Singer/songwriter Buck Johnson hails from the back roads of Shady Grove, Alabama, just outside Birmingham where he grew up singing Gospel throughout the South with his musical family. Since then he has performed in churches, bars, festivals and concert halls throughout the world. He is currently the keyboardist and backing vocalist for legendary rock band Aerosmith and has also toured and recorded with such notable artists as The Doobie Brothers, Tal Bachman, John Waite, Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet, Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles and many more. As a songwriter, Buck has been influenced by the music he grew up with…namely Southern-Rock, Gospel, Blues and many English bands that were influenced by music of the South such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, The Beatles, and many others.
Buck is excited about the release of his debut album, Enjoying The Ride, and is currently touring in support of the disc. The music showcases songs that reflect his life journey with all its ups and downs. Buck Johnson will be performing two nights in Northern Oregon to help celebrate the release.
On Saturday, March 11, Buck Johnson will be at The Birk, 11139 Hwy 202, Birkenfeld for a 7:00 pm show. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Tickettomato.com for $20.00 or at the door day of show for $25.00.
Then on Thursday, March 16, Buck will be appearing at Duff’s Garage in Portland at 9:00 pm. Duff’s is located at 2530 NE 82nd. Contact the venue for admission information 503-234-2337.
In the cold winter months, live music lovers usually have to wait for the summer festival season to kick up their heels and dance to local and nationally acclaimed acts. LeeAnn Gibbons had an idea, with humble beginnings over a conversation at the kitchen table, to counteract the dreary days of winter with music, while at the same time benefitting charity.
Blues Hall of Fame inductee and five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Cray returns to Portland for one night only at The Aladdin Theater on Saturday, March 4. Rolling Stone Magazine credits Cray’s stellar 1986 release Strong Persuader as reinventing the blues with his “distinct razor sharp guitar playing introducing a new generation of mainstream rock fans to the language and form of the blues.” Considered one of the greatest guitarist of his generation, Cray has recorded more than fifteen Billboard topping albums and has worked with the best of the genre, from John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt and so many more. His newest release, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, will be hitting the stores in April featuring his soulful rendition of that flavorful Memphis sound, so expect to hear new tunes from the upcoming album.
3hattrio is quite a genre-defying band. Made up of three musicians, Hal Cannon on vocals. Guitar and banjo, Eli Wrankle on violin and Greg Istock on stand-up bass, the music they create can be hypnotic and mesmerizing. Described as American Desert Music, it is so much more. It intermingles the sounds of folk, country, gypsy jazz and bluegrass while coming across at times in the forms of Americana and trance blues, the type of music that may bring to mind Otis Taylor or the South Memphis String Band with Alvin Youngblood-Hart and Jimbo Mathus. The band hails from Utah’s Zion Canyon, with three albums to their credit, they state that it is their surroundings in the desert that inspires their sound.
Jim Gustin is a blues singer and guitarist from Santa Clarita California who has been performing in and around the Los Angeles area for more than thirty years. He has a distinctive, powerful voice; soulful and deep with a smoky rasp, and is a passionate and energetic performer. He has well written catchy songs that reveal his many varied influences to his groove oriented blues. He is also a very solid guitarist with great tone and a funky feel.
