Ben Rice Band Captures 2013 Journey To Memphis

Ben Rice Band J2M winners photo by Greg Johnson

Ben Rice Band J2M winners photo by Greg Johnson

Four acts won the right to take part in the Journey To Memphis finals at the Trails End Saloon in early June, The Mojo Blasters, Tevis Hodge Jr., Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band and the Ben Rice Band. The finals were held on July 4th on The Oregonian Front Porch Stage at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival before a huge crowd with all four acts presenting dynamic performances. And when it was all said and done, the judges voted for the Ben Rice Band to represent the Cascade Blues Association in Memphis next January at the International Blues Challenge.

This year’s event was unique. Tevis Hodge Jr. had already won the right to go to Memphis prior to the Waterfront as he was the only solo/duo act that had advanced to the finals. He was competing against the bands for Read more

Journey To Memphis Finals To Be Held At Waterfront Blues Festival On July 4th

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Ben Rice

Ben Rice

Please join the Cascade Blues Festival first thing July 4th when you attend the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival as we present the finals for our Journey To Memphis competition starting at noon on the Front Porch Stage. Four acts will compete to see who will represent the CBA and the region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN next January.

Eleven acts participated in the first round, held at The Trails End in Oregon City the first weekend of June. Those acts included: Alan Hager & Dave Fleschner, Chad Rupp & Josh Makosky, David Pinsky & Phil Newton, Howard Wade, Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band, Rae Gordon & Gaddis Cavenah, Tevis Hodge Jr., The Ben Rice Band, The Hitmen, The Mojoblasters, and The Rae Gordon Band. All acts were judged in five catagories, following the guidelines set by The Blues Foundation and the top two scoring acts from each night advanced to the finals at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Those winners were: Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band, Tevis Hodge Jr., The Ben Rice Band and The Mojoblasters.

 

Lisa Mann

Lisa Mann

A huge thanks to The Trails End for letting us hold our opening round at their venue, and to our judges: longtime musician Jim Mayer, music publicist & promoter Matt Kalinowski and sound engineer, music product specialist & KBOO DJ Phil Garfinkel. Also a quick thanks in advance to the Oregon Food Bank and the Waterfront Blues Festival for allowing us to use the Front Porch Stage for our event finals and for the prize package they offer as well.

 

Make a point to also check out 2012 Journey To Memphis winners The Muddy Sons and Franco & The Stingers, as well as 2012 International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo winner Ray Bonneville and 2013 Band winners Selwyn Birchwood Band, all performing at the Waterfront Blues Festival.

 

 

Journey To Memphis Finals To Be Held At Waterfront Blues Festival On July 4th

,
Ben Rice

Ben Rice

Please join the Cascade Blues Festival first thing July 4th when you attend the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival as we present the finals for our Journey To Memphis competition starting at noon on the Front Porch Stage. Four acts will compete to see who will represent the CBA and the region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN next January.

Eleven acts participated in the first round, held at The Trails End in Oregon City the first weekend of June. Those acts included: Alan Hager & Dave Fleschner, Chad Rupp & Josh Makosky, David Pinsky & Phil Newton, Howard Wade, Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band, Rae Gordon & Gaddis Cavenah, Tevis Hodge Jr., The Ben Rice Band, The Hitmen, The Mojoblasters, and The Rae Gordon Band. All acts were judged in five catagories, following the guidelines set by The Blues Foundation and the top two scoring acts from each night advanced to the finals at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Those winners were: Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band, Tevis Hodge Jr., The Ben Rice Band and The Mojoblasters.

Lisa Mann

Lisa Mann

A huge thanks to The Trails End for letting us hold our opening round at their venue, and to our judges: longtime musician Jim Mayer, music publicist & promoter Matt Kalinowski and sound engineer, music product specialist & KBOO DJ Phil Garfinkel. Also a quick thanks in advance to the Oregon Food Bank and the Waterfront Blues Festival for allowing us to use the Front Porch Stage for our event finals and for the prize package they offer as well.

Make a point to also check out 2012 Journey To Memphis winners The Muddy Sons and Franco & The Stingers, as well as 2012 International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo winner Ray Bonneville and 2013 Band winners Selwyn Birchwood Band, all performing at the Waterfront Blues Festival.

Tevis Hodge Jr.

Tevis Hodge Jr.

Richie Bean and the Mojoblasters

Richie Bean and the Mojoblasters

2013 Journey To Memphis to Kick Off at The Trails End Saloon in June

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Alan Hagar

Alan Hagar

Always one of the Cascade Blues Association’s largest events of the year is the Journey To Memphis; our regional competition to select our representatives from the region to compete in The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge next year in Memphis, Tennessee. This year’s event returns to the newly renovated Trails End Saloon in Oregon City on Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th, starting at 8:00 pm both nights.
This year we have fourteen entries; seven will compete each night before a set of three judges scoring the acts on blues content, instrumentation talent, vocal talent, originality and stage presence. All will have a timed 30-minute set and the two highest scoring acts from each night will advance to the finals held on July 4th at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival.

Admission to the Journey To Memphis is $10.00 each night. All admissions will cover the cost of production and form the base prize received by the winners to help defray their traveling expenses to Memphis.

Scheduled Times and Act Sets are as follows (note: these are subject to change as the acts are not required to play a full 30-minute set. If they go overtime, they will be penalized a point for every 10 seconds over.)

Friday, June 7th:

  • 8:00 – Howard Wade
  • 8:40 – Alan Hager & Dave Fleschner
  • 9:20 – Rae Gordon Band
  • 10:00 – Alan Benson Experience
  • 10:40 – Chad Rupp & Josh Makosky
  • 11:20 – The Mojo Blasters
  • 12:00 – Ben Rice Band

Saturday, June 8th:

  • 8:00 – Rose City Rats featuring Savanna Coen
  • 8:40 – David Pinsky & Phil Newton
  • 9:20 – Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band
  • 10:00 – Tevis Hodge, Jr.
  • 10:40 – Beacon Street Titans
  • 11:20 – The Hitmen
  • 12:00 – Rae Gordon & Gaddis Cavenah (Duo)