Hunter & The Dirty Jacks are an Americana-crafted rock & roll band with influences based in the blues. Like a smoky whiskey with phosphorescent ice cubes in a blues-tinted glass. Led by frontman Hunter Ackerman and flanked by guitar players Carmelo Bonaventura and Jon Siembieda, with Aaron Barnes grooving the bottom end on bass and Brian Lara keeping the rootsy tribal beats, this band has been packing roadhouses and clubs in every town from San Diego to Seattle to Denver. For their music, think throwbacks and songwriting style like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Doors paired with a modern edge like the Rival Sons, Black Keys, Jack White, Mumford and Sons, and Chris Robinson Brotherhood, in a young, hip, accessible package. They have worked onstage alongside many familiar artists, such as Eric Sardinas, Coco Montoya, Kirk Fletcher, Arthur Adams, The Delgado Brothers, Roy Gaines and more. Their album, Single Barrel, was declared as one of the top 20 albums of the year by Blues Rock Review magazine.
The band will be making a return appearance at The Birk on Sunday, March 19 for an afternoon performance beginning at 2:00 pm. The Birk is located in Birkenfeld at 11139 Hwy 202. This is an all ages show with a $10.00 cover charge at the door.
Matt Miner Presents and O’Connor’s Vault welcomes roots rockers Rich Layton & The Troublemakers with special guest Jon Koonce to the heart of Multnomah Village, Friday, March 3 at 7:00pm. Both Rich and Jon are dedicated “keepers of the flame” for American roots music. When they join forces, the fuse is lit for a night of high octane swamp rock, country, rockabilly and the honky tonk blues!
Guitarist and songwriter Corey Kennedy has been described as an alternative, punk, blues, folk, indie artist hailing from Akron, Ohio. That covers a lot of ground in one breath, which only goes deeper with his own description of his act on his Facebook page, “If Jim Morrison and Jack White got white girl wasted at a dive bar in the afterlife, and sang ‘Missed The Boat’ by Modest Mouse, the squeaky and slurred mumbles would be somewhat similar to the anxious blues tone that is Corey & The Tribe. Sifting in between the sheets of blues and rock, remnants of the old times and the modern age of sounds have been married into an anxious foot tapping frenzy.” This is truly an eclectic presentation of music that just may have a little flavor for everyone.
This year’s event certainly turned out to be fruitful for women in the blues as all three of the winning bands were led by strong female vocalists. First place going to Dawn Tyler Watson representing the Montreal Blues Society. Her guitarist, Ben Racine, was also declared the best instrumentalist – guitar winner in the band category. Second place for bands went to The Souliz Band featuring Sugar & Spice from Florida’s Suncoast Blues Society. Third place was awarded to our own Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers representing the Cascade Blues Association. It was reported in the Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, that the three bands’ scores were all neck and neck, which may account for the time lapsed awaiting the announcement of the results.
G Love & Special Sauce return to Portland in celebration of their newly released album, Love Saves The Day, with a performance at The Hawthorne Theatre & Lounge on Thursday, March 23. Love calls the new album, “the fullest realization of the hip-hop blues” that he first pioneered with Special Sauce in the early ’90s. Filled with their down and dirty “trashcan blues” sound, G. Love making his guitar snarl and his harmonica moan, bassist Prescott bringing nimble funk to the bottom end and Clemens’ drum work crackling with power. “The music,” G. Love enthuses, “jumped off the tape.”
In 2016, Laith Al-Saadi won America’s hearts and a spot in the finale of NBC’s “The Voice.” Now he’s poised to bring his authentic blend of blues, soul and classic rock to audiences around the nation and the world. Laith Al-Saadi has always had the perfect combination of Midwestern hustle and incredible musical chops – honed at the University of Michigan school of music in his hometown of Ann Arbor, and on stages across the country working with legends like Taj Mahal, Luther Allison, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Gregg Allman and B.B. King.
The 2017 Inner City Blues Festival returns to the Eagles Lodge Saturday, April 22. Originally in the 1980s and 1990s, the festival was a community event for various civil rights and social justice causes. Since its return six years ago it has been a major supporter of the cause Health Care For All Oregon, the campaign to bring universal health coverage to everyone (
The Owl Magazine states, “One would have to be in a pretty foul mood not to be entertained by the mysterious awesomeness of Bob Log III. Sure, his musical skills are something to behold, his one-man-band brand of blues/Americana displaying dexterity, creativity, and plenty of good old rock ‘n’ roll, but then there’s his wacky persona.”
Nick Schnebelen has blues in his blood. Nick and siblings grew up with their parents who played music full time in the Kansas City blues scene. Along with his sister Danielle and brother Chris, they formed the band Trampled Under Foot which took the blues world by storm winning the International Blues Challenge in 2008. Nick was named the Albert King most promising guitar winner of the event. After playing together for several years, the siblings went their own ways pursuing solo careers.