2016 Journey To Memphis: Our Biggest Line-Up Ever Heading To The Rose Room In June

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The applications are in, the dates confirmed, and the sets scheduled — this is going to be one of the largest fields ever to participate in the Journey To Memphis competition to win the right to represent the Cascade Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge next January. Twenty acts will appear in twenty minute sets, ten each night, on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4, at The Rose Room, 8102 NE Killingsworth. Admission each night is $10.00, which is the base for our prizes for the overall winning acts. Four acts, the two highest scoring from each night, will move on to the Waterfront Blues Festival on Monday, July 4, on the Front Porch Stage.

This year’s entries are:

Friday, June 3:
7:30 – Joanne Broh Band
8:00 – Julie Amici
8:30 – CD Woodbury Band
9:00 – David Brothers
9:30 – The England Trio
10:00 – Beacon Street Titans
10:30 – Tim O’Connor
11:00 – JT Wise Band
11:30 – Ben Rice Band

Saturday, June 4:
7:30 – William “Froggy” Hyland
8:00 – Timothy James
8:30 – The Thunder Brothers
9:00 – Rogue Rage Duos
9:30 – Randy Morrison’s Party Bus
10:00 – Eric “Sugar” Larsen Group
10:30 – David Pinsky
11:00 – Holfar Blue
11:30 – Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers

Please note: schedule times are subject to change. We have had acts drop out prior to the event in the past, which can cause rearrangement of set times and dates. We will keep you informed of any changes on our Facebook page and in the June edition of BluesNotes.

Journey To Memphis Application Deadline Is April 6

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in the next year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, held in early 2017. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry searching for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. But the only way an act may participate is to win a regional competition held by one of The Blues Foundation’s affiliated societies like the Cascade Blues Association.

The Journey To Memphis competition consists of two rounds. The opening round will be held at Portland’s newest premier venue, The Rose Room, 8102 NE Killingsworth, the first weekend in June.  The event may take place over more than one night depending on the number of acts wishing to compete. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The highest scoring acts from each night of competition (up to four acts) will advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted from now until Wednesday, April 6 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting or by mailing at J2M c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566 Portland, OR 97228. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00
  • Each act must have at least one person in the band who is a member of the Cascade Blues Association.
  • Only acts located within the region of Oregon, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge two consecutive years, regardless whether with the same society or as a solo/duo or band act, must sit out a year before being allowed to compete again.
  • Along with your $25.00 application fee, send an up-to-date band bio including names of all members, a 300 dpi photo of the band, full song samples of the band’s music (this may be used on a radio broadcast to promote the event), and we need to be made aware of any band member who may be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition so the venue is aware ahead of time for Oregon or Washington Liquor Commission laws.
  • We require that any act that moves forward in the competition must use the same band members that they won the rounds with. In other words, if you won with a certain bass player or drummer at the Waterfront Blues Festival, that bassist and drummer must be in your band to compete in Memphis. Exceptions will made in rare circumstances when not under control of the act, such as health issues.
  • We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so with other societies. All that we ask is that if you win another group’s competition before ours is held, or if you win ours before theirs, please remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

All the Way to Memphis — A first trip to the International Blues Competition.

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How Blue Can you Get?

I am a mid-century modern blues lover and loyal attendee at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival. On festival days you’ll find me in the front row wearing my donkey farmer hat. Following the sage advice of festival rats, I cashed in my miles for the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis. This is a serious competition for blues artists. Local blues chapters send a band, solo and youth contestants to compete for valuable gig laden prizes. Our Cascade Blues Association in Portland sent Sister Mercy, the Solo/Duo  act Rogue Rage Duo  and Justus Reece for the Youth Showcase.

By the numbers: five nights, 840 musicians, 121 bands from thirteen countries, nine prizes, gigs for the top three bands, thirty-two years running. Pace yourself, the MC advised.

Memphis is my ancestral home; my family has lived there for over 100 years. But most of my life has been in the Northwest. This adventure was chance to see the family and hear live performances by the blues stars of the future.

The Keys to the Highway

Getting to Memphis from Portland isn’t easy. With delays, we didn’t get in until 2:00AM. Did I mention there were celebrities on the plane? Portland’s own entry, Sister Mercy! Driving in Memphis is easy, from the terminal gate to my mom’s: 30 minutes. She didn’t wait up.

Beale Street, Memphis is blues ground zero. The blues forefathers, like young Riley Blues Boy King made the trip from the Mississippi cotton fields to play in the clubs, busk on the street and drink in the bars.

Beale Street was ravaged in the garbage strike, but today it has a vibrant scene with more than twenty bars and music clubs. On any night, you’ll hear the artists pounding it out for covers and tips from music lovers, tourists, conventioneers, and frat boys from around the globe.

The competition is held in the clubs where the artists perform for judges Wednesday through Friday. Saturday, the sixteen finalists compete for the grand prizes in the Orpheum Theater. Enough back-story, let’s get to the music.

It’s not possible to see every performance, take it from me I tried! In a completely biased, un-statistically significant study I’m here to report my favorite bands. Full disclosure, I am a guitar player so brace yourself for a few geeky gear references.

Every Day I have the Blues

Tuesday, International Showcase. 

On Beale Street, the musicians outnumber the audience members.  Twenty four bands perform tonight in six clubs. Showcase events are free.

Sometimes the first band kills it. And that’s what happened here.

Band:  T-Roosters,  Representing: Deltablues  Association, Genoa Italy

Venue: Wet Willies

Guitar: Epiphone Casino (with foam in the f-holes)

When the Tiziano “Rooster” the frontman cranked up the Epiphone, you could almost smell the fried catfish .  How could artists from so far away capture the delta sound so perfectly? Sadly many people in Memphis don’t know or care much about blues. The set included an original song with a clear Italian influence. The band delivered an excellent updated John Lee Hooker classic.

Wednesday: Quarter Finals

121 bands in twelve clubs. Each band gets twenty minutes, which goes by super fast

Favorite bands:

1) Band: Sister Mercy   Representing: Cascade Blues Association, Portland OR

Venue: Tin Roof

Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Tobacco Sunburst

The Sisters April (lead) and Kelsey opened with their ‘Sister Mercy’ name song. By a mile, the band had the best vocals I’d seen so far with the three ladies singing in harmony. And they were the only act so far to feature any dance moves. The crowd loved them…and when April sang the “get out” song, she really sold it.

2) Band: White Knuckle Trio  Representing :Helsinki Blues Society, Helsinki Finland.

Guitars- Stratocaster, one of the few I’d seen so far

Venue: Hard Rock Café.

This amazing power trio featured the best table dancing guitar player of the night. This band had personality. The drummer sang in perfect English, with attitude while keyboard held the bass line.

Thursday- Quarter Finals

The bands get one more chance, same club, different schedule, different judges.

Favorite Band: Lampano Alley, Representing: Blues Asia Network, Philippines.

Venue: Flynn’s

Guitar: Telecaster Thinline with humbuckers.

We expected great vocals. The twenty-four year-old harp player stole the show. It was the best harp playing I’d heard so far. I had a chance to meet the guys, they handed me their CD and would not take any money. I owe them drinks.

These are my favorites. I saw ten bands each night and was home by midnight. How could it get any better?

How Many More Times?

Friday AM- after three nights on Beale Street I looked like something the cat dragged in. A walk in the warm Memphis sun brought me back to life.

Friday night, managed to catch most of traditional southern Jewish Shabbat dinner at my mom’s house with challah, chicken soup, kosher BBQ and sweet wine. I missed dessert. Made it to Beale Street to see the end of Sister Mercy. The club was packed and the set was awesome. If you are keeping score, all of my favorites made to to the semi-finals. Spoiler alert, this would be the Sisters’ last night.

Favorite Band: Michael Lee Band, Representing: San Angelo Blues Society, San Angelo, Texas

Guitar: Stratocaster

Michael is a young guitar slinger who harkens back to the early days of Jonny Lang. (Jonny turned thirty five today). Playing in the style of the masters, and while bouncing on stage in sneakers. “Don’t Leave me” was an incredibly dramatic tune. Michael sang without a mike, and threw the poor Strat on the ground to drive it home. It made me wonder, how could anyone leave after that?

Ain’t Nobody’s Business…

Saturday morning, I’m living the blues.  10:00 AM, I’m in synagogue with my mom and brother.  2:00 PM, I’m at the show enjoying a local micro-brew. In infinite festival rat wisdom, I’d paid the extra twenski for a reserved seat, twelfth row center. The staff told me that there were hundreds of the people lined up for the opening.

Favorite Band: Paul DesLauriers Band  Representing: Montreal Blues Society, Montreal, Canada.

Guitars:  Gibson White Double neck ES1275, Les Paul Special TV Yellow Double Cutaway

They had me when the band wheeled out a guitar stand with three guitars. This was my favorite band of the day (Spoiler alert, they didn’t win). The Love in Vain cover was neither Robert Johnson nor Mick Jagger but a fantastic updated piece with a driving slide solo. They were the only band I heard play rockabilly. I had a chance to meet Paul in the lobby. Fist bump when I said “ES1275.”

Paul goes on to take second place for best band. Mazel Tov Paul!

By now, it’s after 6:00 PM and the silent auction is over.  I collect my winnings: an eight disc Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl set. Hey it’s for a good cause right?

A little bashful, I accept Sister Mercy’s invitation (thanks Debby) to the after party at their rented loft. Meeting the musicians makes the experience exponentially more rewarding. This was a family party with the Brown sisters, dad, and spouses for BBQ and drinks. I got an inside peek into the Portland Pro music scene. Debby Espinor broke it down for me. The band has been together for less than one year. The instrumentalists discovered April singing in church. April told me she loved gospel. Playing five shows on Beale Street was a huge honor for the group and gave them blues cred back on the west coast.  Now I’ve been to Beale before and I can almost guarantee that some of the regular players would find it just as exciting taking a plane trip to the west coast. Some are pretty poor. The band has great contacts and leads for the future, and a great story for their bio. They will go back to Portland, their day jobs, and try to turn this into more bookings.

I Can’t Quit You

The wrap up. So why  do I do this?

This was more live music than I could see in a year. But why does that matter? I could listen to recordings or streamings all day long and hear just as much music. Some of it probably better, and almost all of it mixed very well. Listening to the recordings is not the same as going to the shows. Why are the shows so much better? It is the connection to the artists. Seeing the bands play live is completely real. You see and hear the artist pouring their hearts out, telling their stories to you: live.  You see the sweat and tears, you feel the love, pain, sorrow and well…blues. They are performing works that they’ve practiced for hours, often years to hone to perfection. No re-takes or do overs.  Meeting the bands and the wonderful talented musicians adds an incredible depth. People say they are “keeping the blues alive” . For me this is keeping music alive. If you have a chance to support live music, please do it for all of us. Catch the shows, the festivals, hire the bands, and support the organizations. The artform is threatened and we all have to keep it alive.

To all the festival lovers- I highly recommend this event. The talent is phenomenal, the tickets are quite reasonably priced, the showcases are free. The Blues Foundation in Memphis does a wonderful job…and, it’s Beale Street!

To the Portlanders- I’ll see you at the Waterfront Blues Festival. I’ll be the guy in the front row wearing the donkey farmer hat.

Jazzy Jeff Levine
‘Burbs of Portland
Oregon, USA

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2016 Journey To Memphis

The Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in the next year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, held in early 2017. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry searching for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. But the only way an act may participate is to win a regional competition held by one of The Blues Foundation’s affiliated societies like the Cascade Blues Association.

The Journey To Memphis competition consists of two rounds. The opening round will be held the first weekend in June at Portland’s newest premier venue, The Rose Room, 8102 NE Killingsworth.  The event may take place over more than one night depending on the number of acts wishing to compete. A trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues will evaluate each act, and the highest scoring acts from each night of competition (up to four acts)will advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted from now until Wednesday, April 6 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00
  • Each act must have at least one person in the band who is a member of the Cascade Blues Association.
  • Only acts located within the region of Oregon, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge two consecutive years, regardless whether with the same society or as a solo/duo or band act, must sit out a year before being allowed to compete again.
  • Along with your $25.00 application fee, send an up-to-date band bio including names of all members, a 300 dpi photo of the band, full song samples of the band’s music (this may be used on a radio broadcast to promote the event), and we need to be made aware of any band member who may be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition so the venue is aware ahead of time for Oregon or Washington Liquor Commission laws.
  • We require that any act that moves forward in the competition must use the same band members that they won the rounds with. In other words, if you won with a certain bass player or drummer at the Waterfront Blues Festival, that bassist and drummer must be in your band to compete in Memphis. Exceptions will made in rare circumstances when not under control of the act, such as health issues.
  • We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so with other societies. All that we ask is that if you win another group’s competition before ours is held, or if you win ours before theirs, please remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

2016 International Blues Challenge Overview

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Greg Johnson, CBA President

Well, the 2016 International Blues Challenge is now in the books. When you consider the previous few years, the weather decided to cooperate with us for once. As the East Coast was being hammered with torrential winter storms before the event, for a change, the temperatures in Memphis were mild rather than freezing. And the only rain during the week came twice, late at night when everyone had pretty much already gone back to the places where they were staying.

Events began on Tuesday night with several venues hosting participants from twelve countries beyond the United States taking part. As your Portland area representatives as volunteers, I worked as the venue host at Club 152 while Cherie Robbins held the same duty at Pig On Beale. It was a chance for these acts who traveled from all corners of the world to have an extra chance to play.

Speaking of the acts, not only were thirteen countries total represented, but a total of 121 bands,  94 solo/duo groups and 42 youth acts took part in the event. All were already winners of their own regional competitions.

The Northwest had a strong showing, starting out Wednesday morning before the competition even began as representatives from the four regional blues societies participating this year were showcased at a day-long performance at Club 152. The perfect location as The Blues Foundation’s merchandise store, band CD sales, and will call for passes pick up were on the second floor, meaning that everybody who went up that way were treated to music from the Northwest. And many of those folks decided to stay and listen all day.

The Northwest was represented by acts from not only the Cascade Blues Association (Sister Mercy – band; Rogue Rage Duo – solo/duo; Justus Reece – youth), but also the Washington Blues Society (James Howard Band; Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons – solo/duo), South Sound Blues Association (King Kom Beau – band; Doug Skoog & Brian Fiest – solo/duo; Emerald City Blues Band – youth) and the White Rock Blues Society (Arsen Shomakhov Band; Jesse Roper – solo/duo).

Cherie and I worked together during the week in Club 152 for the quarter-and-semi-finals, Wednesday through Friday. We did not have any of the Northwest acts perform in our venue, but she had the opportunity to catch a little bit of our CBA acts.

Rogue Rage Duo unfortunately did not advance to the semi-finals, but speaking with both Harpo and Dan they were pleased with their performance and felt strongly that they might have moved forward. Regardless, they said they made some great contacts and friends and will most likely see extra gigs their way coming up.

SisterMercy IBC at the Tin Roof - photo courtesy of Sister MercySister Mercy played their first night on a big stage at the Tin Roof. Talking with the venue coordinator from that room he told me that they were his favorite act in the quarterfinals in his room. He said the crowd ate up their vocal harmonies and choreographed dance moves. Even the judges were said to be dancing along with the band and they advanced to the semi-finals on Friday night at Blues City Café on a much smaller stage, but in front of a crowd that packed to the seams. This would be their final performance in the competition. But it is a feat to be proud of as of the thousands of acts that compete to get to Memphis, only 250 or so make it, and that number is cut in a third for Friday, and only eight bands and eight solo/duo acts make it to the finals. And they surely caught the attention of many people in the blues industry who can advance their careers ahead.

Justus Reece was able to take part in the youth showcase, playing at Silky O’Sullivan’s. He and his father traveled to Nashville before Memphis and he was able to sight-see a number of historical music places in both cities. His father, Geoffrey Reece, commented about how much good music they heard and how incredibly talented the kids participating in the youth showcase were. He also said that Justus is already trying to figure out a way to come back to the IBC.

Friday morning Cherie and I attended the Keeping the Blues Alive Award luncheon, where I was one of fifteen recipients of the honor this year. It was an amazing feeling to be recognized, but having Cherie with me made me especially proud as was having her working the event all week with me. I wouldn’t have dreamed of being there with anyone else. It was also a treat to be introduced by Jay Sieleman and to have so many friends in the room, including Karen Lovely, Hawkeye Greg Johnson and Cherie Robbins with KBA award - photo by Cinda WatermanHerman and Dick & Cinda Waterman who asked to sit with us at our table. Thank you for being there.

On Saturday, we were at the finals in The Orpheum Theater where I was working as one of the stage managers. Everybody has their own opinion of who should have or should not have made the finals, but I have to say I was impressed with a lot of the acts on that stage and happy to see personal friends Ori Naftaly, Dave Muskett, and Micah Kesselring among them. I felt that the overall winning act, The Delgado Brothers was definitely the right choice. They were by far the best act on that stage that day. But as anybody who has been a part of the IBC for any amount of time knows, it can all be different on any given day, depending on who your judges are and their feelings about the music presented. But again, I always point out to those who state music is not a competition. True, but how else can you bring so many quality acts to one location with so many industry people looking for new acts in the genre?

It was truly a great feeling to see one of the Northwest acts, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons, win the solo/duo competition. From my first time watching them I felt that they were bringing something new to the event, though their music is very traditional in its format of string and jug band music, the true root of original blues. They were fresh and a change of pace that the judges and audience ate up and deservingly so. Congratulations to Ben & Joe and the Washington Blues Society.

And congratulations to all the musicians, fans, volunteers, Blues Foundation staff, and Beale Street Merchants. Everybody in Memphis was a winner this week for one of the very best IBCs ever. It really is one of the grandest events, not only in the blues world, but the music world itself; it’s the future of the blues seen today.

Now Being Accepted Applications For 2016 Journey To Memphis

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Journey To Memphis

Journey To MemphisThe Journey To Memphis is the Cascade Blues Association’s regional competition to select the acts that will represent our organization and region in the next year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, held in early 2017. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry searching for new talent, with the chance to win recognition and prizes that include major festival performances and more. But the only way an act may participate is to win a regional competition held by one of The Blues Foundation’s affiliated societies like the Cascade Blues Association.

The Journey To Memphis competition consists of two rounds. The opening round will in early June at a venue to be determined.  The event may take place over more than one night depending on the number of acts wishing to compete. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The highest scoring acts from each night of competition (up to four acts)will advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted from now until Wednesday, April 6 at the Cascade Blues Association membership meeting. No late applications will be accepted. All eligible acts that meet our criteria as described below will be able to compete. The performance schedule for the competition is drawn at random.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00
  • Each act must have at least one person in the band who is a member of the Cascade Blues Association.
  • Only acts located within the region of Oregon, Washington or Idaho are allowed to enter the Journey To Memphis.
  • Any act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation are ineligible to compete.
  • Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge two consecutive years, regardless whether with the same society or as a solo/duo or band act, must sit out a year before being allowed to compete again.
  • Along with your $25.00 application fee, send an up-to-date band bio including names of all members, a 300 dpi photo of the band, full song samples of the band’s music (this may be used on a radio broadcast to promote the event), and we need to be made aware of any band member who may be under 21 years of age at the time of the competition so the venue is aware ahead of time for Oregon or Washington Liquor Commission laws.
  • We require that any act that moves forward in the competition must use the same band members that they won the rounds with. In other words, if you won with a certain bass player or drummer at the Waterfront Blues Festival, that bassist and drummer must be in your band to compete in Memphis. Exceptions will made in rare circumstances when not under control of the act, such as health issues.
  • We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so with other societies. All that we ask is that if you win another group’s competition before ours is held, or if you win ours before theirs, please remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

Acoustic Showcase Fundraiser To Send Justus Reece To The IBC – Nov. 8th

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For the first time during the Cascade Blues Association’s relationship with The Blues Foundation, we will be sending a performer to the Foundation’s International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase. Nineteen-year-old Justus Reece is a solo guitarist who competed with the adults in this year’s Journey To Memphis, and because he was the only artist under 21 in the event was asked if he would consider representing the CBA.
Traveling to Memphis is expensive, so Justus is hosting an Acoustic Showcase at The Venetian Theatre & Bistro, 253 E Main Street in Hillsboro on Sunday, November 8. Joining Justus will be Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductees Terry Robb and Jon Koonce. Also appearing will be 2014 CBA solo/duo representative at the IBC, Tevis Hodge Jr. Showtime is from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm and admission is $10.00. This is a family friendly event open to all ages, with children under 12 getting in free of charge.
Your attendance at the Acoustic Showcase will help get Justus to the IBC, where the future of the blues is discovered every year, not only in the competition, but in the Youth Showcase as well. Justus will be able to meet other young blues artists from around the world, participate in jams for both young musicians and those hosted by recognized touring musicians, as well as being able to explore Beale Street, Memphis, and the Delta firsthand. Let’s give Justus the experience of a lifetime.

Big Al Carter To Represent CBA In Best Self-Produced CD Competition

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Big Al Carter CD coverThe entries for acts seeking to have their CD sent to Memphis to represent the Cascade Blues Association in The Blues Foundation Best Self-Produced CD competition were tremendous this year. We had the most entries ever with thirteen, and all were outstanding albums worthy of representing the CBA. But alas, we are only permitted one entry.

A group of CBA board members gathered together and listened to each of the discs, then scored each entry based upon blues content, musicianship, sound quality, artwork, and liner notes. The entries this year came from Ben Rice Trio, Big Al Carter, Bottleneck Blues Band, Hank Shreve Band, James Clem, King Louie & LaRhonda Steele, Lil’ Queenie, Pete Karnes Blues Band, Rae Gordon, Roseland Hunters, Sister Mercy, The Sportin’ Lifers, and Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls. After all the entries were heard and scores tallied, the judges chose Big Al Carter’s disc Fresh Blues to represent the CBA.

We will be sending four copies of the album to Memphis where it will be then be scored by select judges, with multiple rounds whittling down the entries to the finals where the overall winner will be announced at the International Blues Challenge finals on January 30, 2016.

Thank you to all those who submitted their discs for our regional competition. All were amazing and well deserving of being heard.

Portland Spirit to Again Host Party for Blues Acts Going to Memphis- Oct. 3rd

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On October 3, The Portland Spirit will again host the Cascade Blues Cruise with excited partygoers and the winners of Cascade Blues Association’s Journey to Memphis contest held this last July at the Waterfront Blues Festival: Sister Mercy, Rogue Rage Duo and Justus Reece (Youth).  The J2M contest sends acts every year to the International Blues Challenge (IBC), a renowned contest held every January on Beale Street in Memphis.  In addition to the acts that will represent the CBA, Rae Gordon (last year’s band winner & IBC Semi Finalist) and Karen Lovely (2010 2nd Place IBC Winner) will be aboard as well. The Spirit sets off from the Willamette waterfront at 3 pm.

People who missed the boat for last year’s cruise still talk about the party they missed,  but you won’t have to imagine what you missed since you will be there this time.

Help bring the Northwest blues scene international exposure and glory by supporting those acts the Cascade Blues Association sponsors and sends to the International Blues Challenge. Above all though, support live music by setting sail on October 3.

Last year’s Journey to Memphis winner Rae Gordon Band used the band’s prize money to rent the boat. The Portland Spirit was open to the idea of bringing some great exposure to Portland, its vibrant blues scene, and its dedicated blues association. RGB was able to use the money to pay guest bands and helpers on the cruise and best of all, send the bands to Memphis and pay for their lodging. When the Portland Spirit approached her to do the cruise again, even though she wasn’t competing, she jumped at the chance, as a musician helping musicians.  She knew all to well that the most important thing is for the acts to be able to concentrate on their musical performances in Memphis, not how to raise the money to get there.

So, mark your calendars now for October 3, but buy your tickets early as the Portland Spirit does have a guest limit and you don’t want to miss the boat! You can find more information on the Spirit here: http://www.portlandspirit.com. Tickets for the cruise may be purchased at www.casacadebluescruise2015.brownpapertickets.com. See you there.

Best Self-Produced CD Entries Must Be Turned In By October 7

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If you would like to have your CD considered by the Cascade Blues Association for submission in The Blues Foundation’s Best Self-Produced CD competition, please send your disc to BSPCD c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228-6566. You may also turn your submission in at the October Cascade Blues Association General Membership Meetings. No discs will be accepted later than October 7.

All discs submitted must have been released after November 1, 2014. A committee set up by the Cascade Blues Association’s Board of Directors will listen to each submission and like the Journey To Memphis will rate each on a series of catagories (blues content, instrumentation, vocals, art work and liner notes). Entries are only accepted by acts within the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Idaho and Washington). We must receive your entry no later than October 7. Please note, the entry that we submit to The Blues Foundation will require that we send them four copies of the disc for their judges. We will notify the appropriate act for  the extra copies needed to send.