Three Opportunities To See The 44s in Northern Oregon

The 44s press photo

The 44s – press photo

Late August is perfect chance to catch up with one of the area’s most favorite touring blues bands, The 44s. They will be heading up from Southern California to perform three consecutive nights over August 28th thru the 30th.

The 44’s are a Los Angeles-based band who play blues-roots-rock music and are definitely one of the brightest rising stars on the American blues roots scene. Make no mistake about it. The raw rough and tough sounds generated by these four expert musicians during live performances and on their recordings demands to be heard by Blues music fans World Wide. A favorite band of club and festival crowds across North America, they evidence a genuine gift for creating blues in the moment while at the same time showing loyalty to a remarkable blues-and-r&b tradition that goes back decades through the James Harman Band and the Red Devils to storied greats like Howlin’ Wolf, Albert Collins, and Muddy Waters.

On Thursday, August 28th, The 44s will be in Birkenfeld, Oregon, playing a show at The Birk, 11139 Highway 202 for a 7:00 pm show.

On Friday, August 29th, they will head into Portland for a night at Duff’s Garage, 2530 NE 82nd for a 9:00 pm performance that is also a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event. Show your current membership card to receive a $1.00 discount at the door.

Then on Saturday, August 30th, make the trip out to Hood River for your last chance to see The 44s on this swing through the area. They will be appearing at The Double Mountain Brewery, 8 Fourth Street for an 8:00 pm show.

Catch them at one venue or another, maybe all three. The 44s are guaranteed to get you shakin’ with their incredible bluesy grooves.

The Birk To Host Guitarist Bill Magee’s Only Oregon Appearance

Bill Magee - promo photoReferring to himself as “The Lowdown Dirty Blues Guitarist,” Bill Magee (then going by the name Willie) met a young guitarist by the name of Jimmy James. The two became good friends and formed the band Jimmy James and The Flames. James eventually moved to England, where he became better known as Jimi Hendrix, while Magee continued the original band under the name the Kansas City Playboys and toured Europe himself. The rest is history.

After a brief hiatus, Bill Magee began to feel the pull of the blues once again and came out of retirement. Now working out of San Diego, where he is one of the busiest blues artists on the scene, he is back to playing that authentic Southern blues.

Bill Magee will be appearing for one show only in Oregon on Wednesday, August 20th for a 6:30 dinner show at The Birk, located at 11139 Highway 202 in Birkenfeld, Oregon. So head on out and catch this original Mississippi bluesman who has worked alongside greats like Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Muddy Waters, Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, Bobby Bland and of course, Jimi Hendrix.

 

Rising Young Blues Star Benjamin Booker To Play Free Show At The Doug Fir

Benjamin Booker - photo by Lumiere Tintype

Benjamin Booker – photo by Lumiere Tintype

The Doug Fir Lounge presents a free patio show on Saturday, August 16th, starting at 6:00 pm, featuring New Orleans-based singer/songwriter Benjamin Booker. Booker’s sound has grown out of his old love of hardcore bands and his new life in the Big Easy. Embracing both Black Flag and the blues, he creates music with a fresh take on traditionally heavy genres. Audiences will be witness to a sound that’s urgent, emotional, and ball -breaking. It’s gritty like late 60s punk Detroit, but in the end, this is a young artist who’s a true blues man, whom The Independent newspaper has described as “frenzied guitar-strumming and raw, soulful vocals that are hair-raising in intensity.” This is a 21+ show only.

Jimmy Mak’s Presents The Blues Cabaret featuring Dave Fleschner, Earl Thomas & members of PGMC

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Dave Fleschner = photo credit included in shot

Dave Fleschner – photo by mirifoto

Jimmy Mak’s, Portland’s premier jazz and blues venue, presents The Blues Cabaret on Thursday, August 21st. This is a program featuring all original blues compositions by Dave Fleschner, which will feel right at home in the classic supper club environment of Jimmy Mak’s. This show will include one of the West Coast’s finest blues vocalists Earl Thomas, along with soloists from the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus singing music that brings the classic blues themes of love, lust, fear and betrayal to an off-Broadway atmosphere.

Earl Thomas - photo by Greg Johnson

Earl Thomas – photo by Greg Johnson

The show combines the grittiest elements of the blues with the nuance of jazz. The deep, understated grooves of Carlton Jackson on drums and Bill Athens on upright bass combined with the erudite nastiness of Alan Hager on guitar and Dave Fleschner on piano will make this an evening that takes the blues to its dirtiest lows and its most exhilarating highs.

Jimmy Mak’s is located in the heart of The Pearl District at 221 NW 10th. Showtime is 8:00 pm and admission is $12.00. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event, so show your membership card at the door for a $1.00 discount. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 503-295-6542.

 

Twin Bill of Rockin’ Blues At The Birk with Toney Rocks and Jared James Nichols

On Friday, August 8th, The Birk will be featuring a double-headed bill of some of today’s rising stars in the blues, Toney Rocks and Jared James Nichols. For this special event, showtime starts at 6:30 and will run until midnight. Drop in early for dinner, enjoy the rustic setting and stay all night for a blues party.

Toney Rocks - press photo

Toney Rocks – press photo

Currently promoting his self-titled EP, Toney Rocks dives into the abyss of progressive blues rock music, pushing the culture forward by delivering a bold hybrid peppered with electronic elements. He isn’t just another guitar slinging bluesman. Toney Rocks’ conscious penmanship reveals a poet that identifies with today’s struggles and triumphs such as poverty, love, and self-liberation. He writes for the people, as a voice of the people who can’t be heard. His music has been compared to the soulful sounds of Robert Cray and the fusion of Jean Luc Ponty.

jared james nichols

jared james nichols – press photo

You can’t teach the blues. Either you’ve got it, or you don’t. Jared James Nichols has definitely got it. The Wisconsin-born, Los Angeles-based singer, writer and guitarist channels blues grit and gusto through bombastic arena-size rock ‘n’ roll. It’s raw, raucous and righteously real. Armed with a new EP, Old Glory & The Wild Revival, Jared James Nichols has recently performed at NAMM, SXSW and the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Festival.

The Birk is located at 11139 Highway 202 in Birkenfeld, Oregon.

Nikki Hill Returns For Two Great Shows

Nikki & Matt Hill - photo by Greg Johnson

Nikki & Matt Hill – photo by Greg Johnson

Those who have seen Nikki Hill sing her ass off agree—this isn’t just another newcomer on the scene, this is a ‘whiplash’ moment. Hill and her band are climbing to the top of the roots music scene step by step and leaving jaws on the floor along the way. With a no-filter energy, they take all the flavors of American roots music and deliver a sound that will make you believe in rock and roll again! Nikki’s gritty and raw voice with Stax soul dynamics, driving rhythm guitar from Matt Hill, and a tight rhythm section provided by Ed Strohsahl and Joe Meyer come together and make a sound that just sounds like the truth.

After a handful of shows in the Portland area over the past couple years, Nikki Hill has made believers out of local fans and tends to pack the rooms she performs in. Dynamic shows at Duff’s Garage and the Waterfront Blues Festival quickly spread the name Nikki Hill as an artist to keep close watch on and not to miss when in town.

Nikki Hill returns to the region for a couple of dates. On Tuesday, August 12th, Nikki Hill will be performing for a dinner show at 6:30 at The Birk, 11139 Highway 202 in Birkenfeld, Oregon, and then on Wednesday, August 13th, the band hit the stage in Portland’s Duff’s Garage once again, located at 2530 NE 82nd . This one is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event, so bring your membership card for a $1.00 discount at the door and be prepared to jump up and dance.

Mike Eldred Trio / Hank Shreve Band Double Header At Duff’s Garage

Mike Eldred Trio - press photo

Mike Eldred Trio – press photo

Mike Eldred has been tagged with the title of “The Best Unknown Guitarist” by none other than former Stray Cat Brian Setzer. He goes on to say, “Mike Eldred is among the rare breed of guitarists who is not afraid of blurring lines in American Music. By bending all of his favorite musical styles, Mike has created his own original voice in modern electric guitar playing. He’s what it’s all about, Baby!”

Eldred has worked as guitarist in the band of another former Stray Cat, Lee Rocker. Joined by rhythm section John Bazz and Jerry Angel, both who cut their teeth playing with The Blasters, this power trio sits atop their class amongst bands offering Americana/Roots/Blues music today. They recently completed their fourth album, titled Baptist Town, recorded in Memphis’ famed Sun Studios.

Hank Shreve Band – photo by Laurie Shreve

Opening the night will be on of Eugene’s top blues acts, the Muddy Award winning Hank Shreve Band. Praised as one of the Northwest’s best harmonica players, Hank Shreve is actually a multi-instrumentalist and superb vocalist.

The Mike Eldred Trio will be appearing at Duff’s Garage, 2530 NE 82nd, on Friday, August 8th for a 9:00 pm show. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event and current card carrying members will receive a $1.00 discount at the door.

2014 Groovin’ On The Grass Concert Features Superb Double Bill with the Robert Cray Band and Shemekia Copeland

The Tualatin Valley Park & Recreation District proudly presents their annual date-night showcase, Groovin’ on the Grass, on Saturday, August 9th. This year’s featured performers is a blues lovers’ dream with two of the hottest acts on the circuit today, The Robert Cray Band and Shemekia Copeland, appearing for the low, low price of just $5.00! And kids under 5 are free.

robert-cray[1]

Robert Cray – press photo

Robert Cray broke out nationally from the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1980s and has steadily been atop the blues world ever since, earning Grammys, Blues Music Awards and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame. Along the way he has amassed numerous hit recordings that have cross-over to the pop charts and released more than twenty albums.

Shemekia Copeland has proven her talents time after time as the legacy of her legendary father Johnny Copeland. She has also garnered her share of awards throughout the years and has been hailed as the “New Queen of the Blues.”

Blues Royalty, Shemekia Copeland at Jimmy Mak’s

Shemekia Copeland – press photo

Both acts offer home-grown, Portland-based talent within their bands. Robert Cray employing the always popular Dover Weinberg on keyboards, while Copeland features guitar player Ken Scandlyn, so make a point to head out to cheer them on, too.

So make a point to come out to Tualatin Valley Park & Recreation’s HMT Complex, located at 15707 SW Walker Road in Beaverton on august 9th. Showtime is 5:00 – 8:30 pm. Food and drink will be available, including craft beers from Golden Valley Brewery.

 

 

Israel’s Ori Naftaly Band Make Portland Debut

Ori Naftaly Band - press photo

Ori Naftaly and Eleanor Tsaig of the Ori Naftaly Band – press photo

In a very short time this extremely talented band has gained international recognition and support by the international blues community and by an extended fan base, located in the USA, Holland, India, Germany and other countries all over the world. The first Israeli band to reach the semi-finals at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2013 as well as out-selling every act at the IBC for CD sales, this band is all about energy and soul. Living in the United States the past year on a work visa, the band has been residing in Memphis and winning over audiences throughout the country as they make their first trip to the West Coast this fall. Led by the dynamic guitar playing of Ori Naftaly and the soulful voice of Eleanor Tsaig, their live performances are easy to see why they were chosen the Best Israeli Blues Act of 2013.

“This (‘I Feel Fine’) is what SRV might have sounded like if he had taken a more funk and jazz infused direction.” Barry Kerzner, American Blues Scene

The Ori Naftaly Band will be making their Portland debut on Tuesday, August 5th at Duff’s Garage, 2530 NE 82nd, for a 9:00 pm show. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event. Bring your current membership cards to get a $1.00 discount on admission. You do not want to miss this one for one of the most exciting international blues bands working today!

Kalama Blues Festival, Saturday, August 2nd

kalama bfThe Third Annual Kalama Blues Festival will take place on Saturday, August 2nd along the waterfront at the Port of Kalama’s Marina Park on Hendrickson Drive. Just a short 45 minute drive north of Portland, this event helps support Kalama Helping Hands feed the region’s hungry.

This year’s festival will feature some of the finest blues acts from the Portland area with Ellen Whyte, Norman Sylvester, Kevin Selfe, Bolt Upright and The Bottleneck Blues Band.

Gates open at noon and admission is $8.00 plus two cans of food. Those under 15 are free with two cans of food. Music begins at 1:00 pm. There will be a beer garden with Ashtown Brewery, Roland, and Harmony Wineries providing beverages. Food vendors will include Terrel’s Texas Barbecue, Kat’s Crepes and Antique Deli. New to this year’s festival will be an Art Walk, where local artists will display and sell their crafts.