27th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival; July 18-20, 2014

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Winthrop AD 5X8 b&wThis year’s 27th Anniversary of the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is shaping up to be the best rhythm & blues PARTY yet!  COME SEE WHY!  The Award-Winning Winthrop Music Association presents the Festival July 18-20, 2014 at the Blues Ranch in Winthrop, Washington, nestled in the beautiful Methow Valley in the heart of the North Cascades, surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the Pacific Northwest.

This year’s feature entertainers are:
Charlie Musselwhite, 2014 Grammy Award Winner; Royal Southern Brotherhood (featuring Cyril Neville, Devon Allman & Mike Zito); Shemekia Copeland; Roy Rogers; Carolyn Wonderland; Too Slim & The Taildraggers ;The Soul of John Black with Jim Pugh on keys; The Holmes Brothers; Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble; Homemade Jamz; Chris O’Leary Band; Doctorfunk; David Vest, solo; Lady “A” & Stan Street, our Masters of Ceremonies.

Three days packed full of Rhythm & Blues!  Washington State’s largest and longest running blues festival kicks off 7:30 pm, Friday, July 18 with its early show, the “Lowdown Hoedown”, in the Big Top Tent Beer Garden at the Blues Ranch featuring Winthrop favorites Too Slim & the Taildraggers, The Soul of John Black, and the funky soul sounds of DoctorfunK in a special fundraising concert for The Cove Food Bank in Twisp, WA. Saturday and Sunday music starts at 11 am and runs until 2 am. On-site camping ($45 for the weekend), free showers, food and craft vendors, shade tents, and beer garden are all located on the Blues Ranch grounds on the beautiful Methow River. The Friday night Beer Garden Show is $10 or free with weekend pass. A weekend pass is $90 in advance, $100 at the gate. For complete schedule, tickets, and lodging information please visit our website www.winthropbluesfestival.org. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/winthropbluesfestival.

The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is brought to you by The Winthrop Music Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Proceeds from the Festival help support a number of cultural and civic organizations in the Methow Valley and beyond, including The Cove Food Bank, Methow Valley School District Music Program, Little Star Montessori School, Heart of the Methow Pow Wow, Oregon Food Bank/Waterfront Blues Festival, and the Washington Blues Society Musician’s Relief Fund. WMA is a member/affiliate of The Blues Foundation, Inland Empire Blues Society, Cascade Blues Association, Washington Blues Society, Methow Valley Arts Alliance. We welcome back long time festival supporters Winthrop RED APPLE Market and Odom Distributing.

Portland’s Summer Concerts in the Park

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An annual tradition in Portland every summer is a series of free concerts held in neighborhood parks throughout the city. Here is a list of several events taking place in July and August featuring acts that will appeal to blues lovers. All shows are at 6:30 pm, except for those held in the Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater which begin at 6:00 pm. For park locations, visit www.portlandoregon.gov.

July 9 – Karen Lovely – Dawson Park

July 15 – The Strange Tones – Mt Tabor Park

July 16 – Linda Hornbuckle Band – Willamette Park

July 28 – Robert Moore & The Wildcats – Sellwood Riverfront Park

August 5 – Norman Sylvester Band – Kenton Park

August 11 – Ural Thomas & The Pain – Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater

August 12 – Jerry Joseph & The Jack Mormons with Ashleigh Flynn – Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater

August 20 – The David Gerald Band (from Detroit) – Parklane Park

August 28 – Woodbrain – Berrydale Park

Kathken Vineyards Summer Concerts

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Time to pack up the blanket, pull out the camp chair, put on your parka and get ready to attend our 11th season of summer music in the park. Relax next to a bon fire while you sip wine, eat some food from local eateries and listen to live music.

All concerts are at our park unless noted otherwise. Cover charge of $7 per person or $5 per person for 4 or more person carloads unless noted otherwise. Food & beverages, including our awesome wines, are available for purchase at each event. Dress casually & bring a jacket as this is an outdoor event. No outside food or beverage of any kind allowed on premises! No children, dogs or ice chests please!

Saturday, June 21: Lloyd Jones
7:00-10:00pm / $10/person or $8/person 4+ in car

Saturday, June 28: Ty Curtis Band
7:00-10:00pm / $10/person or $8/person 4+ in one car

Saturday, July 5: Jake Blair
7:00-10:00pm

Saturday, July 12: Blue Evolution
7:00-10:00pm

Saturday, July 19: Tommy Hogan Band
7:00-10:00pm

Saturday, July 26: Ellen Whyte with Garry Meziere & Orvil Ivie
2:00-10:00pm / $10/person

Friday, August 1: Ty Curtis Band
7:00pm – 10:00pm / $10/person or $8/person 4+ in one car

Saturday, August 2: The Boomers
7:00-10:00pm

Friday, August 8: Ben Rice Band
7:00pm – 10:00pm

Saturday, August 9: Hank Shreve Band
7:00-10:00pm

**Friday, August 15: Brothers, Bror
7:00pm – 10:00pm @ Skyroom Yurt

**Sat, August 16: Ellen Whyte Trio
7:00-10:00pm @ Skyroom Yurt / *$10/person

Saturday, August 23: Kevin Selfe & Tornadoes
7:00-10:00pm

**Friday, Aug. 29:Jake Blair/Melody Guy
7:00pm – 10:00pm @ Skyroom Yurt

Saturday, August 30: Billy D & the Hoodoos
7:00pm – 10:00pm

Saturday, September 6: Ty Curtis Band
7:00-10:00pm / *$10/person or $8/person 4+ in one car)

**SHOWS will be held on the yurt deck, Bella Vista Skyroom, located at the top of the vineyard. Limited to the first 100 people. Entrance and parking will be at the upper gate and parking areas.

General Information
Advance ticket purchase highly recommended, especially for Ty Curtis and yurt shows. Call 503-316-3911 to purchase tickets. Tickets can be mailed or you can schedule a time to pick up at the winery.  All table reservations (seating 6-8 persons) to be paid for in advance of the show.  No minors or dogs allowed. ID required.  All wines available in the tasting room are sold by the glass or bottle at the music events, as well as Bud/Corona/or premier beers, bottled water and sodas.  At each music event, food is available at a very reasonable rate from different vendors. We encourage you to support and try the delicious food prepared by various local vendors.  No beverages or food may be brought in the vineyard/park (no ice chests).  Tables for six or eight can be reserved in advance. Smaller groups will share tables or utilize individual seating.  There is plenty of free parking on site. For wine purchased on site, we accept Cash, Checks, Visa or Mastercard. If purchasing wine online, we accept

Oregon Zoo Offers Two Shows in July Appealing to Blues Fans

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The Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road, has long held their popular summer concert series featuring a variety of musical choices. This July, the Zoo will offer two shows that may draw notice from blues audiences. Both shows are slated for 7:00 pm start times, are open to all ages, and have tickets available through Ticketfly.com ranging from $25.00 – $45.00.

Carolina Chocolate Drops – July 12th
The Grammy winning band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops will be playing at the Oregon Zoo on Saturday, July 12th. Featuring the multi-instrumental quarter of Rhiannon Giddes, Hubby Jenkins, Malcolm Parson and Rowan Corbett, the group has been described by Rolling Stone magazine as “Dirt-Floor Dance Electricity.” Their music works in the stylings of early American formats such as string-band, jug-band, early jazz and drum & fife outfits. Or as The Guardian states, “An appealing grab-bag of antique country, blues, jug-band hits and gospel hollers.” For anybody who loves the sound of authentic roots music, this is a must see show. Opening the night will be Portland indie rocker Sallie Ford.

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires – Friday, July 25th
Vocalist Charles Bradley has been compared to the legendary Otis Redding with his soulful singing. A one-time James Brown impersonator, Bradley has been conquering stages around the country with appearances at events like SXSW, Bonnaroo, Newport folk Festival and Austin City Limits. His latest release, 2013’s Victim Of Love received substantive airplay and acclaim. Seattle’s Pickwick opens.

Americana and Blues at its best with The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band at Dante’s – July 26th

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Reverend Peytons Big Damn Band - photo by Birch MillerRoaring out of the southern Indiana foothills comes Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band playing a brand of Americana and Blues that stands alone – Delta blues and hillbilly fervor combine with musical acuity sharp as razor wire – best know, this trio is a force to be reckoned with. The growl of a good truck engine, the fiercest passion for his country home and family and an uncanny ability to breathe new life into old forms of music give them a pedigree many Americana acts would kill for and an ironclad work ethic keeps them on the road 250 dates a year, playing for the people with hurricane force.

The Rev. J. Peyton, his wife Breezy and Ben “Bird Dog” Bussell are known for their incendiary shows and celebrating their most recent release, Between The Ditches, they’ll be heading to Portland with just the right place to put forth their music at Dante’s on Saturday, July 26th. Tickets are $10.00 and available in advance at www.ticketbiscuit.com. Dante’s is located at 350 W Burnside St. Showtime is 8:00 pm. 21 and over only.

British Guitar Icon Matt Schofield Returns – July 25th

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Matt Schofield - photo by Greg JohnsonConsidered one of the greatest modern blues guitarists from England today, Matt Schofield has collected numerous awards for his recordings and performances in his home country. With a style that can be compared to contemporary guitarists like Robben Ford and Buddy Guy, Schofield has the prowess to command a stage and draw guitar enthusiasts to watch his playing closely. With each new tour of the United States he builds his fan base even more and with good cause as the accolades he has received are well founded as demonstrated on his latest recording Far As I Can See.

Schofield started his United States touring with a performance in Portland just a few years ago. The small crowd on hand that night have been making a point to return every time he comes back to town and the audiences have been growing larger with each successive appearance. Matt Schofield brings back his outstanding guitar showcase to Portland on Friday, July 25th to the Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Avenue. Tickets are available in advance through www.Ticketbiscuit.com at $22.50. This is a 21 & over event, showtime is 9:00 pm.

27th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival – July 18-20th

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Do not forget to make plans to attend the 27th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival happening over July 18th – 20th at The Blues Ranch in Winthrop, Washington. This year’s event will feature top drawer performances by the likes of Charlie Musselwhite, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Shemekia Copeland, Roy Rogers, Carolyn Wonderland, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, The Soul of John Black, The Holmes Brothers, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Homemade Jamz, Chris O’Leary Band, DoctorfunK, David Vest, Lady A and Stan Street.

Weekend passes are $90.00 in advance and on-site camping is available for $45.00 for the weekend. For the complete schedule, ticket and lodging information visit www.winthropbluesfestival.org or visit the festival’s Facebook page.

Modern Blues Hybrid Band G. Love & Special Sauce Hit the Crystal Ballroom- Jan 29th

Twenty years after the release of their self-titled debut and eight years since their last live performance together, the original lineup of G. Love & Special Sauce return with their first album in nearly a decade titled Sugar. Built on the trio’s signature hip-hop blues sound, the album finds vocalist/guitarist/harmonica player G. Love (aka Garrett Dutton), upright bassist James “Jimi Jazz” Prescott, and drummer Jeffrey “The Houseman” Clemens breathing new life into their groove-heavy, Chicago-blues-infused brand of stripped-down rock & roll. “The goal for the album was to make it really raw and immediate, with live takes and live vocals and everybody playing so that it all comes together in that intangible way,” says G. Love. “That’s what our music is all about.”

G. Love & Special Sauce will be bringing their new music for a sure-to-be exciting night at the Crystal Ballroom, 1335 W Burnside, on Thursday, January 29th for an 8:00 pm, with opening act Mike Costa. This is an all ages event and general admission tickets may be purchased at etix.com for $22.50, plus service charges.

Local Musicians To Play Rockpile Tribute At Duff’s – Jan 24th

During the late ’70s, Rockpile was the touring band for both Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe. Like Edmunds, the band was passionate about traditional rock & roll. Like Lowe, the band played with a reckless, trashy abandon. Driven by the powerful rhythm section of drummer Terry Williams and Lowe’s bass, guitarists Billy Bremner and Edmunds were free to spit out crushing rock, blues, rockabilly, and country licks. With their fierce live energy and unpretentious rock & roll, the band fit easily into the post-punk new wave at the end of the decade. Although they only released one album as a group — 1980’s Seconds of Pleasure — the band provided support for most of the albums Lowe and Edmunds recorded in the late ’70s. After the rushed release of Seconds of Pleasure, the band toured one last time before splitting apart, largely due to mismanagement. (AllMusic.com)

The band nevertheless was inspirational for many musicians. Coming on Saturday, January 24th, a group of local musicians including members of The Sportin’ Lifers (Whit Draper, Erin Wallace and Steve Cleveland), Albert Reda, Jonathan Beyer and guests Jeremy Wilson, Steve Lockwood, Sean Flora and possibly Jim Wallace, will be presenting a tribute show to the band at Duff’s Garage,2530 NE 82nd. With this bluesy grouping you know it’s going to fun, so come out and hear some of those great old tunes like “You Ain’t Nothing But Fine,” “A Knife And A Fork,” “Pet You And Hold You,” “Teacher Teacher” and more than likely a number of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmonds solo material, too. Showtime is 9:00 pm.