Roseland Hunters

Roseland Hunters
Self Produced

Funky delicious! That about sums up the base of the Roseland Hunters. This hot band was the concept of guitarist and vocalist Michael Quinby who at one time was part of Joe Louis Walker’s touring band. He has amassed a phenomenal group of musicians to explore his vision of New Orleans inspired tunes blended with his feel for the blues. If you’re a fan of bands like The Meters, The Neville Brothers or Royal Southern Brotherhood, then the Roseland Hunters are going to be right up your alley.

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Mr. Sipp – The Mississippi Blues Child

Mr Sipp CD coverIt’s My Guitar
Self Produced

While running a stage at the International Blues Challenge for so many years, I have come across some acts that have really impressed me. This last year was no exception, with perhaps my absolute favorite being a 36-year-old guitarist from Vicksburg, Mississippi named Castro Coleman who plays under the moniker Mr. Sipp. Coleman has a long history playing in the gospel scene, having been a part of over 50 recordings. But he has always felt that the blues was where his heart was at. And listening to his debut album, It’s My Guitar, you know that heart was definitely in the right direction. This disc is sure to strike at anybody who has a liking for traditional electric Delta blues. Think of BB King or Little Milton and you’re in the right neighborhood.

The first thing you’ll notice is what a sensational guitarist Mr. Sipp is. Did I mention BB King? Listen to a song like “If Loving You Is Crazy” and you might find that same feeling you get from King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.” Or perhaps going to “Miss Jones;” now that opening guitar melody just screams BB. Guitar playing throughout the album is Read more

Larry Dupio

Larry Dupio CD coverLightning
OIPUD Music

Hawaii may not be the first place one thinks of when it comes to blues music. But it is the home of Larry Dupio, long considered one of the island’s premier guitarists, and his passion is with the blues. For more than thirty years Larry has been performing and teaching guitar, including a spell living in Portland where he led his own band and also teamed up with Shel Bailey heading the group The Big Package. Lightning is his second release under his own name and it is filled with awe-inspiring guitar playing and displays an overview of the deversity of his guitar creativity, be it blues or other avenues.

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25th Annual Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards, November 7th at The Melody Ballroom

For the past quarter-century, the Cascade Blues Association has honored many of the most beloved artists, venues, events and recordings of the region with the annual Muddy Awards. Named in honor of the most important postwar Chicago bluesman, Muddy Waters, for his contributions to the modern blues scene. Nominees and recipients for the awards are completely selected by the members of the Cascade Blues Association through a process of two ballots, with nearly 1100 ballots sent out each time. And a grand celebration is then held to announce and recognize the decisions made by our membership.

This year’s 25th Annual Muddy Awards will be held on Thursday, November 7th, starting at 6:30 pm at The Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St. We have the upstairs grand ballroom reserved as this event is one of the largest blues happenings every year in Portland, with Read more

Rae Gordon Band’s Blue Lemonade Named CBA Entry As Best Self Produced CD

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As part of the International Blues Challenge’s series of events happening in Memphis every winter, a competition amongst self produced CDs has been taking place since 2005. The Cascade Blues Association has participated in this competition since its inception and have done nicely with our entries, several making the semi-finals and especially well with the two discs we have submitted by Joe McMurrian, who placed in the finals in 2007 and winning the overall prize in 2010 with his disc Get Inside This House.

The Cascade Blues Association opened entries for the 2014 event at the end of August with a deadline for submitting in early October. We received eight entries: Dave Mathis’ In Your Face, Franco Paletta & The Stingers’ I Like It Just Like That, Hank Shreve Band’s I’ve Had Read more