Past PDX Blues Event Archives - Page 37 of 75

British Soul Master James Hunter Visits The Aladdin.

James Hunter has certainly paid his dues. Over the span of 30 years, he’s worked on the railway, busked in the streets of London, provided backup vocals and guitar for Van Morrison, played clubs and theaters all over the world, written scores of original songs, and recorded some of the most original and honest rhythm & soul albums of the last two decades. He’s recognized with nominations for a GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Blues Album and an American Music Award for Best New/Emerging Artist and has been called the United Kingdom’s greatest soul singer by Mojo magazine.

James Hunter will be appearing at The Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave. on Saturday, May 26, for an 8:00 pm show open to all ages. Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased in advance at Ticketfly.com.

Acoustic Guitar Summit Coming to Hillsboro

Past PDX Blues Event

Grammy Award winners Doug Smith and Mark Hanson along with Oregon Music Hall of Fame member Terry Robb make up the Acoustic Guitar Summit – one of the region’s most accomplished musical groups. Performing together for over 20 years, the three bring a diverse musical journey to the stage with their impressive fingerstyle guitar and unique versions of classic favorites, Blues, Jazz, and Hawaiian slack key. Their wide-ranging, genre crossing repertoire rejoices in the rhythm and power of the instrument.

Acoustic Guitar Summit only performs a handful of shows every year, so it is always going to fill whatever venue they appear in. They will be returning to the Walters Cultural Arts center, 527 East Main Street in Hillsboro on Friday, May 18 for 7:30 pm show. This is open to all ages, with advance tickets available for $18.00 at Brownpapertickets.com, or at the door day of show for $22.00.

Booker T. Jones Schedules Two Oregon Shows

Past PDX Blues Event

With a career spanning five decades, one can easily argue that Booker T. Jones set the cast for modern soul music and is largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. On classic Stax hits such as “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High,” “Time Is Tight,” and “Melting Pot,” Booker T. & the M.G.’s expanded soul music’s boundaries while distilling it to its essence. He then injected it into the nation’s bloodstream.

Jones has received many awards and accolades throughout the years, including induction into both the Rock & Roll and Musicians Halls of Fame, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and four GRAMMY Awards. He’s currently touring in support of his latest release, Sound The Alarm — fortunately he’s scheduled two Oregon shows.

On Friday, May 4, he will be appearing at the Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta Street, in Portland for a 8:00 pm show. This event is open to all ages with tickets available at albertarosetheatre.com for $45.00 general admission or $65.00 preferred seating (first five rows in center section). Day of show admission is $55.00.

Then on Saturday, May 5, Booker T. Jones will be at The Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall Street, in Bend for a 7:00 pm show. Reserved seating for this show range from $49.50 to $79.00 and can be purchased at towertheatre.org.

Salem’s Elsinore Theatre Welcomes Jonny Lang

Past PDX Blues Event

It is hard to believe that at 36 years old Jonny Lang has already enjoyed a two-decades long career. Since the release of his debut album, Lie To Me, at age 15, Grammy Award winning Jonny Lang has built a reputation as one of the best live performers and guitarists of his generation. Lang’s musical journey has brought him the opportunity to support or perform with some of the most respected legends in music, including everyone from The Rolling Stones and B.B. King to Aerosmith and Buddy Guy.

Jonny Lang will be playing in Salem at The Elsinore Theatre, 170 High Street SE, on Wednesday, April 11, for his only scheduled Oregon appearance. Tickets are $35.00 – $55.00 through TicketWest.com for this 7:30 pm all ages show.

Beloved Acoustic Bluesman Doug MacLeod Returning to The Lake Theater

Past PDX Blues Event

The Lake Theater & Café will present an intimate evening with Doug MacLeod, a true blues master and storyteller, on Monday, April 16. MacLeod is a perennial Blues Music Award nominee, having recently won the Acoustic Artist of the Year in 2017, he is nominated again this year for the same award as well as the Acoustic Album of the Year for his most recent release Break The Chain. His music is at once extremely personal and acutely universal, covering subjects topical, humorous, and soulful from the satirical to the sublime.

The Lake Theater & Café is located at 106 N State Street in Lake Oswego. Tickets for this all ages 7:00 pm show are available at the venue’s website for $15.00; VIP tables seating four are available for $80.00.

Turtle’s Guitar Mafia Takes Up Residency At Al’s Den

Past PDX Blues Event

Local music legend, Turtle VanDemarr, has performed in many influential bands over the years. As lead guitarist for Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, The Fly By Nite Jass Band, The Freak Mountain Ramblers, and Anita Margarita and the Rattlesnakes, VanDemarr has been a regular in the Portland Music scene since the late 60s and is widely known for the versatility of his guitar playing styles. He has been compared to Django Reinhardt and Jerry Garcia by The San Francisco Chronicle, and as a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, he is routinely hired by nationally touring acts.

About six months ago he gathered together some of Portland’s premier guitar players to form what is now known as “Turtle’s Guitar Mafia”. They play every first Friday at McMenamins Edgefield Winery, and folks are loving it. A mix and match of Portland’s older guitar legends with some of the hottest young guns that have been revving up the Portland music scene. Different guitar styles, stealin’ licks from each other and having way too much fun. Turtle aka known as “Zeus” is moving slow and easy and attempting to keep up with these amazing guitar slingers.

Turtle’s Guitar Mafia will be holding a residency at Al’s Den, 303 SW 12^th, from Sunday, April 15 through Saturday, April 21, with a different line-up each day. On Sunday, Turtle will be joined by Terry Robb & Chris Olson; Monday will be Matt Cadenelli & Kris Stuart; Tuesday with Stevie Wright James & Peter Dammann; Wednesday has Jimmy Russell & Stevie Wright James; on Thursday Sonny Hess & Jimmy Russell; Friday with Ian Miller & Darren Craig; and Saturday’s grouping TBA.

Each night starts at 7:00 pm and admission is free. 21 & over only.

Legendary Soul Vocalist Bettye LaVette Slated for The Aladdin

Past PDX Blues Event

Three time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette is not a mere, songwriter, or “cover” artist. She is an musical interpreter of the highest order. Her gift is that ability to take a song, whether well-known or obscure, from any genre and making it completely her own. Now, at 72-year-old, she is still performing with the ferocity of a woman half her age. LaVette is on that brief list of musicians who recorded during the birth of soul music in the 60s who is still creating vital recordings today.

Bettye LaVette will be appearing on Sunday, April 22 at the Aladdin Theater,3017 SE Milwaukie Ave. Tickets for this all ages event can be purchased on-line at Ticketfly.com for $35.00. Show time is 8:00 pm.

Heavy-Pounding, One Man Band Scott Biram Invades Dante’s

Past PDX Blues Event

Rock ‘n’ Roll ain’t pretty and neither is Scott Biram. The self-proclaimed ‘Dirty Old One Man Band’ successfully and sometimes violently lashes together blues, hillbilly, country, raucous punk, and godless metal into a potent array that assaults the senses. Biram ain’t no candy-ass singer/songwriter either, sweetly strumming songs about dusty highways and girls with big eyes. His singing, yodeling, growling, leering, and brash preachin’ and hollerin’ is accompanied by sloppy riffs and licks from his ’59 Gibson guitar and a pounding backbeat courtesy of Biram’s amplified left foot. The remainder of this one-man band consists of an unwieldy combination of beat-up amplifiers and old microphones strung together by a tangled mess of guitar cables. Years of non-stop touring have honed his assault to a fine edge; his wide-eyed throw downs in the First Church of Ultimate Fanaticism routinely lead giddy followers to a fiery baptism.

Scott Biram will be performing in a double headed line-up with country musician Jesse Dayton at Dante’s, 350 W Burnside St, on Wednesday, April 11 at 9:00 pm. Tickets are $13.00 and are available at Ticketweb.com. 21 & over.

Big Monti Amundson Returns for Show at Trails End Saloon.

Past PDX Blues Event

Portland’s guitar legend Big Monti Amundson moved to Nashville a few months back and it’s always a pleasure to see him return to town for performances, no matter how rare they may be. He will be hooking up with his former bandmates Allen Hunter on bass and Cory Burden on drums for a trio of shows in April, so don’t miss out on some of the most fiery blues-rock going.

On Thursday, April 19, Big Monti will be playing at Billy Blues Bar & Grill, 7115 NE Hazel Dell Ave. in Vancouver, WA. Show time is 8:00 pm and there is no cover.

Then on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21, Big Monti appears at The Trails End Saloon, 1320 Main St. in Oregon City. Both shows will begin at 8:30 pm. Contact the venue for admission information and reservations.

7th Annual Inner City Blues Festival – “Healing the Healthcare Blues”

Past PDX Blues Event

The 7th Annual Inner City Blues Festival, “Healing the Healthcare Blues,” returns April 21 to the North Portland Eagles Lodge, 7611 N. Exeter & Lombard. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and music runs until midnight. The event is a fundraiser for Health Care for All-Oregon, an advocacy organization working to bring an equitable, affordable, comprehensive, and publicly funded health care system to Oregon.

The uncertainties about access to health care in the current political climate mean that Health Care for All-Oregon’s work is more important than ever. However, there are reasons to be encouraged. For example, Multnomah County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting universal access to health care on February 1, 2018, explaining that “[i]t is impossible for an individual to live a productive, healthy life without access to quality healthcare.” Multnomah County follows these cities in resolving to support health care for all: Portland, Ashland, Corvallis, Silverton, Eugene, Talent, and Milwaukie.

Throughout the evening, musical performances will feature: Bloco Alegria, I&I Band Reunion with Newell Briggs & Obi Addy, Ken DeRouchie Band with Arietta Ward, King Louie Quartet & LaRhonda Steele, Kings of the Blues Guitar Tribute with Peter Dammann, Michael Osborn & Kenny Blue Ray, Mic Crenshaw, Norman Sylvester revue with Sarah Billings & Lenanne Sylvester-Miller, Mad as Hell Doctors, Nurses, and Interns, Shoehorn, Steve Cheseborough, Tevis Hodge Jr & Bill Rhoades, and Terry Robb.

Help us get to universal health care by coming to the Blues Festival. As if six hours of music isn’t enough, there will be a silent auction, two bars, dinner, and dessert for purchase, as well as tabling by community organizations.

Admission $20 in advance: online at Ticket Tomato  or at Music Millennium, 3158 E Burnside, Geneva’s Shear Perfection, 5601 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Peninsula Station, 8316 N. Lombard, Musician’s Union Hall, 325 NE 20th Ave. Like last month, there will be a limited number of tickets available at the Cascade Blues Association General Membership Meeting at Catfish Lou’s with a $1.00 discount to CBA members – but once they’re gone, they’re gone. Tickets are $25 at the door day of event.