A mash-up of Louisiana grit, Austin soul, and low-down Chicago heat, blues harmonica powerhouse Greg Izor is on a roll. His music is grounded in a deeply rooted traditional sound and shaped by the influence of the harmonica masters, as well as Louisiana blues, southern soul, swamp pop, early jazz, and R&B. His playing echoes the records he’s listened to and the greats he has played with over the years. Praised by Living Blues magazine as one of the emerging players on harmonica, Izor’s songwriting and playing are not to be missed. His newest record, Close To Home, shows that he’s changing the way the game is played.

Greg Izor will be blowing his way into town for a show at The Lehrer on Saturday, March 14, with The Kick Boxers, made up of local favorites, Boyd Small on drums, Allen Hunter on bass and returning for a visit from Austin with Izor, Josh Fulero on guitar. Showtime will be 8:30 pm and admission is $10.00. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event, so show your membership card at the door for a $1.00 discount on admission. The Lehrer is located at 8775 SW Canyon Lane.

Savoy Brown - press photoBritish blues rockers Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown are celebrating fifty continuous years, 44 albums, and more than 5,000 gigs from Carnegie Hall to the Fillmore East and West to Portland’s Aladdin Theater. Simmonds is one of the hardest hitting blues rock guitarists of all time and the band is on a creative and performing tear, with their latest release Goin’ To The Delta hitting #5 on Billboard and #2 on the Roots Report. And on top of that, they have another new disc, Still Live After 50 Years recorded in New York that may only be purchased at their live performances.

Well, you’ll have your chance to catch Simmonds and Savoy Brown and pick up a copy of the new live recording, as the band will once again be returning to Portland for a show at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave, on Saturday, March 21. Showtime is 8:00 pm and minors under 21 are welcome with a parent or guardian. Tickets may be purchased in advance through TicketFly.com, $35.00 advance and day of show.