Journey to Memphis Archives - Page 2 of 9 - Cascade Blues Association

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2020 Journey To Memphis

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in 2021’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry searching for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. But the only way an act may participate is to win a regional competition held by one of The Blues Foundation’s affiliated societies like the Cascade Blues Association.

The Journey To Memphis competition consists of two rounds. The opening round will be held this year at The East Portland Eagles Lodge, 4904 SE Hawthorne St, scheduled for Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16. (The event may take place over more than one night depending on the number of acts wishing to compete. Times will also be determined by the number of entrants.) Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The highest scoring acts from each night of competition (up to four acts) will advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted from now until Wednesday, April 1 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All acts that meet our criteria as described below will be eligible to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s the application information:

Entry fee is $25.00
Each act must have at least one person in the band who is a member of the Cascade Blues

Association.

Only acts located within the region of Oregon, or Washington are allowed to enter the

Journey To Memphis.

Any act or member of an act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music

Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete. No exceptions.

Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge two consecutive years,

regardless whether with the same society or as a solo/duo or band act, must sit out a year

before being allowed to compete again. Acts can only participate three times in Memphis

(acts competing previous to 2017 will be grandfathered and may compete three times

starting from 2017).

Along with your $25.00 application fee, send an up-to-date band bio including names of

all members, a 300 dpi photo of the band, full song samples of the band’s music (this

may be used on a radio broadcast to promote the event), and we need to be made aware

of any band member who may be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition so

the venue is aware ahead of time for Oregon or Washington Liquor Commission laws.

We require that any act that moves forward in the competition must use the same band

members that they won the rounds with. In other words, if you won with a certain bass

player or drummer at the Waterfront Blues Festival, that bassist and drummer must be in

your band to compete in Memphis. Exceptions will made in rare circumstances when not under control of the act, such as health issues.

We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so

with other societies. All that we ask is that if you win another group’s competition before

ours is held, or if you win ours before theirs, please remove yourself from further

competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

Memphis Recap – 2020 International Blues Challenge

Cascade Blues Announcement, Journey to Memphis

By Marie Walters

Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys in the IBC Finals – photo by Marie Walters

This rookie’s first Journey To Memphis was a whirlwind of preparation, travel, showcases, jams, performances, and eateries — all topped off with lack of sleep. I was lucky to be traveling with IBC ‘veterans’ so I had plenty of advice on how to navigate my week on Beale Street, starting with “you simply can’t see it all.” And that’s the truth! With over 200 bands and musicians performing in 17 different venues over four days, 10,000 steps a day was easy while crisscrossing Beale Street trying to catch every act I wanted to see. These included the CBA’s own entries: Generation Headstrong in the Youth Showcase, Louis Creed and the Geezer in the Solo/Duo category, and Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys (JW/SD) competing with other bands.

Although I also wanted to see other artists who’d previously played Portland, including Duffy Bishop, Blue Moon Marquee, and JW Jones (in HOROJO Trio), not to mention showcases and jams with local favorites, it wasn’t possible to be everywhere I wanted to be.

All competitors performed twice during the quarterfinals on Wednesday and Thursday. By the second day there was buzz about JW/SD, and bodies were packed right out to the street wanting to check out this powerhouse band! Late that night they announced the Donkeys made it to the semi-finals and we all celebrated well into the wee hours.

Generation Headstrong, Youth Showcase IBC Memphis – photo by Marie Walters

Friday we learned when and where JW/SD were playing that evening. Meanwhile the Youth Showcase took place early evening across 12 different venues. Generation Headstrong had an early slot and did a great job on stage, building on all they learned in workshops that week. The audience loved their set, especially their covers of Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” and “Walking the Dog”!

Even at the larger venue, Johnny and the Donkeys had the place packed inside and out, receiving standing ovations for their out-of-the-ballpark set. Nobody was really surprised when they announced JW/SD were among the eight bands going to the finals at the Orpheum on Saturday — but everyone sure was thrilled!

JW/SD were the first band to play on the Orpheum stage Saturday. They rocked a slightly shorter set to keep within their time slot. All these bands and solo/duo acts were the best of the IBCs and so much talent crossed that stage, but it was nerve racking to wait through 14 more performances and an All Star Showcase before knowing the result!

Finally Blues Foundation President Barbara Newman took the stage to announce the winners. In the band category, HOROJO Trio (with JW Jones, who also won the Gibson Guitarist Award) from Ottawa took first place, the Jose Ramirez Band from D.C. was second, and the Pitbull of Blues Band out of Florida came third.

In the Solo/Duo category, Hector Anchondo from Omaha won first place, and also the Memphis Cigar Box Award. Felix Slim from Long Island took second place and won the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award. Our own Rich Layton was short-listed for Best Self-Produced CD, however Sweet Thing Moonshine Society out of Virginia won in that category. Congratulations to ALL the bands that made it to the finals! If it was difficult for me to narrow down the best beyond the top four or five, I can only imagine how difficult it was for the judges!

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2020 Journey To Memphis

Cascade Blues Announcement, Journey to Memphis

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in 2021’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry searching for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. But the only way an act may participate is to win a regional competition held by one of The Blues Foundation’s affiliated societies, like our Cascade Blues Association.

The Journey To Memphis competition consists of two rounds. The opening round will be held this year in early-to-mid-May at a venue to be determined. The event may take place over more than one night depending on the number of acts wishing to compete. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The highest scoring acts from each night of competition (up to four acts) will advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted from now until Wednesday, April 1 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All acts that meet our criteria as described below will be eligible to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s the application information:

Entry fee is $25.00
Each act must have at least one person in the band who is a member of the Cascade Blues

Association.

Only acts located within the region of Oregon, or Washington are allowed to enter the

Journey To Memphis.

Any act or member of an act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music

Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete. No exceptions.

Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge two consecutive years,

regardless whether with the same society or as a solo/duo or band act, must sit out a year

before being allowed to compete again. Acts can only participate three times in Memphis

(acts competing previous to 2017 will be grandfathered and may compete three times

starting from 2017).

Along with your $25.00 application fee, send an up-to-date band bio including names of

all members, a 300 dpi photo of the band, full song samples of the band’s music (this

may be used on a radio broadcast to promote the event), and we need to be made aware

of any band member who may be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition so

the venue is aware ahead of time for Oregon or Washington Liquor Commission laws.

We require that any act that moves forward in the competition must use the same band

members that they won the rounds with. In other words, if you won with a certain bass

player or drummer at the Waterfront Blues Festival, that bassist and drummer must be in

your band to compete in Memphis. Exceptions will made in rare circumstances beyond the control of the act, such as health issues.

We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so

with other societies. All that we ask is that if you win another group’s competition before

ours is held, or if you win ours before theirs, please remove yourself from further

competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

February General Membership Meeting – Plaehn & Hino / Robbie Laws

Journey to Memphis

The first Wednesday in February means more exciting blues coming your way courtesy of the Cascade Blues Association’s monthly membership meeting at The Eagles Aerie on Hawthorne. Your CBA always brings you the very best in blues and blues-related music in an all-ages friendly venue, and we also strive to offer some familiar musical friends or maybe some that’ll be new to you. These meetings are also entertaining and worth spending a couple hours with us every time out.

Opening the evening this month will be Corvallis’ favorite acoustic bluesters Dave Plaehn and Jeff Hino. This duet hasn’t played for us for several years, but they’re super talented and work in the traditional format of harmonica and National steel guitar, with the occasional banjo. Their repertoire is rooted in bare bones country blues and 2020 marks the 30th anniversary for Dave and Jeff’s musical journey together.

A typical Plaehn and Hino set features traditional blues, originals, and contemporary and creative interpretations of current artists like Taj Mahal, Sonny Landreth, and John Mayall. But Dave and Jeff can just as easily surprise the audience with the high and lonesome sound of a country blues gospel song. It’s a blues-based musical Cuisinart, with an enjoyable and varied blend in every performance.

Plaehn and Hino will certainly get things jumping, and expect the roof to be raised to an even more elevated level following them as Robbie Laws will take the stage. Robbie will be leading a power trio with the combination of blues strength of drummer Eric Ching, keyboardist Ben Partain and Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards Hall of Famer and the recipient of the “Paul deLay” Lifetime Achievement award guitarist Robbie Laws. Definitely a set that going to cook!

Expect this set to offer selections of bluesy guitar, a touch of funkiness with steady drumming and keyboards holding the groove and bass both at the same time. This is a tight outfit who have played with many of the very best the Northwest has to offer and they work off one another to perfection and they’ll be bringing the goodies to the Eagles to get you all out on the dance floor.

The East Portland Eagles Aerie, 4904 SE Hawthorne St. Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 pm. CBA members always Free, non-members $5.00. All ages welcome.

Bring In The New Year Right, Attend the January General Membership Meeting

Journey to Memphis

Here it is another year and because New Years Day actually falls on Wednesday 1 this time around, we are pushing our monthly general membership meeting back one week to the 8^th. This will allow everybody the opportunity to recuperate from all the partying and football over the previous two days. But it gives us a few extra days to plan ahead to attend the meeting and witness some more fantastic blues to kick off the year just right. Because we plan on celebrating 2020 with you every month of the year in a big way!!

Opening the evening will The Jenny Moriarty Experience (JME), a stylized blues and jazz for the next roaring 20s. The band combines decades of music experience exploring the vast genres of rock, blues, and jazz.

Anybody that has been active in Portland’s Blue’s scene will be familiar with Jenny‘s powerful and expressive vocals as she has performed with many of Portland’s more prominent musicians. JME provides Jenny perhaps her most versatile and expressive vehicle where she can truly display her performance abilities and musicality.

The instrumental aspects of JME are anchored by Steve Maliszewski on bass and Brad Bleidt on piano. Steve displays his incredible musical talents on both upright and electric bass in his ability to creatively provide a solid foundation for the ensemble’s wide array of music but also in his incredible soloing abilities. Brad’s primary piano focus is providing a rich imaginative harmonic interpretation to Jenny’s varied repertoire while injecting complementary solos to round out the ensemble’s stylizing.

Jenny, Steve, and Brad are active performers in Portland’s music venues with other projects such Bedazzle, Beacon Street Titans, and The Mystic Mama Band

For the second set, we’re bringing the kids back to The Eagles. When Generation Headstrong participated in the Journey To Memphis competition here last May, they won everybody’s hearts and brought the crowd to their feet dancing. Expect more of the same as they’ll have an hour long set rather than the timed set allowed by the J2M.

Generation Headstrong is quickly emerging as one of the area’s most explosive and captivating youth rock and blues bands. After playing together in a local music program for two years, this ambitious group took the stage as an official band in February 2019. Not long after, Generation Headstrong competed in the Journey to Memphis Competition, where they earned a chance to represent Cascade Blues Association as the youth act at the 2020 International Blues Competition in Memphis.

Age knows no bounds for this young group of musicians. Their song choices are complex and powerful, with inspiration coming from many diverse genres and artists. Early on as a band, this group gravitated toward rock/metal classics and some progressive rock. However, more recently, they have found a love for the blues, especially songs that have a strong blues-rock vibe. Currently they strive to find rock and blues-rock cover songs to add their twist to, but they are working hard writing some of their own originals to add to their set list soon.

Generation Headstrong’s dynamic rhythm section is made up of two young brothers Jameson and Bennett Fyfe. Jameson, the youngest in the band at nine years old, is the band’s energetic and animated drummer. Bennett, at 11 years old, is the band’s commanding frontman bass player and lead vocalist. At fourteen, Grayson Much consistently shreds lead guitar and sings vocals while the talented Aiden Baird, also fourteen, shares the load of lead/rhythm guitar. They’re ready to light the stages on Beale Street on fire in Memphis, but they’re going to take care of business doing just that here at home first. Don’t miss out!!

The East Portland Eagles Aerie, 4904 SE Hawthorne St. Wednesday, January 8, 7:00 pm. Members always Free (show your current card at the door), non-members $5.00. All ages.

December’s General Membership Meeting Set To Raise The Roof

Journey to Memphis

Well, the end of another year is upon us and your CBA has seen a number of changes during that time — moving our memberships meetings from Catfish Lou’s to a temporary home at The Mission Theater, then finding a permanent location at The East Portland Eagles Lodge, along with adding color to BluesNotes and kicking off a Musicians Directory. Our board has grown as well and we’re starting to see the revision of some of our older programs that have been sorely missing for a while, for instance, offering a “Blues in the Schools” grant to Julie Amici in support of her efforts to bring LaRhonda Steele to rural coastal communities hungry for musical programs.

But you all already know all that, so let’s get to the meat and potatoes. That’s our monthly general membership meeting and the great music we’ll be bringing to you. And this month, as usual, we mean great!!

We’ll be starting the night off with Mark Shark. With over forty years of guitar playing experience he brought his unique talents to the Pacific Northwest a few years back. This multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer, author and educator has had the good fortune to share the stage and studio with many of his own personal heroes during his career, including Jackson Browne, Jesse Ed Davis, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan, and John Trudell. That right there should be enough to show just what an amazing artist we have in our midst with Mark.

He is currently working on two recordings. The first is titled Wild Seed with John Trudell’s band Bad Dog, featuring songs from the late indigenous performers Trudell and Jesse Ed Davis. He is also finishing up a blues project he started many years ago with Grammy nominee Terry Wilson (Teresa James, Eric Burdon) titled Treasure Room set to be released in 2020. The album will feature an all star line-up with Teresa James, Lloyd Jones, Johnny Lee Schell, Tony Braunegal, Todd Roibinson, Doug Legacy, Gary Ferguson, Joe-Mack MacCarthy, the late Terry Evans, and John “Juke” Logan.

Joining Mark Shark for his performance is Portland horn master Joe-Mack McCarthy, fresh off a lengthy tour with The Proven Ones.

Not to be outdone, the second set of the night will also be a thrill-ride as six-time Muddy Award nominees for the “Lloyd Jones” R&B Act, the Ken DeRouchie Band will ignite the Eagles Lodge with their get down and funky good time music. This 8-piece band runs the gamut playing soul, funk, R&B, and blues, with four-part harmonies and featuring original music from Ken DeRouchie alongside a few handpicked twists on classic tunes. Influences on the band include everything from Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Koko Taylor, Steely Dan, Jill Scott, and Galactic.

Top players from the Northwest join DeRouchie, including Northwest soul phenom, Arietta Ward (DooDoo Funk All-stars), long-time KDB bassist Rob Busey (Robbie Laws), virtuoso guitarist Jeff Knudson (Lisa Mann and Her Really Good Band), keyboardist Brian Harris (Curtis Salgado), drummer Paul Ansotegui, Pete Peterson on tenor sax and Caleb Denison on trumpet. This band has had the pleasure of opening for such national acts as Cheap Trick, Blood Sweat and Tears, Curtis Salgado, Robben Ford, The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Mary Wilson and the Supremes, and Leftover Salmon.

Portland Radio legend Steve Pringle wrote “Ken and his band bring it each and every night. Horns that moan and wail, guitars that grind and soothe and a rhythm section tighter than a frogs ass. The KDB has a story to tell, pull up a chair.”

So don’t be sorry that you miss this month’s membership meeting, haul yourself down to The Eagles and join in on this party in the making.

The East Portland Eagles Lodge, 4904 SE Hawthorne St, Wednesday, December 4, 7:00 pm. Members are always free (show us your current cards), non-members $5.00. All ages welcome.

Help Send Our Journey To Memphis Winners To Memphis

Journey to Memphis, Past PDX Blues Event

Here’s another fundraising opportunity to help send our Journey to Memphis winning acts to the International Blues Challenge in January — another sensational full day of music featuring all three of our representing acts: Johnny Wheels & the Swamp Donkeys, Louis Creed & The Geezer, and Generation Headstrong, plus an incredible line-up of local All Stars musicians will be on hand to help out as well. There will also be a raffle, and if you’d like to donate items for this please contact Marlena Masterson on the event’s Facebook page.

Performance times:

1:00: Generation Headstrong

2:30: Ellen Whyte Trio

3:30: Young Guns Of The Blues

4:30: Rich Layton & Tough Town

5:30: Ben Rice with Jeff “Drummerboy” Hayes

6:30: Sister Mercy

7:30: Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys with Louis Creed & The Geezer

8:30: Rockin’ Johnny Burgin II

At The Garages Satellite Pub, 4810 SW Western Ave, Beaverton. Sunday, November 3, 1:00-9:00 pm. $15.00 at the door. All ages.

October General Membership Meeting

Journey to Memphis

The Cascade Blues Association continues our long-standing tradition of bringing great music to our members with our monthly general membership meeting. We’re always striving to offer some of the top talent of our region, favorites and perhaps someone new that will spark your interest to catch at our fine venues in the area.

DCIM100GOPROGOPR0137.JPG

For October, we are pleased to bring Mojo Holler back to play for us. Mojo Holler weaves threads from mountain ranges to the Mississippi Delta into a tapestry of indie folk rock. Formed as a duo in 2012, “Missi & Mister Baker,” the pair released their debut album, “Where Black Ravens Flew,” in late 2014, and were tapped to showcase at South By Southwest in 2016. Its founder, Louis Black, said of the pair: “Why Missi had to move to Portland from Austin in order for The Bakers to channel their inner Mississippi Fred McDowell, I do not know. But she did, and they did.” The album combines complex rock guitar and country stylings with rich vocals that hearken Joplin and Fleetwood Mac.

Lisa Lepine, the late Portland music promotion legend, described the pair: “They weave their dark, modern spirituals from shared roots in magic, ‘mericana, and metaphysics. Mister Baker, like Robert Johnson before him, may have made a deal with the devil — channeling an innate genius through lap steel, slide and dobro. Missi’s earthy voice brings burning intensity to each song. Picture them sitting knee-to-knee on a Southern Delta, watching the dark moon rise and singing from their eternal souls.”

For the second act of the night, we bring the Cascade Blues Association debut of Kim Field and The Perfect Gentlemen. A new, all-star roots-music group fronted by harmonica player and vocalist Kim Field, and a band made up of Alan Hager (guitar and vocals), Whit Draper (guitar and vocals), Albert Reda (bass, keyboards, and vocals), and Ed Pierce (drums and vocals).

The group’s members have performed throughout the United States and Europe at such showcases as Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival, the San Francisco Blues Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Canada’s Tremblant Blues Festival, the Lucerne Blues Festival, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival, and on the Legendary Blues Cruise. They have shared stages with such rhythm and blues legends as Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Gregg Allman, James Cotton, Otis Rush, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, the Righteous Brothers, Walter Horton, Big Mama Thornton, the Drifters, and the Coasters.

Individually, the members of the Perfect Gentlemen have been honored by the Cascade Blues Association with a total of 27 Muddy Awards for their instrumental prowess and their recordings. Guitarist Alan Hager, bassist/keyboardist Albert Reda, and guitarist Whit Draper have all been inducted in the Cascade Blues Association’s Hall of Fame.

With their international reputations as true blues stars, Kim Field and the Perfect Gentleman are sure to quickly establish themselves as one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier R&B acts.

The East Portland Eagles Lodge, 4904 SE Hawthorne St. Wednesday, October 2. 7:00 pm. Free for members, $5.00 non-members. All ages.

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.

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!