CBA Annual Picnic set for Sunday, August 2nd

CBA sponsor Columbia Crossings Marina, located at 515 NE Tomahawk Island Drive, Portland, is once again the beautiful setting for this year’s CBA Summer Picnic, Sunday, August 2 from noon-6:00 pm. The event shows appreciation for the loyal CBA members who support live music venues and musicians throughout the year by paying admission and buying CD’s, and who support the CBA through dues, volunteering, and buying raffle tickets.  With the gorgeous  Columbia River as a backdrop, this members only, private event remains close to its traditional, “old fashioned get together” roots with everything from a stage overflowing with talented performers, to burgers grilled by loyal volunteers, to a giant food tent full of potluck dishes and good company, delicious dogs and sausages generously donated again this year by Dan Harrington of Dano’s Dogs, ice cold sodas, and a beer garden.  Children accompanied by a parent or guardian will enjoy playing in the FunZone, with free activities such as face painting, balloon artists, etc.

There’s a stellar lineup of entertainers who are donating sets for this year’s show, and we are extremely grateful for their generosity.

At noon, the opening act will be the JT Wise Band.  JT Wise’s musical influences read like a Clapton Crossroads Festival, including the full guitar spectrum from Clapton, to Billy Gibbons, to Vince Gill, Robben Ford, with a touch of Garcia and Betts thrown in as well.   

The second act, at 1:05pm, is the hard rocking Portland blues group the Robin Gibson Band.

At 2:10pm, well known NW artist Franco Paletta, a former International Blues Challenge competitor in Memphis, brings his harmonica into the mix and may have some surprise guests up his sleeve.

2015 Blues Music Award winning “Instrumentalist-Bass” Lisa Mann takes the stage and raises the roof at 3:30pm. She has earned multiple CBA Muddy Awards and is one of PDX’s most exciting and respected performers.

Topping off an incredible day of music, the Jim Mesi Band turns up the heat with an opener of Jim’s music, followed by special guests Big Monti Amundson and Ty Curtis joining them for a guitar extravaganza grand finale.  You never know who could end up on stage with these guys.

The CBA is furnishing burgers, dogs & sausages, soda, water, and adult beverage tokens as well as the plates, napkins, and utensils.  There will be plenty of chips on hand, so please bring a casserole, side dish, salad, fruit, dip, or dessert to share.

President Greg Johnson will MC the event and Treasurer Merry Larsen will chair the raffle sales and drawing.  The merchandise tent will have raffle tickets for sale for both the Celebrity Signed Guitar ($1 each) and for the McKenzie River Raft Trip Raffle, sponsored by River Trail Outfitters and Mac’s Restaurant & Nightclub, both from Eugene ($5 each or two for $20).  The drawing for both raffles will be held at the end of the day at the picnic, and you needn’t be present to win.

If you would like to donate an item to the silent auction, or volunteer to work at the event, please contact us at volunteer@cascadebluesassociation.org .  We are in need of a sponsor for the kid’s FunZone—if you know of a high school or college organization that needs community service hours, this would be a fun way for them to earn them, contact us at volunteer@cascadebluesassociation.org