First Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival

Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival

Sisters Rhythm and Brews FestivalThe inaugural Sisters Rhythm and Brews Festival is a two-day music event nestled in the small town of Sisters, Oregon. With a vision of bringing high-quality musicians to Central Oregon while supporting the local community, they are certainly hitting it off in a big way. The first festival line-up is jam packed with some of the biggest names in the blues and music world today, with sets from Los Lobos, Walter Trout, Shemekia Copeland, Curtis Salgado, Mr Sipp, Nikki Hill, Cedric Burnside, Down North, Hillstomp, Shanda & The Howlers, Company Grand and more to be announced.

The event will take place on Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4, with two stages and attendees will also be able to enjoy local award-winning craft beer at Village Green Park in downtown Sisters. General admission tickets are $145.00 (plus fees) and youth tickets for those aged 11 – 17 are $70.00. Under 10 is free, and all can be purchased through Bendticket.com.  Proceeds from this festival will help local community projects like Sisters Habitat for Humanity and The Heart of Oregon Youth Build Program.

Tommy Castro and The Painkillers, Stompin’ Ground Tour

Tommy Castro and The Painkillers

Tommy Castro & The PainkillersOver the course of his career, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tommy Castro – a six-time Blues Music Award-winner – has played thousands of shows to hundreds of thousands of ecstatic fans. Castro, along with his band, The Painkillers — bassist Randy McDonald, keyboardist Michael Emerson and drummer Bowen Brown — plays music that is guaranteed to fill the floor and raise the roof. With seemingly telepathic musicianship, the Painkillers bring an unmatched passion to Castro’s blue-eyed California soul and hard-rocking, good-time songs. Delivering the songs from his brand new Alligator release, Stompin’ Ground, Castro both looks back with autobiographical originals and cover songs that inspired him, melding contemporary lyrics with blistering blues-rock. No Depression says, “Castro plays gritty, string bending blues like a runaway soul train…a glorious blend that rocks the soul and lifts the spirits.”

Tommy Castro was originally scheduled last February, but were snowed out. So the band is coming back to make good on their promise to rock you at the Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta Street, on Thursday, August 2, at 8:00 pm. This is open to all ages, with minors accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are $22.00 in advance at Ticketbiscuit.com or $26.00 at the door day of show.

 

Blues Hall of Famer Robert Cray

Robert Cray To Play the Elsinore Theater

Robert Cray photo James-L. BassFive Grammy Awards, fifteen nominations, millions of record sales worldwide, and thousands of sold out performances, rock blues icon Robert Cray is considered “one of the greatest guitarists of his generation.” Rolling Stone Magazine in their April 2011 issue credits Cray with reinventing the blues with his “distinct razor sharp guitar playing” that “introduced a new generation of mainstream rock fans to the language and form of the blues” with the release of his Strong Persuader album in 1986.

Since then, Cray has gone on to record fifteen Billboard charting studio albums and has written or performed with everyone from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, from Bonnie Raitt to John Lee Hooker. Recently inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame at the age of 57, he is one of the youngest living legends to receive the prestigious honor. And while he can look back over an astonishing three-decade career punctuated by his trademark sound and distinct playing style, Robert Cray is too busy moving forward on an amazing journey that continues to reap high accolades.

Robert Cray will return to Oregon, where it all began, for a night at Portland’s Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Avenue, on Thursday, August 2. Show time is 8:00 pm and open to all ages. Tickets are $45.00 and can be purchased in advance at Ticketfly.com.

Jeff Plankenhorn, Austin Guitarist Extraordinaire

Jeff Plankenhorn

Jeff Plankenhorn, arguably one of the busiest and most highly regarded guitar players on the Austin music scene, 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, working with the likes of Malford Milligan, Bob Schneider and the Apostles of Manchaca.

His musical repertoire is both broad and deep, moving effortlessly through folk, country, blues, bluegrass, gospel, rock and soul. He has released five albums to date, Plank, The Speed of Hope, Live at the Saxon Pub, SoulSlide which includes contributions from friends Milligan and Ruthie Foster, and his latest Sleeping Dogs.

Jeff Plankenhorn will be performing at the White Eagle Saloon, 836 N Russell Street, on Saturday, August 18. Opening acts will be the Underwhelming Favorites and Gin & Tillyanna. Show time is 9:00. 21 & over. Tickets are $8.00 and are available in advance at Cascadetickets.com.

20th Annual Pickathon Festival

20th Annual Pickathon

20th Annual PickathonThe Pickathon Festival, one of the country’s most popular music festivals with a variety of musical genres, takes place just outside of Portland, and will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Taking place August 3 – 5 at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Pickathon is an independent, all ages, family-friendly on multiple stages. Among the artists appearing will be blues-related acts the Blind Boys of Alabama and Shakey Graves, along with more than 50 other well-recognized indie performers

Ticket and further information are available at Pickathon.com. Single day tickets start at $125.00 and three day passes are available for $320.00.

2018 Oregon Music Hall Of Fame

13th Annual Oregon Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Oregon Music Hall of FameThe Oregon Music Hall of Fame announced their 2018 inductees at a special party at Tony Starlight’s on July 10 and this year there are a number of blues and blues related individuals being honored: Andy Stokes, Dennis Carter, Dover Weinberg, Monti Amundson and Ural Thomas. The induction ceremony will be held on October 13 at the Aladdin Theater. Congratulations to all the new Hall of Famers!!

Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival Features Big Name Blues Musicians

The Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival

The Vancouver Wine & Jazz FestivalThe Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival returns for its 21st season the weekend of August 24 – 26 at Esther Short Park, 605 Esther Street in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Three days of exciting music that features blues headliners Marcia Ball, Coco Montoya and Shemekia Copeland, alongside premier jazz and rock artists.
Tickets are available through the event’s website Vancouverwinejazz.com. Three day passes are $50.00, $70.00 at the gate. Friday only entry is $15.00 advance, $20.00 at the gate. Saturday & Sunday are $25 advance, with gate admission on Saturday $35.00 at the gate, and Sunday $30.00.

Friday:
Northwest Jazz Bands
4:30-5:15 PM – TBA
5:30-6:15 PM – TBA
6:30-8:00 PM – TBA
8:30 PM / Marcia Ball

Saturday:
Northwest Jazz Bands
11:30 AM – TBA
1:00 PM – 56th US Army Jazz Band
2:30 PM – Lao Tizer Fusion Jazz
4:30 PM – Coco Montoya
6:30 PM – Tierney Sutton
8:30 PM – Shemekia Copeland

Sunday:
(Gates open at 11:00 AM)
11:30 AM – TBA
12:30 PM – TBA
1:30 PM – Coco Montoya
3:30 PM – John Jorgenson GypsyJazz
5:30 PM – TBA
7:30 PM – Judy Collins

First Annual Vernonia Springs Music Festival

Vernonia Springs Music Festival

Vernonia Springs Music FestivalTake a drive out to Vernonia for a special day of music on Saturday, July 7 for the first annual “Best of the NW” Vernonia Springs Music Festival. The all ages event will feature performances from Lloyd Jones, LMNOPDX, Reisch & Mitchell, and Baby Gramps. Beer, wine, wood fired pizza made on site, and other tasty entries will be available. Local vendors will also be on hand displaying their products.

Vernonia Springs is located at 54658 Nehalem Hwy 47 S. General admission is $15.00 and can be ordered in advance at vsmf.eventbrite.com. Only 300 tickets will be sold for this event. Kids under 12 are free. Parking is $5.00. Gates open at noon with music beginning at 1:30 pm and running until 10:00 pm.  No pets, and low-back chairs are recommended in the amphitheater setting.

The Nashville Cats – An Evening Of Songs & Stories

The Nashville Cats

The NashThe Nashville Catsville Cats is a one-off show featuring four of Portland’s treasured blues and roots singers and songwriters, all with ties to working in Nashville. John Bunzow, Jon Koonce, and Denny Bixby all lived in Nashville prior to returning to Portland. Melody Guy still resides in the city and tours nationally with frequent stops back in Portland. All are amazing songwriters and performers, with both Bixby and Koonce inductees of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street in Lake Oswego is proud to present The Nashville Cats on Monday, July 16, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 and can be ordered online at laketheatercafe.com. VIP Tables, seating four, located in lower section closest to stage are available for $80.00. This is an all ages show.

Bay Area Legends Lydia Pense & Cold Blood Plays at Jack London Revue

Lydia Pense and Cold Blood

Lydia Pense and Cold BloodAfter debuting in the late 1960s, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood became one of the signature high-energy bands of the San Francisco Bay area. Along with Tower of Power, Cold Blood pioneered the brass heavy funk-rock sound, which came to be known as “East Bay Grease.” Their music still holds up today, proving yet again that great music is timeless and will continue to inspire future generations. Lydia Pense and Cold Blood packed the San Francisco Ballrooms in their heyday, but that was then and this is now. In the now, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood still fill halls with cheering, dancing, foot-stomping fans. Far from fading over the years, Cold Blood has flourished.

Jack London Revue welcomes Lydia Pense and Cold Blood to their stage on Friday, July 20 at 9:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Ticketweb.com for $22.00. Jack London revue is located at 529 SW 4th Avenue. 21 & over.