opening the night for our acoustic set will be guitarist David Brothers. Playing his own material, he mixes the influences of artists like John Coltrane, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Django Reinhart, and John Fahey. Certainly a diverse blend of musical approaches, but David has the talent to bring them all together. He began his musical careet in Johnson City, Tennessee and he has taken his playing to the reaches of the Appalachian Mountains, Texas, New York and finally the Pacific Northwest.

As a young artist, David Brothers was the recipient of the Cascade Blues Association Christopher Mesie Scholarship. He has performed with local guitar heroes like Terry Robb and Robbie Laws and was one of the finalists in the 2010 Journey To Memphis competition. His music besides those early influences can bring out samples of bebop, Latin jazz, gypsy swing, Americana and of course, the blues. This is highly evident with his 2009 recording Corn Flakes And Gin.

The second set of the night will feature our International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase representatives Timothy James & The Portland Blues Revival. Fresh from their trip from Memphis, this group of artists are all under the age of twenty and have been making quite the name for themselves with appearances at festivals and on television.

The band led by fifteen-year-old songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Timothy James also includes guitarist Noah Rozzel, drummer Quinn Everhart, bassist Ryan Stadlet, and keyboardist McKay Everhart — and they play their own original music along with well-known blues-rock classics. Make no mistake, this band though they’re young packs a mighty punch and are all experienced and talented musicians. This is the future of the local blues scene and they’re heading into the direction of recognition far outside of the Portland Metro area.

Remember, Catfish Lou’s fills up quickly for the CBA meetings. Get there early to find a table and don’t forget to pick up your free drawing ticket for your chance to win prizes. We will also have the usual multi-CD package with chances available for $1.00 each ticket to win it all. We’ll see you there for another fantastic night of blues.

What’s on Tap for January’s General Membership Meeting . . .

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

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave, Portland
Wednesday, January 3 – 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-Members $5.00
(Members please show your current cards at the door)
Opening Acoustic Set – Lee Blake
Second Electric Set – Ty Curtis

If you want to experience a tasty bit of great blues music to start out the new year, there will be no better opportunity than you’ll find at Catfish Lou’s on the first Wednesday for the Cascade Blues Association’s monthly general meeting. Two acts will be presented that have held long-time status amongst the very best of the region and you can catch them both in the same place for what is surely to be a dynamic night of music.

Opening the evening will be Mississippi Lee Blake. This expressive vocalist and sensational guitarist has been performing around the Portland area since the late 1980s, working as a solo musician and with groups such as The Rockin’ Razorbacks, The Snake Charmers, and The Lee Blake Band. For the meeting, Blake will be appearing as a solo artist, working his steel bodied resonator and slide guitars. A bluesman at heart, he can also deliver offerings of R&B, roots, and retro-style rock, both covers and original music, with a specialty of bringing people to the dance floor even with his acoustic playing. It has been a little more than five years since Blake last performed at a CBA meeting — way too long for us to host one of Portland’s true blues legends.

Over the past few years, the Ty Curtis Band has built a following not only around his home-state of Oregon, but for the past couple years in his second, adopted home in Austin, Texas. While visiting over the past month, Curtis asked to perform at the CBA monthly meeting and we’re more than happy to oblige. Along with the explosive rhythm section of drummer Jerry Jacques and bassist Tony Valdez, Curtis and his incendiary guitar work and over the top vocals bring a ton of excitement every time they take a stage. Accolades follow this young bluesman who has been a local mainstay for more than a decade; a second place showing at the 2009 International Blues Challenge and seven CBA Muddy Awards including a 2017 recognition for regional blues act of the year. Aside from his guitar prowess and singing, Curtis is a gifted songwriter who can turn up the heat on blistering rocking blues or tear at your heartstrings with emotional ballads.
This is a not to miss meeting, so you know that you’re going to want to show up early to find a seat and good view of the stage. Pick up your free drawing ticket as you enter the venue for your chance to win prizes, or purchase a ticket or even a few of our $1.00 a chance raffle to win a multi-CD package. January and 2018 is going to start the blues year off right at the CBA meeting.

What’s on Tap for December’s General Membership Meeting . . .

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

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave, Portland
Wednesday, December 6 –  7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-Members $5.00
(Members please show your current cards at the door)
Opening Acoustic Set – Justus Reece
Second Electric Set – Blues Battalion

After a short return to The Melody Ballroom last month to celebrate the Muddy Awards, we’re heading back to Catfish Lou’s for the December General Membership Meeting for another incredible night of fantastic blues and great friends.

Remember, the December meeting is when we hold our annual Board of Directors officer election. Make sure that you have your membership card on hand to receive a ballot. We will be voting for next year’s president, vice president, secretary, membership secretary and treasurer.

Opening the December General Membership Meeting will be Justus Reece. Originally scheduled to play this past August, when we had to find a new location for our gatherings Catfish Lou’s was unable to provide a setting for an under-aged musician. Since then Justus has turned 21 and can now play at all venues in the state, so we’re happy to reschedule him for this meeting.

Justus has been consistently studying guitar while also being aware that he can never know everything, and that the guitar is a lifelong pursuit. He is currently studying with Terry Robb with whom he has appeared at venues such as The Venetian in Hillsboro for his IBC fundraiser and the Old Liberty Theater in Camas. And aside from the IBC appearance on Beale Street, Justus has performed at events including the Blues4MS concerts, Cathedral Jazz Festival and the Waterfront Blues Festival.

The music that Justus performs includes a wide range of styles, not only blues but jazz, folk, funk, jam band, and more. You can expect to see him offer a variety of American music such as ragtime, Piedmont blues, American primitive, Delta blues and other roots music. His inspirations are many, but include among them the diversity of such as Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa, Blind Blake, Yes, Mississippi John Hurt, Charlie Hunter, and Funkadelic among them. Certainly a young musician with an open mind and on a quest to learn something new from every direction.

For the band portion of the night, Blues Battalion returns for another lively performance for our members. The band has been together for about 4 years, with original members guitarist Fred Riedel and his daughter Kristi Riedel on vocals, still fronting the band. The band is completed by guitarist Michael Conner, Mike Kelley on bass and Leo Hartshorn on drums.

Each of the members have extensive backgrounds in music. Michael Conner is an educator by profession and also is the founder of MYConner Sound. He played with numerous bands around Eugene and Corvalis and has also released his own recording in 2002 titled Connected. Kristi Riedel  has been involved in music since she was young and works for Young Audiences. Mike Kelley, aside from being the band’s bassist, has also been a guitarist for many years and can often be found playing alongside Joe DeFoney. Leo Hartshorn has drummed for over 50 yeaers and was co-founder and co-director of Drumming for Peace, an organization that teaches publicly for peace through drumming, rhythm, storytelling and music. Band leader Fred Riedel recently retired as a music teacher and has been playing music since he was twelve. In the early 70s he played with a touring group called Questor and also led a band called Fred’s Garage before forming Blues Battalion. He is a prolific songwriter, with several of his compositions appearing on the Blues Battalion CD released a couple years back.

Always a popular act when they have performed for the CBA, this will be no exception. Expect to have a fun time with Blues Battalion.

Remember, Catfish Lou’s can fill up quickly for the meetings, so arrive early to find a good spot and to grab dinner. We will do our regular drawings so don’t forget to pick up your ticket at the door and purchase some winner-take-all raffle tickets too. The funds all go to support the CBA.

Tedeschi Trucks Band To Play Keller Auditorium

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Tedeschi Trucks BandNow in its eighth year, the Grammy award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band has earned its reputation as one of the premier live acts touring today. The 12-piece ensemble, led by the husband-and-wife team of guitarist Derek Trucks and guitarist-singer Susan Tedeschi, is a true collective — a rarity in rock-and-roll where every musician is featured nightly while serving the band’s unified vision, pushing the boundaries of group dynamics and improvisation to inspiring new heights. Praised by reviewers for their “joy-filled blast of blues, soul and rock” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and “stellar musicianship” (Denver Post), TTB is a touring juggernaut, on the road over 200 days a year and never playing the same set list twice.
Its latest release is Live From the Fox Oakland, a CD and film recorded in a single night at a show that fans and band members all regard as one of their finest performances to date. Live From the Fox Oakland, number one with a bullet on Billboard’s Blues and number six on the Rock Albums chart, follows four critically-hailed and commercially successful TTB albums, including their Grammy-winning inaugural studio effort Revelator
The Tedeschi Trucks Band will be bringing their signature pulse-pounding show to Portland for one night at the Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay Street, on Friday, November 3 at 7:30. Tickets are available at the Portland’5 Box Office, TicketsWest outlets or by phone 800.273.1530, ranging from $39.50 – $69.50. Hard Working Americans open the show.

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

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

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Avenue, Portland
Wednesday, October 4, 7:00 pm
Members Always Free – Non-Members $5.00 (Members please show your current cards at the door)
Opening Acoustic Set – Julie Amici
Second Electric Set – Thunder Brothers

October is here and we’ve been having a fun time at Catfish Lou’s for our monthly meetings despite the high temperatures that have been occurring in Portland the past couple months. The room has been packed with members and friends, with a full service bar and good food. We cannot thank the venue for opening their doors to us and for the assistance of Ed Neumann and Marty Henninger for lending their equipment to make the transition at the end of the night to the jam flow easy. Also, bit props to James “Coach” Hurley for stepping in at the last minute to supply us with needed microphones and stands last month and for watching over the PA.

The CBA is dedicated to bringing exciting local artists to perform at monthly meetings and this month we’re proud to bring two very popular acts that are previous Muddy Award nominees/winners and likely to receive notice again in this year’s awards.

Opening the night will be Julie Amici, our Journey to Memphis solo/duo act winners for this year who will be traveling to Memphis to represent us in the International Blues Challenge. Vocalist Julie Yanko and bass player Dean Mueller have received a pair of Muddy nominations the past two years, best new act in 2015 and traditional blues act in 2016. The band derives its name from the combination of Julie first name and Amici, the original name of Dean’s father. Much like the name is a melding of the two, the music is much the same, combining Julie’s country roots and childhood dreams of singing jazz, with Dean’s deeply rooted blues foundation. This past spring the duo released their first recording, Yellow Roses.

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.

The pairing of a vocalist and upright acoustic bass is a magical combination that leaves nowhere to hide. It is a setting reserved for the most qualified artists, a mingling that Julie Yanko and Dean Mueller bring together with unexpected delight, and that will be in showcased fully at the meeting.

The second set of the night will present the Thunder Brothers, recipients of the 2016 best new act at the Muddy Awards. This all-star grouping was first formed to participate in the 2016 Journey to Memphis and has developed into one of the most powerful and sought-after acts on the local scene today. The musicians had played with each other off and on over the years, but when they brought their talents together it was like magic. Everything struck perfectly.

The band features the twin guitars of Michael Quinby and Doug Rowell, who both provide lead vocals and songwriting skills. Both have been members of numerous bands over the years in some of the area’s best acts and first starting working together in the Karen Lovely Band a couple years back, where they also joined bassist Timmer Blakely, another long-time veteran of the Portland band scene. Rounding out the quartet is one of the finest drummers in the region, Edwin Coleman III. Any doubts about this band, all you need to do is to take a look at each of their lengthy resumes. Or better yet, just listen to them on stage together. They recently released a stellar four-track eponymous-titled EP, which is a wonderful showcase of the group’s sound.

Please join us at Catfish Lou’s for the monthly meeting. You just may be winner with our free ticket drawing or take a chance to win the multi-CD package for the month for only $1.00 a chance. But just by attending, you’re already a winner as you will be amongst friends listening to some of the best blues in town. We hope to see you this month, and every month!

What’s on Tap for September’s General Membership Meeting …

General Membership Meeting Slated for Wednesday, December 5

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave, Portland
Wednesday, September 6 – 7:00 pm
Members always Free ~ Non-members $5.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Mick Schafer & Friends
Second Electric Set – Rose City Kings

Last month was our first membership meeting at Catfish Lou’s, and the room was packed. Despite temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. I truly feel that the heat kept some of the members that would normally attend away, so if the weather is cooler this month plan on arriving early because tables and room near the stage will probably fill up quickly.

Please note that with this new format our meetings will need to end about fifteen minutes earlier than they have in the past. This is to accommodate the jam that has been scheduled there prior to our arrival, and the necessary time for stage change-over. We’re the new kids at the venue so we plan on making everybody happy. Big thanks to Robbie Laws and the guys for fitting us into their night, and also to Marty Henninger and Ed Neumann who have graciously decided to make things easier for the change time have offered to bring their drums and keyboards for us to use. Marty did this last month and worked out terrifically!

Opening the night will be local guitarist and songwriter Mick Schafer who may be best recognized as one of the co-founders and leaders of the band Tree Top Tribe. He discovered his love for music when he was young. Mick noted that he “really heard my singing voice for the first time in the 8th grade choir at Our Lady of the Valley Church. A couple kids in the pew ahead of me turned around, surprised as I was….. something emotional and resonant.” He continued his path, explaining that “later, when I quit school and traveled around Europe performing, I got used to playing in front of audiences. Much later and after fronting for Blackberry Jam and, currently Tree Top Tribe, I am playing solo shows as well.”

Though our opening sets are usually totally acoustic, we have strayed on occasion. Mick told us that he’d put together a small group of friends to help out on the night and boy howdy did he ever. Starting off with guitarist Jason “JT” Thomas who just performed for us as a solo act last month, we all know that JT has worked with both Franco Paletta and Lisa Mann the past few years showcasing his guitar prowess. From the Thunder Brothers bassist Timmer Blakely will hold down the pace and drive of the band. Timmer has been a frequent performer with several projects that Mick has thrown together recently. And filling out the group will be guitarist (yes three guitar players!) Ken Scandlyn. Usually Ken would be found touring the country as a member of Shemekia Copeland’s band, but during a current break in his schedule he will joining Mick and the guys for what is certain to be a powerfully entertaining opening set for our meeting.

For the second set of the night, don’t expect anything to slow down as one of the strongest and most popular acts in Portland will be taking over the stage, the Rose City Kings. When the band first formed back in 2002 they quickly established their spot amongst the elite blues acts in Portland, garnering multiple awards and accolades not only from the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Awards, but high recognition from well-renowned press outlets like Real Blues magazine.the Rose City Kings

After taking a hiatus from music, band leader Dan Berkerey decided to bring the group back together about a year ago and they have been hitting the best stages and West Coast festivals since. Dan is an exceptional songwriter and guitarist, but with the new incarnation of the band he brought together some of the city’s best musicians, Louisiana-bred pianist Steve Kerin, the electric David Lipkind who has worked his harmonica magic with many bands in Portland, original Rose City King bassist Tim Shaughnessy, vocalist and percussionist Katy Oberg, and drummer Gary Keeney who first hooked up with Dan when the band performed under the name Kolvane. The group released their most recent album, A Love So Strong, about a year ago which has been called a homage to music, love and life.

When it comes to performing, Dan explained about the band and their quest: “My focus is ensuring that we keep what makes Rose City Kings special – whether you’re playing a Rose City Kings album or coming to a live performance, it’s a great and memorable experience.” And you’re sure to get that same perspective at our September meeting.

It’s a great night each and every month. And now that we’re holding court at Catfish Lou’s you have the opportunity to sample their food selections from their Southern themed menu. Plus we’ll still be having our free ticket drawing and winner-take-all multiple CD raffle. So don’t miss out on any of our meetings, especially this month because it is going to be a big time fun night!