Tag Archive for: Root Cellar

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland

Wednesday, August 6th, 7:00 pm

Members always Free – Non-members $3.00

Opening Acoustic Set – Root Cellar

Second Electric Set – Gabriel Cox

 

August’s Cascade Blues Association’s General Membership Meeting is going to be quite exciting. We will be presenting two acts at completely different takes on the blues. One taking on the earliest patterns of the music and the second the new rootsy rock direction that crosses over genres.

Lowell J Mitchell - courtesy Lowell J Mitchell (to use with meeting article)

Lowell J. Mitchell of Root Cellar – photo courtesy Lowell J. Mitchell

Root Cellar is an authentic jug band that recalls the times when such bands played on street corners and parks throughout the South. Root Cellar is made up of some of Portland’s most renowned acoustic musicians, all deeply inspired by the sounds of jug and string bands.

The group is led by guitarist/vocalist Lowell J. Mitchell, who brings a grass-roots jug-band sensibility to an upbeat blend of rock, blues, rockabilly, soul, island and gospel flavors. He has studied with Quicksilver Messenger Service’s John Cippolina, The Holy Modal Rounders’ Steve Weber and Baby Gramps amongst others. He has also recorded with local musicians such as Billy Kennedy, Bazza, Heavy Petting Zoo and The Four Dudes.

Also on guitar/vocals is Walter Cryderman who also plays banjo and mandolin and works with numerous bands around Portland including Jamie Leopold & The Short Stories, The New Iberians, The Eagle Ridin’ Papas and Bayou Cadillac to name but a few. Harmonica master Aaron Lowe is a respected songwriter and has also played with Jaime Leopold & The Short Stories, Dawn & The Dents and The New Skillet Liquors. Washtub bass and washboardplayer Giued Lutge rounds out the band with another fine collection of outfits that she has worked with, including The How Long Jug Band, The Pagan Jug Band and The Darlin’ Blackbirds. This is a powerhouse acoustic act that will surely convince you that jug music is dance music and highly enjoyable.

Gabriel Cox - photo by Greg Johnson (to use with meeting article)

Gabriel Cox – photo by Greg Johnson

The second set of the night will present for the first time at a CBA meeting one of Salem’s young guns who is about to take the Willamette Valley music scene by storm. Gabriel Cox took part in the Journey to Memphis competition back in June, and though he did not advance to the finals he turned a lot of heads and was invited to perform at the Waterfront Blues Festival. His strong self-titled debut recording has been getting steady airplay by Steve Pringle on KINK 101.9 FM, and it is filled with sensational songwriting, guitar work and vocals by Cox, and includes an impressive group of musicians working with him.

Gabriel Cox may not play a traditional style of blues, but he’s heavily steeped in soulful rock that has come directly from the idiom of the blues. With material perfectly made for cross-over appeal, remember seeing him here at the CBA meeting as his recognition starts to rise.

Remember, pick up your free drawing ticket as you come into the venue. You could walk home with a sweet prize like a CD, concert ticket or perhaps something else. We’ll also hold the winner take all multi-CD drawing with a package of discs put together just for the night. And we’ll let you know of all the great happenings going on in the area for the month. A fun night definitely is in store, so grab your friends and come on down to The Melody Ballroom. Always a nice way to hear the best blues in the area and to see your blues family.