17th Annual Musicians Toy Run Benefit

17th Annual Musicians Toy Run Benefit

17th Annual Musicians Toy Run BenefitThe 17th annual Musicians Toy Run Benefit for the Shriner’s Hospital returns this year with a full day’s worth of music featuring many of the area’s favorite artists. Hosted by Francine Reed & The High Speed Wobblers, the lineup will also include sets from Lee Blake, Tracey Fordice, Norman Sylvester, Probable Cause, Jon Koonce, Franco Paletta, Rose City Ramblers, and Hudson Rocket Band. Door prizes will also be available to win. All donations will be delivered to the Shriner’s Hospital by ABATE of Oregon, SE Portland Chapter, on December 1

Trails End Saloon, 1320 Main Street, Oregon City. Saturday, November 3, 3:30 pm – midnight.

Admission is either a new toy or a minimum $5.00 donation.

Charlie Burse Gravestone Benefit

Charlie Burse

Charlie BurseCharlie Burse was a skilled multi-instrumentalist, boisterous singer and memorable showman. He contributed to some of the most influential jug band recordings, such as “Cocaine Habit,””You May Leave,””Bottle It Up and Go” and “Stealin’ Stealin'” (covered by countless bands over time including Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie and the Grateful Dead). His compositions added a high-energy, jazzy dimension to the jug band repertoire. Burse played swing and jump blues later in his career, and almost made a pop music breakthrough as one of Sun Records’ first recorded artists.

Like many musicians of his era, Burse was buried in an unmarked grave when he died in 1965. The Mt. Zion Memorial Fund has located his grave site at Rose Hill Cemetery in Memphis, and the proceeds from this show will help pay for a gravestone.

Performing at the benefit will be the Barbecue Orchestra, Eagle Ridin’ Papas, Smut City Jellyroll Society,  and the How Long Jug Band.

Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell. Saturday, November 3, 3:00 pm. $20.00, available in advance at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Jane Lee Hooker Punk-Blues

Punk-Blues Jane Lee Hooker

Punk-Blues Jane Lee HookerJane Lee Hooker isn’t the daughter of blues boogie legend John Lee Hooker. Jane Lee Hooker is a New York City-based quintet intent on carrying on the overamplified traditions of electric blues. To them, velocity, intensity, and chops are what matters: it’s what gives their music a defiant attitude even when it’s clearly steeped in blues-rock tradition. Vocalist Dana “Danger” Athens, guitarist Tracy Hightop, guitarist Tina “T-Bone” Gorin, bassist Hail Mary Z, and drummer Melissa “Cool Whip” Houston formed Jane Lee Hooker in 2013 and have taken their brand of punk-blues across the country and signed a recording contract with Ruf Records.

Dante’s, 350 W Burnside Street. Wednesday, November 7, Opening for the Dead Boys. 9:00 pm. 21 & over. Admission is $17.00, available in advance at Ticketweb.com.

Austin Guitar Master Jeff Plankenhorn

Jeff Plankenhorn

Jeff PlankenhornJeff Plankenhorn is a larger than life presence on stage. A big man with a kind smile and generous demeanor, he is often the bedrock that binds a host of talents into a moving whole. Then he picks up his slide, looks down in his lap and the joint starts hopping. Plankenhorn made his name in Austin as a preeminent guitar slinger, especially as a slide specialist and is increasingly known for his impressive songwriting and powerful voice. His musical repertoire is both broad and deep, moving effortlessly through folk, country, blues, bluegrass, gospel, rock and soul. He has five albums to date, including his latest Sleeping Dogs.

White Eagle Saloon, 836 N Russell Street. Wednesday, November 7, 8:00 pm. 21 & over. $10.00, available in advance at Cascadetickets.com.

Band Together II: A Fundraiser for Disaster Relief Slated for Mekong Bistro

Band Together II - A Fundraiser for Mekong Bistro

Over the past year we have seen a number of tragedies strike many people, including a number of blues musicians. Disasters such as fires, snow storms, and other unforeseen events have caused several to lose gigs and hit them square in the pocket book when it comes to making ends meet financially. Last year, Marlena Martinson put together the event Band Together at The Spare Room that brought an all-star cast to raise funds for into a fund to assist blues artists affected by such circumstances in the future.

The cause is a worthy one, and because of its importance Band Together II has been scheduled for Sunday, November 4 at Mekong Bistro, from noon to 6:00 pm. Scheduled to appear this year will be the Bayou Boyz with Peter Dammann, Steve Kerin, Brian Foxworth and Dave Kahl; Lisa Mann Trio; Melody Guy; Michael Osborn, Franco Paletta with Jason Thomas, Charles Pike and Kenny Goldstein; and other artists TBA.

Raffle items and a silent auction will also be held.

Mekong Bistro, 8200 NE Siskiyou Street. All ages. Advance reserved tickets $20.00 available at the venue. $15.00 general admission day of the show. Christmas toy donations will also be accepted.

Vernon Reid Band of Gypsys Revisited Band

Vernon Reid Band of Gypsys Revisited

Vernon Reid Band of Gypsys RevisitedRecorded live at The Fillmore East in New York City N.Y. on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970, the Band of Gypsys with Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles debut recording consisted of six tracks released to the public on March 25th, 1970 – close to fifty years ago. That vinyl record established the template for the Funk & Roll genre. The re-releases, with new tracks & multiple versions of the six tracks from the Fillmore shows, illuminated that the band never played a tune the same way twice, breaking away from the “note-by-note” live renditions prevalent in Pop & Rock hit songs at that time.

The Vernon Reid Band of Gypsys Revisited Band further extends the music of Hendrix’s most jazz-oriented band, and Reid has assembled a prodigious quartet drawn mostly from the soul-jazz-hip-hop collective Burnt Sugar Arkestra for this one time visit to the West coast. The group includes drummer/vocalist James “Biscuit” Rouse, bassist/vocalist Jared Michael Nickerson, and guitarist/vocalist André “Dré Glo” Lassalle. As a trailblazing rocker Vernon Reid is the ideal artist to celebrate the legacy of Jimi Hendrix on the occasion of the late guitar icon’s 76th birthday.

Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th Ave. Saturday November 3,  2 shows 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm. 21 & over. $25.00 Ticketweb.com.

Rising Blues Artist Deb Ryder Comes To Portland

Deb Ryder

Deb RyderBorn outside Chicago, Deb Ryder began appearing on stage as a young teen at her step father’s famous nightclub The Topanga Corral, where she opened for such blues legends as Etta James, Big Joe Turner and Taj Mahal to name a few. Deb’s vocals have been described as big, devastatingly powerful, whiskey soaked, a force of nature, reminiscent of her major influences Etta James and Koko Taylor. Deb’s stage presence is captivating while her amazing vocals take the audience to new levels of enjoyment. Her standout performances have garnered awards and critical acclaim at festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada and Europe. She writes all her own material and the lyrics paint a gritty, personal picture of life, love and trouble with just a well crafted touch of whimsy.

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Avenue. Friday, November 2, 8:00 pm. Advance tickets at Tickettomato.com are $5.00.

 

Shawn James Performs in show with The Wind + The Wave and Swells

Shawn James

Shawn JamesTake one listen to Shawn James’ music and you can hear his roots in the Mississippi Delta by way of growing up on the fabled South Side of Chicago, his authentic, gutbucket blend of blues, folk, and soul music running the gamut of ecstatic joy and painful anguish. The singer-songwriter has previously released four full-length albums, with a forthcoming release slated for 2019. James is a road dog, the hellhounds at his heels, performing more than 200 dates a year.

Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta Street. Shawn James will be included in a three-billed show alongside indie acts The Wind + The Wave and Swells. 8:00 pm. Tickets are $16.00 advance at albertarosetheatre.com or $18.00 at the door. Minors OK when accompanied by parent or guardian.

Oregon Blues Greats Headline Cannon Beach Stormy Weather Art Festival

Cannon Beach Stormy Weather Art Festival

Cannon Beach Stormy Weather Art Festival

Concerts by Oregon blues greats Curtis Salgado and Lloyd Jones will highlight a weekend full of art events and musical performances at Cannon Beach’s 31st annual Stormy Weather Art Festival.

Throughout the weekend, the town’s galleries will present special events showcasing the artists they represent with several nationally known artists on hand to share their latest works. On Saturday visitors can wander from gallery to gallery, enjoying free live music with regional musicians at indoor and outdoor venues.

In recent years, the festival has grown to include more musical events including spotlight concerts that showcase some of the Northwest’s top performers in the intimate setting of Cannon Beach’s Coaster Theatre Playhouse. On Friday Portland’s Lloyd Jones, who has earned awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cascade Blues Association and an induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, will perform with his big band. Saturday, Curtis Salgado, the real-life inspiration for John Belushi’s Blues Brother character and Blues Music Awards winner including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and three-time Soul Blues Artist of the Year, storms the stage.

Stick around Sunday for Brews, Blues & Barbeques, with live blues, local beers and a barbecue lunch.

November 2-4 For more information, call the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce at (503) 436-2623 StormyWeatherArt Festival

Guitar Master Gino Matteo Brings His Band To Oregon

Gino Matteo & Jade Bennett

“Work hard at what you love, treat everyone you meet like family, and try to smile here and there”.

Through it all, Gino Matteo still holds true to what he believes. Being a rarity in today’s Roots-Music world, Gino Matteo is a young man with an incredible knowledge and respect for the past. A true student of the life, Gino’s performances are spontaneous, explosive, and original — a triple threat to the music world. Gino is the definition of an “old soul” with a voice as smooth as velvet but tough as nails, writing music about his life as he lives it. His love, joy, and pain pour through his guitar and voice. Using the experiences learned over time, Gino Matteo’s sound respectfully pays tribute to true roots music while adding a bit of his own life in between and is quickly carving out a name for himself being among the finest songwriters and guitarists in music.

Over the course of Gino’s career, he has worked with artists such as B.B. King, John Mayer, Hubert Sumlin, John Fogerty, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jonny Lang, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, and for several years with Sugaray Rayford amongst many others.

Gino Matteo will be touring with his own band including vocalist Jade Bennett with a couple of stops in our area. Expect to hear songs from their upcoming album, Hug The Cactus, and of course Gino’s amazing guitar playing.

On Thursday, October 11, Matteo will be in Vancouver, Washington at Billy’s Blues with special guest Kevin Selfe. Show time is at 8:00 pm. Billy’s Blues is located at 7115 NE Hazel Dell Avenue.

On Friday, October 12, the band will be heading out to one of their favorite venues in the Northwest, The Birk, 11139 Hwy 47, Birkenfeld, Oregon. Show time is 7:00 pm. Admission is $7.00. Come on out and say hi to Jill and Cully and welcome them as they reopen the venue.