19th Annual Harmonica Summit Rescheduled For April 19th

Originally scheduled in February, Bill Rhoades’ 19^th Annual Harmonica Summit had to be canceled due to severe weather. But now the weather has cleared up and the event has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 19^th at The Melody Ballroom. And as always, Bill has thrown together an incredible line-up of some of the Northwest best.

Traveling over the mountains from Bend, OR. will be one of the best woman harp players out there. Lynann Hyde basically stole the show at the last Harp Summit she played at and could do it again! She has a unique way of scaring the guys on the bill with her downhome harp work! We’ll be in real luck as she’ll be bringing her duo partner – guitarist/vocalist Stu Kinzel from their group Kinzel & Hyde. We’ll get a chance to see what they’ve been stirring up on the other side of the mountains.

One of the original old guard of Portland Bluesmen — Johnnie Ward has been a member of many Blues and Jug bands, including leading his own outfit The Jokers and presently as a member of The Shark Skin Revue. Paul deLay once said that Johnnie was someone he used to go see play, when he was first learning the harmonica. No surprise there as Johnnie is a really great player of many styles and is “The Granddaddy of Portland Harmonica.”

Another harmonic fixture on the Portland Blues scene is Dave Mathis. He played for a period of time in the Liquid Blues Band and was 1/2 of the fine duo of the Blues Police with Steve Cameron. His current spot is blowing harp and vocals with Michael Osborn and the Drivers. His latest CD, titled In Your Face, features his diversity and talent on the harp. Good Stuff!

Northwest veteran Mike Moothart will be making a special appearance at the show! He has been fighting cancer for the last few months and is eager to play! Moothart honed his chops early in Eugene, OR. He played in the BlueTones and toured with J. Wood and the Blues Commanders through Australia. After moving to Portland, Mike was a member of the Jim Mesi Band and went on to play a couple years with Jimmy Lloyd Rea and the Switchmasters. An extraordinary harp master who had caught the attention of Paul deLay and is still a favorite of Curtis Salgado.

And last will be your host and bluesman – Bill Rhoades. Also starting off in Eugene, Bill has had the pleasure and honor of playing with Albert Collins, Jimmy Rogers, Luther Tucker, Michael Bloomfield and many others! A founding member of the original Oregon Blues Society in Eugene and Portland’s Cascade Blues Association, Rhoades has been fronting his band The Party Kings since the 1970s and was a recipient of the Cascade Blues Association’s Lifetime Achievement Muddy Award.

The harpers will be backed by an all-star line-up featuring Newell C. Briggs and Chuck Laiti on guitars, Katey Angel on bass and Jolie Clausen on drums.

The show will take place in The Melody Ballroom’s Blue Heart Café (615 SE Alder St, downstairs), from 8:00 pm until midnight. Admission to the 19th Annual Blues Harmonica Summit is $10.00 at the door and as always $2.00 off to C.B.A. and other card carrying Blues Club / Society Members.

A lot of huffing and puffing, blowing and drawing, bending and squalling, and heavy breathing will be going on, helping to bring in the spring and Keeping the Blues Alive here in the Northwest.