An Evening with Anders Osborne & Todd Park Mohr (Big Head Todd) Scheduled at The Aladdin.

Anders Osborne & Todd Park Mohr

Anders Osborne & Todd Park MohrTwo of America’s finest voices in blues, roots, and southern rock — Anders Osborne and Todd Park Mohr, better known as Big Head Todd — will take the stage for a special evening of terrific music at The Aladdin Theater (3017 SE Milwaukie Ave) on Saturday, April 7 at 8:00 pm.

Osborne, originally from Sweden, immigrated to the United States in the 80s and settled in New Orleans where he developed a reputation as a first rate singer/songwriter and earned the nickname “The poet laureate of Louisiana’s fertile roots music scene” from Guitar Player Magazine.Anders Osborne & Todd Park Mohr

Colorado’s Todd Mohr has been the frontman of the highly popular Big Head Todd and the Monsters. He received a Blues Music Award nomination as a solo performer for his album 100 Years of Robert Johnson, and his band tours often include acclaimed blues artists.

Tickets are $25.00, available through Ticketfly.com.

 

Blues Music Award Nominated Southern Avenue to Play Jack London Revue

Southern Avenue

Southern AvenueThe Memphis Flyer proclaims that “Southern Avenue is simply the best band in Memphis . . . the coolest music to come out of Memphis in years.” This hot young band is tearing up stages in venues and at festivals all over the world with its soulful, funky, rock n’ roll stew cooked over the open flame of the blues. Featuring the fiery stage presence of vocalist Tierinii Jackson and guitar master Ori Naftaly, Southern Avenue was a hit at last summer’s Waterfront Blues Festival, with their set being nominated for a Muddy Award as performance of the year.

Southern Avenue returns to Portland on Tuesday, April 3 for a show at Jack London Revue, 520 SW 4th Avenue. Show time is 8:00 pm with tickets available at Ticketweb.com for $10.00. 21 & over only.

Something To Talk About: A Portland Bonnie Raitt Tribute

At The Alberta Rose Theatre on Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25, many of Portland’s finest singers and musicians gather for Something To Talk About — two nights of music celebrating the music of Bonnie Raitt. Performers include Anne Weiss, Lisa Mann, Bre Gregg, Ara Lee, David Jacobs-Strain, JP Garau, Dan Stueber, Mark Bowden, and Bob Beach, as they take the stage to honor “The Queen of the Bottleneck Blues.” With her smoky vocals and amazing guitar chops, Bonnie Raitt is a legendary artist who has transcended her blues background into reach mainstream success. It will be all Bonnie Raitt tunes, all night.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Ticketbiscuit.com for $18.00, or $22.00 at the door day of show. This is an all ages event. The Alberta Rose Theatre is located at 3000 NE Alberta Street. Show time Saturday is 8:00 pm, Sunday is 7:00 pm.

Blues Diva JJ Thames & The Violet ReVolt Visits The White Eagle

Blues Diva JJ Thames & The Violet ReVolt

Blues Diva JJ Thames & The Violet ReVoltDubbed the “Future of the Blues” by legendary “Misty Blue” recording artist Dorothy Moore and a “Blues Trailblazer” by Living Blues Magazine, JJ Thames is the leave-it-all-on-the-stage front-woman of the Violet ReVOLT, possessing the mesmerizing je-ne-sais-quoi star-quality of Tina Turner, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, and Ruth Brown all in one raw, often wistful, always powerful and passionate voice. JJ’s voice and stage presence is one that often incites goosebumps, tears, encores and standing ovations- commanding the attention of any room -whether it be a 100 person capacity Hole in the Wall Mississippi Juke Joint, or a 20,000 seat stadium

JJ Thames appears at the White Eagle Saloon, 836 N Russell Street, on Thursday, March 22, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $12.00, both in advance at Cascadetickets.com or at the door. 21 and over only.

Mississippi Studios Hosts An Evening with Chris Thomas King

Award winning folk and blues guitarist Chris Thomas King returns to Portland for a showcase at Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Avenue, on Sunday, March 4, at 8:00 pm.  Based in Louisiana, King is a successor to the authentic blues tradition of Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, and Mance Lipscomb, yet he offers modern twists on the blues with inclusion of hip hop and digital aesthetics. Perhaps best-known for his portrayal of Delta bluesman Tommy Johnson in the Coen Brothers’ film O Brother, Where Art Thou, King has received several Grammy and CMA awards.

This is a fully seated show, 21 and over only. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Ticketfly.com for $18.00, or at the door for $20.00.

Weekend Full of Blues at the Walla Walla Guitar Festival

Walla Walla Guitar Festival

Walla Walla Guitar FestivalThe 7th annual Walla Walla Guitar Festival returns the weekend of March 9 – 11 with another spectacular line-up featuring more than thirty acts on stage throughout downtown Walla Walla, WA. The event will include a Friday night kick-off show, an acoustic showcase, a guitar crawl, and all star jams. Among the performers scheduled are Curtis Salgado, Hamilton Loomis, The Coyote Kings with Tiphony Dames & Tim “Too Slim” Langford, The LaRhonda Steele Band with Lloyd Jones & Peter Dammann, Lightnin’ Willie, Rust on the Rails, Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes, The Stacy Jones Band, The Randy Oxford Band, and many, many more.

For those coming into town early, Sapolil Cellars will be hosting a Thursday night jam with Randy Oxford and Terry Lamont.

For tickets and more information go to wallawallaguitarfestival.ticketbud.com.

Blues Vocal Great Janiva Magness Returns to The Lake Theater

Janiva Magness

Janiva MagnessJaniva Magness is one of the most powerful and commanding entertainers in the world today. Her strong blues vocals and songwriting, taken from the hardships of her own life, have won her many accolades throughout her career — not only a Grammy nominations but numerous Blues Music Awards that includes her receiving the highest honor, the BB King Entertainer of the Year award. She was the second female artist to accomplish that after the late Koko Taylor.

Janiva Magness returns to The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street, in Lake Oswego, for an intimate, not-to-miss performance, starting at 7:00 pm, on Monday, March 12. VIP tickets are already sold out, general admission are available for $30.00 at Laketheatrercafe.com.

Wonder Ballroom Welcomes ZZ Ward

ZZ Ward

ZZ WardLos Angeles-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist ZZ Ward grew up listening to a lot of blues and hip hop, so blending these two styles just came naturally. She explains that “it was more about simplicity, honing in on what I love about music and what makes me who I am as an artist.” It’s a realization earned over a whirlwind five years for the fedora-rocking, guitar-shredding, harmonica-wielding blues siren that has seen her featured on many media outlets and on stage at some of the biggest musical festivals around the world.

ZZ Ward will be performing at The Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, on Sunday, March 4, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $29.50 in advance through Ticketfly.com or $30.00 day of show at the door. This is an all ages event. Austin-based rock duo Black Pistol Fire opens the show.

 Taj Mahal Visits Eugene’s Shedd Institute

For over five decades and with more than forty albums to his credit, Taj Mahal has played a vital role in preserving traditional blues and African-American roots music. “What inspires me most about my career is that I’ve been able to make a living playing the music that I always loved and wanted to play since the early 50s,” Mahal explains. “And the fact that I still am involved in enjoying an exciting career at this point in time is truly priceless. I’m doing this the old-fashioned way and it ain’t easy.” That career has brought him many well-deserved accolades including the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, multiple Grammys (most recently the Contemporary Blues Award for his TajMo recording with Keb’ Mo’) and Blues Music Awards.

The Taj Mahal Trio will be performing only one Oregon show this spring with a stop at The Shedd Institute in Eugene on Thursday, March 1. Show time is 7:30 pm and tickets are $49.00 to $65.00 at Theshedd.org.

 

Americana Band The Wood Brothers Coming to The Crystal Ballroom

The Wood Brothers photo by Alysse Gafkjen

The Wood Brothers photo by Alysse GafkjenAfter leaving their native Colorado, The Wood Brothers pursued different musical interests. Chris journeyed to New York and found fame with the jazz-funk outfit Medeski, Martin & Wood, while Oliver took his love for the blues to Atlanta and formed the band King Johnson. It was at family gatherings where the two began to jam and then develop a musical approach that incorporated blues, folk, and rock. Now, nearly eighteen years and a dozen releases later, the brothers, along with multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix, continuously tour the country to large and faithful audiences with their unique brand of Americana.

The Wood Brothers return to Portland for an all ages show at The Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside Street, on Thursday, March 1, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $25.00 in advance through Cascadetickets.com and at the door. Alternative-country husband and wife duo The Mastersons open the show.