Entries by Greg Johnson

Bronze, Blues & Brews Festival with Headliner Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

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The 18th annual Bronze, Blues & Brews Festival happens August 9th in Joseph, Oregon at Joseph City Park. Headlining this year’s festival is 2010 Blues Music Award Entertainer of the Year Tommy Castro with his band The Painkillers. Also featured in the event will be 2009 International Blues Challenger champion J.P. Soars, Michael Osborn & The Drivers, an acoustic set from Franco Paletta & Jason “J.T.” Thomas, plus a special presentation of the fabulous “Tell Mama” Etta James Tribute show with a quartet of some of Portland’s most dynamic female vocalists (Lisa Mann, Rae Gordon, Lady Kat and LaRhonda …

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Cascade Blues Association Annual Members Only Picnic, Sunday, August 3rd

One of the most anticipated events of the year for Cascade Blues Association members is the annual picnic. Taking place on Sunday, August 3rd, it is open to members and their families only, and is one of the best perks of belonging to the CBA. Not a member or your membership has expired? Not to worry. You can join or renew at the picnic. The picnic will return once again to Tomahawk Moorage at Columbia Crossings on Hayden Island, 515 NE Tomahawk Island Drive, Portland, and will run from noon until 6:00 pm.

The Cascade Blues Association will …

John Hiatt & The Combo and The Taj Mahal Trio at the Oregon Zoo

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On Friday, August 8th, the Oregon Zoo will offer one of the biggest twin bills of the summer happening in the Portland area as they welcome John Hiatt & The Combo paired with The Taj Mahal Trio.

Grammy winning singer/songwriter John Hiatt has been performing for more than thirty-five years and his music has been covered by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Jeff Healey, Willie Nelson and Buddy Guy. A recipient of the American Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement for Songwriting, he is best-known for songs such as “Thing Called Love,” “Angel …

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Dave Mathis Blows That Harp With A Vengeance

By Laurie Morrisey

When you talk about great harmonica players in our area you hear names like Bill Rhoades, Jim Wallace, Mike Moothart, Curtis Salgado, Paul deLay, Arthur Moore, Mitch Kashmar, Hank Shreve, and Dave Mathis. Dave is a long time staple in the Portland music scene, with a career spanning over 40 years.

“I started playing professionally in the mid 70’s–acoustically and electric in duos’ and band settings. I also did a half hour TV show on channel 8 called ‘Eight Lively Arts’ in the 70’s.”

Dave says his love of the harp came after hearing Sonny Boy Williamson …

2014 Journey To Memphis

The Cascade Blues Association’s 2014 Journey To Memphis competition is now set. The first round will happen on Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th, at The Lehrer, 8775 SW Canyon Lane. Fourteen acts will vie against one another over these two nights in attempt to reach the finals at the Waterfront Blues Festival on Friday, July 4th and then the eventual winner will head to Memphis, Tennessee next January to take part in the International Blues Challenge.

Solo/Duo acts will be in competition alongside the bands each night. The top two highest scoring acts, regardless …

Ramblings On My Mind

ramblings201306BNGreg Johnson, CBA President

Beware, rant ahead.

Over the years I have heard it said many, many times regarding shows, from fans, venue owners and musicians, “Where are all the CBA members at such and such a show?” People, it is not the responsibility of the Cascade Blues Association to tell our members what shows that they have to attend. If you look at our monthly calendar, there are a crazy number of venues in this city offering shows seven nights a week. Compare this with many other cities, many with far greater populations, which do not have such a …

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What’s on Tap for May’s General Membership Meeting . . .

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland

Wednesday, May 7th, 7:00 pm

Members always Free – non-members $3.00

Opening Acoustic Set – Melody Guy & Jake Blair

Second Electric Set – August In Blue

Every month we have a terrific line-up of talented local artists perform for you at the monthly general membership meetings. This city has a vast wealth of outstanding artists who call Portland home and we’re exceptionally proud of the acts we have showcasing for you this month as they display some of the younger musicians that are making great strides in making our local …

Oso Much Love Benefit Concert Series

We were all shocked by the recent devastation occurring in Washington this last month with the landslide happening in Oso. We see tragedies like this happen on the news quite often, but it really makes for a tremendous feeling of helplessness when it occurs so close to home. A number of benefit concerts have been held around the Seattle area with numerous bands, some even from Portland, lending a hand to raise money for the rescue and recovery efforts happening in that small community.

Portland musician Kenny Kofler felt that we could offer more help in our own community for …

A “Homecoming” For Fiona Boyes, Three Nights In Oregon

Those of us in Portland obviously do not need any introduction to Fiona Boyes. After all, she chose Portland as her home for a short period and became everybody’s best friend while here. But for those of you who may have been living under a rock, or were not living in Portland yourself while Fiona was here, here is a short piece of her bio from her website:

“Australian Blues guitarist and singer, Fiona Boyes, has been variously described by reviewers as a ‘musical anomaly’, ‘Bonnie Raitt’s evil twin’, or simply as ‘scaring the hell out of me’.   How did …

Trails End Saloon to Host Two-Day Event to Raise Funds to Help Walter Trout

Walter Trout may be one of the most powerful guitar players the blues world has ever witnessed, working with the likes of John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Jesse Ed Davis, Canned Heat and leader of his own outfit. But as a human he is as vulnerable as each and every one of us. Fighting liver disease for the past several months, Trout has been hospitalized at UCLA, in and out of intensive care while awaiting a potential liver transplant that is necessary to save his life. Forced to cancel most of his scheduled touring for the year, Trout is in …