The Congress Brings Its Rootsy Blend To The Northwest

the-congress-press-photoThe Congress is a band that shows reverence for its roots through cohesion and creativity, with a relentless energy that stamps a tangible sonic signature that is equal parts rock & roll, old-school soul music, and outlaw country. They have an obsession with rhythmic feel, songwriting, and instrumental mastery that they showcase on their sophomore release The Game. The band stripped down to the bare basics for The Game, utilizing a core of Scott Lane on guitar, Jonathan Meadows on bass and vocals, Chris Speasmaker on piano, and Raphael Katchinoff on drums. Originally from Colorado, the band now calls Virginia home and it has toured in support of such established acts as the Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Lake Street Drive, and Hard Working Americans.

The Congress will be making two stops as they tour through Oregon.

On Friday, October 7, they will be performing at The Birk, 11139 Hwy 202 in Birkenfeld.  Tickets for this 7:00 pm show are available in advance through Tickettomato.com for $15.00. Admission at the door will be $20.00.

Then on Saturday, October 8, The Congress will appear at The White Eagle Saloon in Portland at 9:00 pm, with opening act The Lovely Lost. Admission is $10.00 advance, $12.00 day of show. The White Eagle is located at 836 N Russell.

 

New Orleans Blues Man Luke Winslow – King In Oregon

luke-winslow-king-press-photoLuke Winslow-King is a New Orleans-based guitarist, singer, composer, producer, and songwriter. His work is an eclectic mix of Mississippi delta blues, folk music, traditional jazz, and roots rock & roll. His alchemical songs blend contemporary ideas with styles from bygone eras producing a sound that is rustic and urbane, elegant, and entirely his own. It is a sound that looks to the past to move to the future. This along with his burgundy voice, dapper attire, and versatile guitar playing have earned him a reputation as a musician who delivers soulfully energetic and dynamic performances which earned him a New Orleans Blues Artist of the Year award in 2015.

On Friday, October 14, Luke Winslow-King will be at The Birk, 11139 Hwy 202 in Birkenfeld. Tickets for this 7:00 pm show are available for $10.00 advance through Tickettomato.com, and $15.00 at the door day of show.

He will be taking the stage at The Volcanic Theatre Pub,  70 SW Century Drive in Bend, on Wednesday, October 19. New Orleans based singer/songwriter Sista Otis opens the show. Call 541-323-1881 for more information.

Luke Winslow-King will also be appearing at The Secret Society Ballroom on Thursday, October 20 as a double bill with New Orleans’ vocal jazz group The Stolen Sweets, starting at 7:00 pm. The Secret Society is located at 116 NE Russell Street. Tickets are $10.00 for this 21 & over show and can be purchased in advance through Ticketfly.com.

The Annual Muddy Awards set for Wednesday, November 2

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Muddy Award

muddy_awardMark your calendars for Wednesday, November 2 as the Cascade Blues Association’s annual Muddy Awards celebration will return with a fun-filled night of excitement, recognition, and amazing music. It will take place at The Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder Street, upstairs in the main ballroom, beginning at 6:30 pm. Various music celebrities and CBA board members will present awards, as selected by our members, in a number of categories honoring the musical achievement from the past year.

Of course, the Muddy Awards would not be complete without musical entertainment. This year’s event will follow tradition set a few years back with an opening set from this year’s Journey To Memphis winning band Rae Gordon & The Backseat Drivers. Midway through the awards, we will have a short intermission set for the solo/duo Journey To Memphis winning act David Pinsky. And to top the night off in grand fashion, an All Star Set featuring many of past and current Muddy Award winners and nominees, put together and led by the soulful vocals and steamy guitar of Ken DeRouchie. Ken already has commitments from some of the best musicians in the region, so expect another over the top night with the All Stars.

The Muddy Awards is an all ages event and is free for CBA members with their current membership cards. Non-members are just $5.00 for one of the most anticipated nights of the year in Portland’s blues community.

CBA Picnic 2016 THANK YOU

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by Wendy Schumer

The 2016 picnic was a huge success! Even the folks at Columbia Crossing said it was the best picnic ever in their history. And of course we could not have done it without the help of many great volunteers and the CBA board. Thank you to board members Wendy Schumer, Merry Larsen, Brenda Docken, Fred Morgan and JoAnn Morgan—all of whom worked tirelessly to prepare, set up, work and then tear down at this year’s picnic. Thanks to Jody Gunn for signing up volunteers.

As you can imagine, this takes a lot of work and time so this year’s picnic would be great for our members. In addition to the board members, we need to thank all of the volunteers who helped to make this possible. Without these volunteers I don’t know what we would have done. So let me list the names of those who I want to thank and apologize to anyone I may have overlooked:

  • First of all, Jon Pierce, Rich- ard LaChapelle and Ed Seifert. Thanks to Everyone Who Made the 2016 CBA Picnic a Huge Success These three worked tirelessly to pick up and load the truck. They had to get tables and ice, then unload the truck.
  • Dan from Dano’s Dogs for cooking and providing all the hotdogs, hamburgers and buns. We love you Dan!
  • Bryan Olson, Al Raines, Holly Thomas, Pat Rolsing, Vince Rolsing, and Matt Northy for setup.
  • Ron Beed, Barbara Sandoval, Robert Jones, and Mark Rankin for cooking under the hot, hot sun!
  • Lucia Michaud for being the master of the food table—cutting, prepping and cleaning! Judith Ellis for helping her.
  • Bonita Davis, Carol Hamley, Beverly Jones, Don Geren, and Michelle Bean for the hectic oversight of checking members into the area and signing up new members.
  • Imperial Bottleshop for providing the beer.
  • Carl Lehman, Danny Knoll, Mark Von Pressentin, Mary Maxson, Darren Maxson, Rick Ivey, Kim Wrabel, Will Crowe, Mary Cummings, and Priscilla (don’t know her last name) for overseeing pouring the beer and wine.
  • George Stevenson, Kathy Rankin, and Mark Rankin for tear down.
  • Gary Jazkoviak and Jim & Nancy also helped.

I know there were a lot more people who helped us load the truck and bring everything back to the office—I apologize if I didn’t get everybody’s names. But I want to thank you as well!

OK, now for the music. What a stellar line-up: starting off with Beacon Street Titans, followed by Gabe Cox, then Bolt Upright and concluding with The Thunder Brothers! What a day?! A warm thank you to all the musicians who graciously donated their time to help us put on this event. I just hope everyone had a great time and I would encourage the membership to think about volunteering to help us next year!

Too Slim and the Taildraggers’ Encore Performances! Sept. 4th & 5th

Tim Too Slim Langford - photo by Dean DavisIf Tim “Too Slim” Langford only played slide guitar, he would slither around most other blues guitarists and put a ferocious bite on their pride. However, as the sole six-string slinger, songwriter, and lead singer of the power trio Too Slim and the Taildraggers, he is a complete force of nature.

After leaving his mark in his native Northwest by tearing up stages for the best part of three decades and receiving hall of fame status from three blues societies, Langford moved to Nashville piecing together a new version of The Taildraggers (Eric “Stretch” Hansen on bass and Jeff “Shakey” Fowlkes on drums) and crafting  some of the finest blues rock material of his career. With around twenty discs under his belt, “Too Slim” explores a diverse range of musical approaches that appeals to a variety of audiences. But when it comes to taking their spot onstage, Too Slim and the Taildraggers take no prisoners. This is one show that is going to rock the house every time. Powerful is an understatement.

Touring in support of their latest release, Blood Moon, Too Slim and the Taildraggers electrified the stage at The Birk last June and the Waterfront Blues Festival in July. The band will return to The Birk, 11139 Hwy 202, Birkenfeld, Oregon, for an encore performance on Sunday, September 4, for a 3:00 pm show. Tickets are $15.00 advance and $20.00 at the door. Head on out and see why Too Slim and the Taildraggers have long been considered one of the Northwest’s greatest live blues act of all time!

Then on Monday, September 5, Too Slim & The Taildraggers will be coming back to Portland for an 8:00 pm show at Duff’s Garage, 2530 NE 82nd. This special night will also be a birthday celebration for promoter Joey Scruggs. Tickets can be obtained in advance through Tickettomato.com for $10.00. Admission at the door is $12.00. This is a Cascade Blues Association co-sponsored event, so bring your current membership, show it at the door, and receive a $1.00 discount on admission.

Nick Moss Band Offering Chicago’s Best Blues: Sept. 5th

The Nick Moss Band is beyond any doubt one of the most exciting and dynamic Chicago-based blues acts on the circuit today. The band’s website describes them as “Distinct, honest, and intense, a blend of traditional blues and progressive, jam-oriented blues rock. Face-melting guitar solos that rise above the crowded field of pretenders, and a versatile band that brilliantly delivers unparalleled improvisational jams to packed houses night after night, city after city.”

Nick Moss - photo by Mark GoodmanGuitarist and songwriter Nick Moss has worked with legendary blues greats such as Jimmy Dawkins, Jimmy Rogers, Buddy Scott, and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith before forming his own band Nick Moss & The Flip Tops in 1999. Having Nick in a band would be way more than any one act could hope for, but The Nick Moss Band is a double-edge powerhouse with Michael Ledbetter on vocals and guitar. Inspired by vocalists like Donnie Hathaway, BB King, and Stevie Wonder, Ledbetter is one of the finest voices you’ll find anywhere in the blues. Throw in the adept drumming of Patrick Seals, and you have the recipe for Chicago’s premier blues outfit.

The Nick Moss Band will be heading to Oregon for a pair of dates in early September, starting on Labor Day, September 5 at The Birk, 11139 Hwy 202, Birkenfeld. Show time is 3:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 advance and $20.00 day of show.

Then on Tuesday, September 6, the band is scheduled for a 7:00 pm performance at the Springhouse Cellars in Hood River, located at 13 Railroad Street.

Timberbound presents: The Northwest Folk Songs of Woody Guthrie and other Ramblers

Timberbound - photo by Greg JohnsonAfter reviving Northwest sawmill ballads from an obscure songbook, local folk/acoustic/blues band Timberbound is now interpreting the Northwest songs of Woody Guthrie for a forthcoming album, Roll On, Columbia. With an upcoming performance at The Lake Theater & Café, fans have the opportunity to get a live preview of these obscure songs Guthrie penned while living in the Portland area and working for the US government’s Bonneville Power Administration. This November, Timberbound will release a double album recording of Guthrie’s songs!

Timberbound is led by banjo player and guitarist Joe Seamons (half of the 2016 International Blues Challenge solo/duo winning act Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons), and the group features multi-instrumentalist Gavin Duffy, fiddle player Jenny Estrin and vocalist Kate Sandgren.

Timberbound will be returning to The Lake Theater & Café on Monday, September 5 for a 7:00 pm presentation of these Woody Guthrie songs. Tickets available online at Laketheatercafe.com for $20.00 general admission.

California and Texas Blues Greats Teamed Up With The Golden State Lone Star Revue : Sept. 6th

Golden State Lone Star Revue - photo by Rachel KumarThe blues have long played a major role in both Texas and California’s musical culture. Some of the most renowned artists have hailed from these two states, so it would seem quite fitting that pairing musicians from both these states would produce fiery results. In the form of the Golden State Lone Star Revue that paring is definitely igniting some impressive sparks. Guitar heroes Anson Funderburgh and Little Charlie Baty join up with harmonica ace Mark Hummel and between the three of them there are some 47 Blues Music Award nominations and 10 wins. With this line-up, how could they possibly go wrong? Then throw in two of the finest rhythm guys going with RW Grigsby on bass and Wes Starr on drums and things just get the musical stew cooking even hotter. All combined, they are a jumping band that can be heard on their outstanding Golden State Lone Star Revue disc.

Needless to say, having the chance to see this group of all-stars is something not to be missed. And that will happen on Tuesday, September 6 at The Lake Theater & Café, 106 State Street, Lake Oswego. Show time is 7:00 pm and tickets are available at Laketheatercafe.com for $20.00 advance general admission or reserve a VIP table down in front of the stage for four people at $120.00.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Coming To The Doug Fir Lounge: Sept. 2nd

Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears - photo courtesy of Funk U MagazineHailing from Austin, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears music is a collision of Southern soul, Midwestern blues, and vagabond punk. While he’s been compared to “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown, and counts among his inspirations blues deity Howlin’ Wolf, Lewis let his punk-flag fly on the group’s third studio album, Electric Slave, where he has honed its signature sound and perfected his gritty blues shouting and raw guitar riffs. Lewis refuses to confine himself to genre-defining boundaries and instead indulged all his many musical influences. With plenty of women chasing, hard-knocks, and all-around good time tales to tell, he also always finds a way to make his tracks full of horns and blues riffs that rival the likes of rocker Iggy Pop.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears will be returning to one of their favorite venues in the Portland area as they perform at the Doug Fir Lounge on Friday, September 2 at 9:00 pm. Tickets for this 21 & over show can be purchased in advance through Ticketfly.com ranging from $15.00 – $17.00. The Doug Fir Lounge is located at 830 E. Burnside St.

2016 Sunbanks Music Festival : Sept. 9th

Sunbanks-festivalFounded in 1995, the Sunbanks Music Festival in Electric City, Washington is a twice-a-year event that offers the best in national and regional musicians. This four-day festival will take place on September 8-11 against the backdrop of Banks Lake, near the Grand Coulee Dam. This year the event will feature another amazing line-up of performers with the Golden State Lone Star Revue with Anson Funderburgh, Mark Hummel, and Little Charlie Baty, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Leroy Bell & His Only Friends, Too Slim & the Taildraggers, Harlis Sweetwater, Duffy Bishop, Junkyard Jane with Sue Orfield, The Americans, Lee Bob & the Truth, Courtney Marie Andrews, Rich Layton & the Troublemakers, Little Bill Trio, Cee Cee James & Mission of S.O.U.L. Duo, Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method, RB Stone, The Thunder Brothers, Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, Rob Tudor, Michael Coucoules, and a Songwriter’s Showcase.

For more information, including tickets, camping and lodging, visit the festival’s website at sunbanksfestival.com.