Entries by Wendy Schumer

NW Women Rhythm & Blues Celebrates 18 Years of Spreading Holiday Joy To Assist Children With Cancer

For the 18th year, Sonny Hess will be hosting two nights of the NW Women Rhythm & Blues Christmas Concerts benefiting The Candlelighters, an organization aimed at aiding children with cancer. As a cancer survivor, this is an event that means a lot to Sonny and she is bringing in many of her closest friends once again to help with the very worthy cause. This annual event always has a spectacular line-up of the most talented blues women in the region, but this year will be made even more special as they welcome special guest Claudette King to join in …

Michael Burks

I’m A Bluesman
Iron Man Records

michael-burks-cd-coverThere are always losses in life, but when you lose one who meant so much the loss hurts double knowing that you will never be able to share time together again. That is exactly how it felt when guitarist Michael Burks left us suddenly just a few years ago. Burks was a shining light in the blues world. His playing was spectacular and his personality on and off stage infectious. He made his name in the genre and it will forever be rock solid therein.

That is why it is so appealing and welcoming …

Third Annual Stumptown Soul Holiday Spectacular

stumptownStumptown Soul is back on Saturday, December 10 for their third annual holiday spectacular featuring performances by an all-star cast of Portland blues, jazz, and soul musicians. Included in this amazing event will be Ural Thomas, LaRhonda Steele, Karen Lovely, Steve Kerin, Jennifer Smieja, Dan Berkerey, Michael Quinby, Jim Quinby, Katy Oberg, Kris Deelane, Lewi Longmire, Aundria Lauren, Joe McCarthy, Pete Moss, Lefty Head, Peter Dammann, Mark Bowden, Jim Wolfe, and Tim Shaughnessy.

This year’s show will be at the Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Avenue, with a 8:00 pm show time. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Ticketweb.com …

California Honeydrops Two Night Stand at The Star Theater.

ca-dropsThe California Honeydrops don’t just play music — they throw parties. Led by dynamic vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lech Wierzynski and drawing on diverse musical influences from Bay Area R&B, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second-line, the Honeydrops bring a vibrant energy and infectious dance-party vibe to their shows. They’ve taken the party all over the world, playing festivals of all kinds and touring widely across North America, Europe and Australia. In 2016 the Honeydrops were honored to support Bonnie Raitt on her North America release tour — and in the past have been privileged to support the …

Holiday Showcase at Lake Theater & Cafe

Every year around Christmas, Music Mondays presents “Holiday Showcase at Lake Theater & Café.” This year’s event will take place on Monday, December 19 and will feature the vocal talents of LaRhonda Steele and Julie Amici. An All-Star band of Dean Mueller, Dave Fleshner, and Dan Gildea will back up these talented ladies, and expect other surprise guests.

The Cascade Blues Association honored both Julie and LaRhonda this year. Julie was nominated for Best Traditional Act and LaRhonda won the “Duffy Bishop” Female Vocalist award. The Lake Theater & Cafe was also a winner, receiving Best Venue award, and that …

Ben Rice Colossal Group and Sister Mercy To Bring in New Years Eve At Duff’s Garage

Bring in the New Year with a sensational double header at Duff’s Garage as Cherie’s Blues Highway presents the Ben Rice Colossal Group and Sister Mercy together for the first time. Each band will be performing complete individual sets and then come together on stage for a party bringing in 2017 with a perfect celebration.

Ben Rice photo by Greg JohnsonBen Rice has been tearing up this country and Europe with his blues performances, working with people like Karen Lovely, Lisa Mann, or with his own bands. A two-time International Blues Challenge finalist and the recipient of two 2016 Muddy Awards, Ben Rice is recognized …

The Soulful Sounds of Lee Fields and the Expressions Coming to the Aladdin Theater

lee-fields-press-photoApologies to the late, great James Brown, but you’d be hard pressed to find another singer who’s ever worked as hard as Lee Fields — a man who’s been making soul and funk anthems since 1969. Since that time, he has toured the world with musical legends like Kool and the Gang, Sammy Gordon and the Hip-Huggers, O.V Wright, Darrell Banks, and Little Royal; he’s recorded with French house DJ/producer Martin Solveig, and somehow has found a newer, younger audience, becoming more prolific as the years transpire. Fields flexes those strengths on his most current recording Special Night, where you’ll …

Acoustic Guitar Summit Christmas Concert Comes To The Lake Theater & Cafe

The Acoustic Guitar Summit is celebrating its 22nd Annual Christmas Concert Series with a performance at the Lake Theater & Cafe on Monday, December 14. Composed of three award-winning, master fingerstyle guitarists, Doug Smith, Terry Robb, and Mark Hanson, the concert will feature songs from their acclaimed Christmas album, O, Christmas Three, along with other holiday favorites. Each of the guitarists is a master of the strings on their own, but whenever this trio performs together it is a vision to behold and a treat to the ears.

Acoustic Guitar Magazine said of the O, Christmas Three album, “This …

Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons – Woody Guthrie’s Northwest Folk Songs and more

Ben Hunter and Joe SeamonsSeattle-based duo Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons truly made a mark for themselves when they captured the solo/duo competition title at the 2016 International Blues Challenge. Their delivery of classic pre-war American roots music and early blues in its truest form was a breath of fresh air. Their commitment for historical music takes on the flavors of jug bands and street performers to the earliest takes on folk, and they execute it masterfully with multiple instruments. Recently they have been working on the Woody Guthrie songbook that he created while working for the Bonneville Power Project seventy-five years ago, along …

Get Some Early Holiday Cheer with The Andy Stokes Band

Andy Stokes - photo by Greg JohnsonLegendary vocalist Andy Stokes and his band will be returning to Jimmy Mak’s on Saturday, December 10 to ring in the season with their ultra-funky grooves. Stokes’ incredible vocals earned him the Cascade Blues Association’s “Curtis Salgado” Male Vocalist Muddy Award for the second consecutive year, and he will be backed up by his Muddy Award winning band including guitarist Doug Lewis, bassist Ricky Varnado, and drummer Rusty Cox.

With his new single, “Promise,” and his recently released EP Full Circle shooting up the charts, Andy’s career is on fire. Andy’s musical lineage includes tearing up NW clubs as the …