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 Cascade Blues CruiseCruise 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.

Journey To Memphis Finals

On July 4, the Cascade Blues Association held the finals for the Journey To Memphis competition at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Four acts had advanced to the finals from the first round held at The Lehrer in early June. They were Symplistic Soles, Beacon Street Titans, Sister Mercy and Bottleneck Blues Band. The four bands performed 25 minute sets in front of Sister Mercy - Journey To Memphis winners - photo by Greg Johnsonthree judges, scored on blues content, instrumentation, vocals, originality and overall presence. When all the scores were tallied, the winners of this year’s competition was Sister Mercy, who will be the CBA’s representatives at The International Blues Challenge this coming January in Memphis. They will be joining Rogue Rage Duo, who will be representing the CBA as the solo/duo act.

judgesJudges this year were of a high caliber — like those who’d be found judging the finals in Memphis. They were former BB King and Bobby Bland drummer Tony Coleman, three-time IBC contestant, Alligator Records recording artist and Blues Music Award nominee Jarekus Singleton, and zydeco legend and Grammy winner Chubby Carrier. A huge thanks to CBA Vice President Wendy Schumer for finding our judges for both rounds of the Journey To Memphis.

Thanks also to the Journey To Memphis Waterfront Team: Wendy Schumer as Judges’ Assistant, Kate Naiman as Time Keeper, Cherie Robbins as Score Keeper and Greg Johnson as Host. Congratulations to Sister Mercy and thanks to all the acts who competed; the performances were all superb!

Journey To Memphis Finals, July 4 Waterfront Blues Festival

The finals for the 2015 Journey To Memphis competition have been set. After two nights in early June at The Lehrer, four acts were whittled out of the sixteen original entries to compete at the Waterfront Blues Festival on The Oregonian Front Porch Stage starting at 11:30 am on July 4. They will perform before three “celebrity” judges, playing 25 minute sets and scored in five categories: blues content, vocal talent, instrumentation talent, originality, and stage presence.

The sixteen acts that performed at The Lehrer were: Beacon Street Titans, Bottleneck Blues Band, Drop Dead Red, Gabriel Cox, Holfar Blue, Justus Reece, Ken West, Mick Knight, Missi & Mister Baker, Rogue Rage Duo, Sister Mercy, Still Water Vibes, Symplistic Soles, Ted Vaughn Blues Band, Tim Connor, and Tracey Fordice & The 8-Balls. The two highest scoring acts from each night won the right to place in the finals. The winning acts were: Beacon Street Titans, Bottleneck Blues Band, Sister Mercy and Symplistic Soles.

Because we mix both our solo/duo and band competitors together, and all four acts moving on to the Waterfront Blues Festival were bands, we allow the highest scoring solo/duo act from this year to have the right to represent the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis. By using the same judges both nights, the scoring is consistent for all the acts. The highest scoring solo/duo act was Medford’s Rogue Rage Duo featuring Harpo DeRoma and Dan Tiller.

The Cascade Blues Association would like to thank our judges for The Lehrer, John Jaqua, Brendan O’Donnell and Darlene “Blaque Butterfly” Solomon, for volunteering their time over two nights of music. We would also like to thank Brad Lehrer, The Lehrer and their staff for allowing us to use their room and JBL Sound (Jay Lawhorn and Steve Murray) for making everybody sound so great. The Journey To Memphis event team: Wendy Schumer as judge’s assistant, Cherie Robbins as scorekeeper and Andrea Stellar and Jody Gunn who worked as time-keepers. We also want to acknowledge volunteers Winnie Chapman Richards for working the door, Miles and Richard LaChapelle for merchandise sales and board members Jon Pierce, Barry Blackwell and Merry Larsen for various duties.

Please join us on July 4 at 11:30 am as we kick off the final round to determine who will represent the CBA in Memphis as our band entry. Good luck to all. The acts will perform in the following order:

11:30 – Symplistic Soles
12:00 – Bottleneck Blues Band
12:30 – Sister Mercy
1:00 – Beacon Street Titans

2015 Journey To Memphis Opening Round To Be Held Two Nights At The Lehrer-June 5th & 6th

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The opening round of the 2015 Journey To Memphis competition will be held at The Lehrer, 8775 SW Canyon Lane, on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. This year’s line-up has eighteen acts vying for the right to represent the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis next January at the International Blues Challenge. To get there, they have to go through this opening weekend and then the finals at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4. All acts will perform twenty minute sets before a group of judges scoring them on blues content, originality, instrumentation, vocals, and presentation. The top two highest scoring acts from each night will move on to the finals.

Show time each night begins at 8:00 pm. Admission is $10.00 each night. Please note that this is the main fundraiser for the prize money for the Journey To Memphis competition, no family members, spouses, roadies, friends, or special guests of the performers are allowed free entry. This includes the acts not performing if they chose to attend both nights. We want to raise enough money to offer as much as we can to the winners.

The Journey To Memphis is like a mini blues festival: nine acts each evening over two nights with enough musical variety to appeal to everyone. Always one of the most entertaining events of the year for the Cascade Blues Association.

This year’s competitors and schedule is as follows:

Friday, June 5

8:00 – Holfar Blue
8:30 – Mick Knight
9:00 – Symplistic Soles
9:30 – Tim Connor
10:00 – Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls
10:30 – Still Water Vibes
11:00 – Missi & Mister Baker
11:30 – Sister Mercy
12:00 – The Mojoblasters

Saturday, June 6

8:00 – Bottleneck Blues Band
8:30 – Rogue Rage Duo
9:00 – Gabriel Cox
9:30 – Ted Vaughn Blues Band
10:00 – Ken West
10:30 – The Eric Sugar Larsen Band
11:00 – Drop Dead Red
11:30 – Justus Reece
12:00 – Beacon Street Titans

(Times and order are subject to change)

Journey To Memphis To Be Held Two Nights At The Lehrer : June 5th & 6th

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The opening round of the 2015 Journey To Memphis competition is now officially set — it will be held at The Lehrer, 8775 SW Canyon Lane, on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. This year’s line-up has eighteen acts vying for the right to represent the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis next January at the International Blues Challenge. To get there, they have to go through this opening weekend and then the finals at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4. All acts will perform twenty minute sets before a group of judges scoring them on blues content, originality, instrumentation, vocals and presentation. The top two highest scoring acts from each night will move on to the finals.

Show time each night begins at 8:00 pm. Admission is $10.00 each night. This is like a mini blues festival: nine acts each evening over two nights with enough musical variety to appeal to everyone.

This year’s competitors and schedule is as follows:

Friday, June 5

8:00 – Holfar Blue
8:30 – Mick Knight
9:00 – Symplistic Soles
9:30 – Tim Connor
10:00 – Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls
10:30 – Still Water Vibes
11:00 – Missi & Mister Baker
11:30 – Sister Mercy
12:00 – The Mojoblasters

Saturday, June 6

8:00 – Bottleneck Blues Band
8:30 – Rogue Rage Duo
9:00 – Gabriel Cox
9:30 – Ted Vaughn Blues Band
10:00 – Ken West
10:30 – The Eric Sugar Larsen Band
11:00 – Drop Dead Red
11:30 – Justus Reece
12:00 – Beacon Street Titans

(Times and order are subject to change)

Applications Deadline For 2015 Journey To Memphis Is April 1

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 that will be held in early 2016. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry looking 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 will be held in two rounds. The opening round will take place over two nights at The Lehrer on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The two highest scoring acts each night advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted now until Wednesday, April 1 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. We will adjust the time schedule to ensure all are included. Each act will perform either Friday or Saturday and are scheduled by a random drawing, so we request that you do not schedule other gigs until you know which night you are scheduled.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00 (This is an increase from last year and is the first time we have raised the fee in more than ten years. This is to stay consistent with what other societies have been charging – though still less than many – and all fees collected go to the prize money to the competition’s winners to help cover travel expenses.)
  • 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 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, then you remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.
  • Applications can be sent to Journey To Memphis c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228-6566. All entries must be received no later than April 1.

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2015 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 that will be held in early 2016. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry looking 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 will be held in two rounds. The opening round will take place over two nights at The Lehrer on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The two highest scoring acts each night advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted now until Wednesday, April 1 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. We will adjust the time schedule to ensure all are included. Each act will perform either Friday or Saturday and are scheduled as drawn at random, so we request that you do not schedule other gigs until you know which night you are scheduled.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00 (This is an increase from last year and is the first time we have raised the fee in more than ten years. This is to stay consistent with what  other societies have been charging – though still less than many – and all fees collected go to the prize money to the competition’s winners to help cover travel expenses.)
  • 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 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, then you remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

Applications can be sent to Journey To Memphis c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228-6566. All entries must be received no later than April 1.

2015 International Blues Challenge: Pacific Northwest Review

It was another great experience in Memphis during this January’s International Blues Challenge. And for all those who stayed away because they were afraid of the bitter cold that we experienced last year, you missed out on the mild weather that was had this year. What’s even better? The Northwest Blues Societies’ acts are really beginning to make more of a mark on the international scene each year.

Five blues societies from the Northwest sent nine acts and a youth group to Memphis. Five acts, one from each of the societies, made the semi-finals, and one made it all the way to The Orpheum Theater for the finals. All played their hearts out and gave performances that we should be proud of. As I have stated many times, it is not about the winning the competition that is most important — it is the impact you make for yourself. Winning would be great, but it is something that is not going to happen very often. There were more than 250 blues acts from all around the world, and only one of them can be named as the winner. And all of those acts are out of this world good.

The acts that represented the Northwest were: Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond (solo/duo) and Tracey Fordice & The 8 Balls (band) from the Ashland Blues Society; David Pinsky & Phil Newton (solo/duo) and the Rae Gordon Band from the Cascade Blues Association; Walker T Ryan (solo) and the Randy Oxford Band from the Rainy Day Blues Society; CD Woodbury Band from South Sound Blues Association; and Nick Vigarino (solo) and the Rafael Tranquilino Band from the Washington Blues Society.

Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond, the Rae Gordon Band, the Randy Oxford Band, the CD Woodbury Band, and the Rafael Tranquilino Band all made it through to the semi-finals after the first two nights.

The finals were held in The Orpheum Theater early Saturday afternoon. The only NW act to make it to this level was Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond. They were the third act second act (not sure which here) scheduled for the day and delivered a masterful set that made the entire region proud.

But when it comes down to the end, the judges selected the following as the 2015 International Blues Challenge winners: Band competition 1st place: Eddie Cotton (Vicksburg Blues Society), 2nd place: Noah Wotherspoon (Dayton Blues Society), 3rd place: Nico Wayne Toussaint’s Mighty Quartet (Southern California Blues Society. Solo/Duo competition: 1st place: Randy McQuay (Cape Fear Blues Society), 2nd place: Brian Keith Wallen (Dayton Blues Society).

Individual awards were also handed out to the Best Self-Produced CD to Altered Five Blues Band for their disc Cryin’ Mercy; the Lee Oskar Harmonica Player award to Nico Wayne Toussaint; the Gibson Guitar award for band guitarist to Noah Wotherspoon; and the St Blues

Cigar Box Guitar award for solo/duo guitarist went to our own Ben Rice! Congratulations Ben Rice!!

There are many other events that take place during the International Blues Challenge, including the Keeping The Blues Alive awards. And this year’s recipient of the KBA for best festival went to Erika Olsen for Washington’s Winthrop Blues Festival! Erika was on hand along with the Waterfront’s Peter Dammann not only to pick up this honor, but obviously to scout out new talent for their festivals.

A new event that was put together this year for the first time was the Pacific Northwest Showcase. The brainchild of Washington Blues Society president Tony Frederickson, it was held at Club 152 on Beale Street on Friday afternoon, hosted by Tony, Cascade Blues Association president Greg Johnson, and South Sound Blues Association president Jane Henderson. Each of the nine acts from the Northwest took part in this showcase, along with South Sound’s youth act Emily Randolph & Oaklawn, and special appearances by past contestant Sammy Eubanks and 2010 second place winner Karen Lovely who was joined by Houston’s Jonn Del Toro Richardson on guitar. This was an exciting and popular day, so hopefully it can be done again.

Overall, the 31st International Blues Challenge proved once again that it keeps growing and getting better every year. And the Pacific Northwest is right in the thick of things, turning a lot of heads with the incredible musicians we possess in our little corner of the country. Make plans to attend in Memphis next year, but between now and then make it a point to support all the acts attempting to go in 2016, the regional competitions and the fundraising to help them get there. It’s not easy to reach that level, but once there you’re among some of the very best.

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2015 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 that will be held in early 2016. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry looking 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 will be held in two rounds. The opening round will take place over two nights at The Lehrer on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The two highest scoring acts each night advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted now until Wednesday, April 1st 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. We will adjust the time schedule to ensure all are included. Each act will perform either Friday or Saturday and are scheduled as drawn at random, so we request that you do not schedule other gigs until you know which night you are scheduled.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00 (This is an increase from last year and is the first time we have raised the fee in more than ten years. This is to stay consistent with what other societies have been charging – though still less than many – and all fees collected go to the prize money to the competition’s winners to help cover travel expenses.)
  • 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 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, then you remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

Applications can be sent to Journey To Memphis c/o Cascade Blues Association, PO Box 6566, Portland, Oregon 97228-6566. All entries must be received no later than April 1.

Applications Now Being Accepted For 2015 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 that will be held in early 2016. Up to 250 acts from around the world converge on Beale Street to perform before the music industry looking 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 will be held in two rounds. The opening round will take place over two nights at The Lehrer on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th. Acts are scored by a trio of judges selected for their backgrounds and knowledge of the blues. The two highest scoring acts each night advance to the finals held at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th.

Applications to participate in the competition will be accepted now until Wednesday, April 1st 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. We will adjust the time schedule to ensure all are included. Each act will perform either Friday or Saturday and are scheduled as drawn at random, so we request that you do not schedule other gigs until you know which night you are scheduled.

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

  • Entry fee is $25.00 (This is an increase from last year and is the first time we have raised the fee in more than ten years. This is to stay consistent with what other societies have been charging – though still less than many – and all fees collected go to the prize money to the competition’s winners to help cover travel expenses.)
  • 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 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, then you remove yourself from further competitions to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.