Grammy and Blues Music Award nominated Beth Hart is coming back to Portland for a sold out show at Revolution Hall on Saturday, February 3. Riding a creative tidal wave firing out acclaimed albums and hooking up with the biggest names in music and rocking the house each night with her celebrated burnt-honey voice. Dubbed by The Blues Magazine as “the ultimate female rock star,” every live performance gets a standing ovation, because no one knows how to rock the house better than Beth Hart. When she sings clocks stop, hearts dance and neck-hair tingles…it’s that compelling!

Beth Hart has recorded and toured with artists such as Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy and Joe Bonamassa, but she is capable of moving a crowd all on her own. She brought the audience at The Kennedy Center at the Buddy Guy tribute to a standing ovation, led by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle. And she continues to sell out venues around the world.

Though the show at Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark Street, is sold out; tickets can still be found through ticket brokers on-line. Be wary to validate the seller is legit and expect high prices if you choose to go this route. But having the opportunity to Beth Hart in person onstage is well worth it. She is a fiery and mind-blowing entertainer. Show time is 8:00 pm and this is an all ages concert.

Rae Gordon; photo by Mike Day

Multi Muddy Award winning vocalist Rae Gordon has long been a fixture in the music scene, not only for playing a gritty and soulful brand of blues with her band, but heading up a long standing gospel show with some of the best musical talent in the area. The gospel show has moved a few times as clubs have come and go, from Hoppers to Beale Street NW and now to Trails End Saloon in Oregon City. But what has remained the same is the welcoming come as you are atmosphere found when you bring people of different faiths and backgrounds to a common ground, good music, and the friendly local bar.

Now enjoying its fifth year at its current location, the First Sunday Gospel show highlights the talents of Rae Gordon, along with multi-instrumentalist and musical director Ken Brewer on keys and guitar, Jim Solberg on bass and Scott Van Dusen on drums. Among the many guests joining the group over the last five years have included LaRhonda Steele, Allan Kalik, Joe McMarthy, Garry Meziere, Timothy James, Melissa Buchanan, Brian Foxworth, Marty Henninger, and others.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary, the First Sunday will be held on a special night, the last Monday of January for a live recording happening at The Lake Theater & Café, 106 N State Street in Lake Oswego, and you’re all invited. Tickets for the event are $15.00 and can be purchased at laketheatercafe.com. Your ticket price will go towards the making of the CD from this performance. CDs can be pre-purchased at the show for $10.00, they will be $15.00 when released. Show time is 7:00 pm.

Come out and be a part of this live recording with Rae, the regular gospel band and some surprise guests performing some of your favorite songs and some originals.

The Blind Boys of Alabama first formed in 1939 and have been touring professionally for more than seven decades, reaping five Grammy Awards during their tenure. Founding member Jimmy Carter is still performing with the legendary gospel outfit. They have played alongside such renowned musicians as Prince, Ben Harper, Taj Mahal, Lou Reed, and many more. The current line-up of The Blind Boys of Alabama include Ben Moore, Eric “Ricky” McKinnie, Paul Beasley, and Joey Williams.

The group will be heading out west for a tour in January, with one stop only scheduled for Oregon, at The Tower Theatre in Bend on Sunday, January 21. Headlining the bill will be folk rock singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, celebrating the 25^th anniversary of his best known hit single “Walking In Memphis.”

The Tower Theatre is located at 835 NW Wall Street. Showtime begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets range from $45.00 to $75.00 and can be purchased online at tickets.towertheatre.org.

Mississippi blues diva JJ Thames has certainly collected her share of accolades. Legendary “Misty Blue” recording artist Dorothy Moore dubbed her “future of the blues” and Living Blues Magazine calls Thames a true “blues trailblazer.” Known as is the “leave-it-all-on-the-stage” front-woman of the Violet Revolt, she possesses 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, powerful, and passionate voice. Her voice and stage presence is one that often incites goosebumps, tears, encores and standing ovations. Capable of 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.

Thames has been wowing audiences since first being shown the ropes of performing at an early age from the likes of Bobby Bland, Denise LaSalle, Peggy Sott Adamas, and Marvin Sease. On the road since she was 18, she is known for grabbing an audience’s attention with her funny anecdotes, messages of hope, positivity, love, and encouragement.

JJ Thames & The Violet Revolt will be appearing in Portland on Saturday, January 13 at Jack London revue, 529 SW 4^th Avenue. This is a 21 & over only show, starting at 9:00 pm. Tickets are available at Ticketweb.com for $12.00.

For those in Southern Oregon, Thames and the band will be performing in Ashland on Monday, January 8 at Southern Oregon University’s Center for the Visual Arts at 6:00 pm. Then on Tuesday, January 9, they will be performing in Medford at the Grape Street Bar & Grill at 7:00 pm. And on Thursday, January 11, she will appear at the Axe & Fiddle, 657 E Main Street in Cottage Grove at 7:00 pm. Contact the venues for ticket information.

Those who have seen Carolina girl Nikki Hill sing her ass off agree—this isn’t just another newcomer on the scene, this is a ‘whiplash’ moment. Where did this fireball come from? Why haven’t I heard of her before? If you haven’t heard of Nikki Hill yet, you soon will, and once you see her perform, you won’t forget her.
Hill and her band, featuring her Blues Music Award winning husband Matt Hill on guitar, have been touring extensively following the independent 2015 release of Heavy Hearts Hard Fists and the debut album Here’s Nikki Hill released in 2013. With a no-filter energy, and explosive live show, they deliver a sound that will make you believe in rock ‘n’ roll again! Nikki’s unique voice, with raw rock and soul dynamics mixed with the strength, passion, and honesty of blues shouters of the past, steers the driving guitar and a tight rhythm section to create a breath of fresh air with their fast forward approach to American roots music.
Nikki Hill returns to Dante’s in Portland for what is certain to be another raucous, heart-pounding performance on Thursday, December 7 at 9:00 pm. This is a 21 and over only show, with tickets available at Ticketweb.com for $15.00. Dante’s is located at 350 West Burnside Street. Portland’s Redray Frazier opens the show.
Nikki Hill also plays on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 pm in Medford at Johnny B’s, 120 E 6th Street. Contact the venue at (541) 773-1900 for admission information.