Journey To Memphis All-Stars – IBC Fundraising Concert

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Journey To Memphis All-Stars

Here is a great opportunity to help support our local acts representing the Cascade Blues Association at the 2018 International Blues Challenge. Travelling to Memphis is not inexpensive and every cent counts to assist in getting our musicians to Tennessee. All three will join forces for one night on December 1 at the Trails End Saloon, with each playing a full set of music, and your $10.00 admission divvied up to support them all.

Opening the night will be the Youth Showcase representatives Timothy James and the Portland Blues Revival, starting at 7:00 pm. All under 21 years of age, they are a cohesive and talented conglomeration of musicians giving you a good feeling of what the future of Portland’s blues scene has to offer for the future.

At 8:15, our Solo/Duo entry, Julie Amici, will hold court on the stage. Partnered with long-time Portland bassist Dean Mueller (The Insomniacs, Duffy Bishop Band), vocalist Julie Amici brings forth the sultry, savvy style of blues made popular by artists like Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. This two-time Muddy Award nominated duo will take you back to the intimate sounds of a smoky jazz lounge of the 1950s.

Two-time Journey to Memphis champions Sister Mercy will take the stage at 9:45. With a reformed band this past year, they are hotter than ever with the hypnotically powerful voice of April Brown leading the charge. Nominated this year for the Muddy Award for Contemporary Blues Act, the band has been featured at multiple festivals and venues consistently.

The Trails End Saloon is located at 1320 Main Street in downtown Oregon City. Reservations are highly recommended. It’s gonna be rockin’ when these three acts come together. Come out and support our artists make their way to Beale Street! They might even have a Christmas song or two included during the night.

Journey to Memphis Finals

Journey To Memphis All-Stars

Portland, OR
July 4, 2017

The Cascade Blues Association Journey to Memphis final competition was held on the final day of this year’s Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. The finals started early, so it meant an early trip to the waterfront. This year the festival was five days, so you really had to pace yourself. This was my second time watching the competition and I knew to get in the coffee line early; there was only one coffee seller at the festival. The competition was held at the Oregonian Front Porch stage, which had a dance floor.

The Cascade Blues Association helps send three acts to Memphis to participate in the International Blues Challenge in January: one youth act, one solo/duo act and one band. This year the youth act and highest scoring solo/duo acts were selected during the first round of competition held earlier. The final four bands competed for the band spot. A panel of music industry professionals judges the bands. Scores are based on blues content, vocals, instrument talent, originality and stage presence.  The acts are timed and each band only gets 25 minutes.  Going over the allotted time lowers the band’s score.

Here are the four bands:

Randy Morrison Band: two guitars, bass and drums.

Randy brought great original lyrics. He got out attention when he told us about how he “got bit by my dog”. Laura, the bass player, did traditional style blues about leading a horse to water and she really brought the attitude to deliver the message. The band then brought out a jump blues “You Deserve Better” with a two-part harmony guitar solo. To me this was Randy telling his own blues man story, and he really sold it. The set ended with the upbeat “Blues Don’t Bother Me”, which brought out the dancers.

Gabriel Cox Band: two guitars, dobro, keys, harp, percussion, bass, drums

The band opened with an acapella number. Gabriel did his tribute to the wolf with “I’m No Wolf but I’m Howlin”. He nailed the Chicago walk. Gabriel brought a riser to stand on and boost his stage presence. All of the songs were originals. The “Downtown Blues” featured a shaker percussion part with multiple members playing shakers on stage.  Gabriel sang us one of his stories about “Being Late to My Favorite Show”. This rocker brought out the dancers. The true highlight of this set was a duet with Gabriel and Miranda the dobro player. Miranda has a fantastic voice. Gabriel had an inspirational message to the kids in the audience and shared advice he was given as a child: always believe in yourself. The band closed the set with another very believable “I’m Gone, Now Get Out” which featured a harp solo.

Sister Mercy: Guitar, keys, bass, drums, vocalist

Sister Mercy competed here and won two years ago, and represented the Cascade Blues  Association at the International Blues Challenge in 2016. They were semi-finalists but did not win a top spot. The band has changed a bit, but still features vocalist April Brown. The set opened with “Death Came Knockin” in gospel style. April was truly in her element, and the crowd loved it. The band then went to a slow blues with plenty of catfish. April told us the back story for the next song about the Doris Payne, a famous jewel thief. This was great use of a contemporary topic, which is a cornerstone of blues writing. If you didn’t know, the Frankie and Johnnie blues standard was based on a newspaper story. The breakdown in this song featured an extended jazz guitar solo. The band then went into a song about being alone. The band ended the set with a cover of “Tell Mama” with some great high kick dancing and a drum solo.

Lightning Kings- Horn section, keys, guitar, bass, two vocalists

I have to say that the Kings were brave to bring a ten-piece band to play a 25 minute set. They pulled it off beautifully. The group opened with an instrumental, the only one in the competition with an energetic beat.  The “Pirate of the Willamette” slowed the set down and got greasy. “Love You Like the Fourth of July” featured a rocking guitar solo. The horn section was very strong through the whole set, the harmonies were great and the horns traded licks on the solos. The band’s set featured a couple of slow songs, back to back. Right or wrong, this usually empties the dance floor. The set ended with a dance number that brought the dancers back. All in all it was a great set, especially the horns.

After the final act played, the judges tallied the scores. You could see the musicians trying to calculate their own scores. Though the judges were pretty quick, about 5-10 minutes, it must have seemed like an eternity.

Once again Sister Mercy carried the day! As we say in East Memphis: Mazel Tov! (congratulations). The band will be off to Memphis in January representing the Cascade Blues Association for a second try at the win. If you love festivals, do check out the International Blues Challenge. It is a wonderful opportunity to see hundreds of acts. It is not crowded and reasonably priced. And of course, it is in Memphis. If you can’t make it to Memphis, please watch for CBA events to help the band, youth act and solo/duo act raise funds for the trip.

Where ever the highway takes you, I hope to see you at one of the events very soon.

Until next time, keep it all blue!

Jeff Levine

Journey To Memphis Finals To be Held July 4 At Waterfont Blues Festival

Journey To Memphis All-Stars

Eleven acts took part in the opening round of the Cascade Blues Association’s 2017 Journey To Memphis competition to determine who will represent us at the International Blues Challenge next January. Over two night at the Vinyl Tap, each act performed before three judges and were scored on blues content, vocal & instrumental talent, originality, and stage presence. All performers gave terrific 30-minute sets and the top two acts from each night are moving on to the finals that will take place on July 4, beginning at 11:30 am on The Oregonian Front Porch Stage at the Waterfront Blues Festival.

The eleven acts who took part were: David Pinsky, Gabriel Cox Band,  Holfar Blue, Jason “JT” Thomas, Julie Amici, Lightning Kings, Louis Creed & The Geezer, Randy Morrison Band, Rogue Rage Duo, Timothy James & The Portland Blues Revival, and Sister Mercy. Moving on to the Waterfront Blues Festival will be Randy Morrison Band (11:30), Gabriel Cox band (12:10), Sister Mercy (12:50) and The Lightning Kings (1:30). Each act will perform 25 minute sets at the festival before three new judges.

Note: Because the four finalists were all bands, the highest scoring solo/duo act will be given the right to represent the CBA in Memphis, Julie Amici. Timothy James & The Portland Blues Revival were the only under-21 band who competed, so they will take part in the Youth Showcase at the International Blues Challenge.

A huge thanks goes out to the judges who helped us during the opening round of the Journey To Memphis. This is perhaps the toughest job outside of competing, as these judges have to look at each act individually and score them without comparing them to the others. Thank you Bart Day, Chuk Barber, Rich Layton, Richard Martin, Tom Goicoechea, and Vyasa Dodson.

Thanks also goes out to Eric Johnson and Paul Hogland for working the sound for both nights. And especially to the Vinyl Tap and their staff for providing a venue where we could hold our event this year!

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

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Journey To Memphis All-Stars

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

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

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

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

Schedules for each night are as follows:

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

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

Opening Round Of The 2017 Journey To Memphis Competition Set For First Weekend In June At The Vinyl Tap

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Journey To Memphis All-Stars

Since 1999, the Cascade Blues Association has sent local acts to represent our organization and region in The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. Over the years, our competition, the Journey To Memphis, has selected a terrific collection of some of our top talent, including several who have made the finals such as Junkyard Jane, Blind Rhino and Ben Rice & The iLLamtics, and even those who’ve taken home some of the top prizes, Ty Curtis Band – 2nd place 2009, Karen Lovely – 2nd place 2010, and most recently Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers – 3rd place 2017.

This year’s field of contestants seeking to reach their place competing in Memphis will come together for the first round at the Vinyl Tap, 2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd, on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3. Set times for the acts were drawn at random and five will perform starting at 8:30 pm on Friday and the other six beginning at 8:00 pm Saturday. Set times will be 30 minutes long and they will be scored by a trio of judges on blues content, originality, vocals, instrument talent, and stage presence. The two highest scoring acts from each night will advance to the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival for the finals to be held on the Front Porch Stage, Tuesday, July 4.

The acts for this year’s Journey To Memphis are: David Pinsky, Gabriel Cox, Holfar Blue, Jason “JT” Thomas, Julie Amici Duo, Lightning Kings, Louis Creed & The Geezer, Randy Morrison’s Party Bus, Rogue Rage Duo, and The Timothy James Band.

Admission for each night is $10.00, which will be used for the prize money awarded to the winning acts to help defray some of their traveling expenses to Memphis. Winning acts will also be awarded a set at the following year’s Waterfront Blues Festival, and Rae Gordon has once again scheduled a Blues Cruise on the Portland Spirit that will include the winners to assist in raising funds for the trip for the IBC, too.

Here’s Your Last Chance To Enter The 2017 Journey To Memphis Competition

Journey To Memphis All-Stars

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in next year’s International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN, held in early 2018. This year saw more than 260 acts converge on Beale Street to represent blues societies from around the world in band, solo/duo and youth showcase categories. And the Cascade Blues Association was represented extremely well as our band entry Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers came out in third place overall. A great achievement to say the least. The music industry is in full force during the IBC, searching for new talent and offering opportunities 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 on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 at The Vinyl Tap, 2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd. Acts will be selected by random drawing to fill the time slots during the event. Entries should keep both dates open until they know when they have been drawn for.  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 up until Wednesday, April 5 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • 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, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers – Women Blues Acts Win Big At International Blues Challenge

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International Blues Challenge - Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers

International Blues Challenge - Rae Gordon & The Backseat DriversThe Blues Foundation’s 33rd annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) was held in Memphis over March 31 through February 4, with more than 260 acts from fourteen countries performing on Beale Street before fans and industry personnel representing blues festivals, recording labels, agents, promoters, venue owners and others, for a chance to gain recognition and potential performance gigs. The IBC has been called the closest thing to a convention for the blues, with multiple showcases, seminars, jams and the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards taking place over the week of activities.

International Blues Challenge - Dawn Tyler WatsonThis year’s event certainly turned out to be fruitful for women in the blues as all three of the winning bands were led by strong female vocalists. First place going to Dawn Tyler Watson representing the Montreal Blues Society. Her guitarist, Ben Racine, was also declared the best instrumentalist – guitar winner in the band category. Second place for bands went to The Souliz Band featuring Sugar & Spice from Florida’s Suncoast Blues Society. Third place was awarded to our own Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers representing the Cascade Blues Association. It was reported in the Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, that the three bands’ scores were all neck and neck, which may account for the time lapsed awaiting the announcement of the results.

In the solo/duo category, Al Hill from the Nashville Blues Society was the first place winner and also chosen as the best instrumentalist – guitar winner for the category. Second place went to Brody Buster’s One Man Band from the Kansas City Blues Society. He was also selected as the best instrumentalist – harmonica winner for the event.

The Blues Foundation also announced the winner of the Best Self-Produced CD competition from the entries submitted by affiliated blues societies during 2016. JW-Jones’ disc High Temperature, representing the Ottawa Blues Society was selected for this year’s honor.

The Pacific Northwest was generously represented at the IBC, with six regional blues societies sending multiple acts. Aside from the third place winning band, Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers, the Cascade Blues Association also sent solo David Pinsky and youth showcase entry Timothy James & Ryan Stadler. Other Northwest socieites included Eugene’s Rainy Day Blues Society with semi-finalist The Hank Shreve Band, duo NattyBone, and youth Suite Clarity; from Washington Blues Society came semifinalist Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm Method, solo Stanislove, and youth Samsara Blues Band; South Sound Blues Association had the Randy Oxford Band and youth act Groovy Voodoo; White Rock Blues Society included Maple Blues Award winner Harpdog Brown & The Travelin’ Blues Show and duo Isaak & Hart; and from Fraser Valley Blues Society came band James “Buddy” Rogers, duo The Blue Hearts, and youth A Street Blues. All performed in the Greater Pacific Northwest Showcase in Club 152 as well.

The 34th annual International Blues Challenge will return to Beale Street next January 16 – 20, 2018.

2017 Journey To Memphis Applications Due By April

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Journey To Memphis All-Stars

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in next year’s International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN, held in early 2018. This year saw more than 260 acts converge on Beale Street to represent blues societies from around the world in band, solo/duo and youth showcase categories. And the Cascade Blues Association was represented extremely well as our band entry Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers came out in third place overall. A great achievement to say the least. The music industry is in full force during the IBC, searching for new talent and offering opportunities 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 on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 at The Vinyl Tap, 2099 SE Oak Grove Blvd. Acts will be selected by random drawing to fill the time slots during the event. Entries should keep both dates open until they know when they have been drawn for.  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 5 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • 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, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2017 Journey To Memphis

Journey To Memphis All-Stars

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in next year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, held in early 2018. More than 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before music industry representatives who are 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 in early June 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 5 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • 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, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2017 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 the next year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, held in early 2018. 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 in early June 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 5 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • 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, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • 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.
  • 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.