Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival – Day Four

Quick and dirty today, kids. Girlfriend is off and running to catch the last day of fantastic music and generous people who are making it possible for the Oregon Food Bank to deliver over 66.2 million pounds of food each year.




Highlights from yesterday: Karen Lovely, Janiva Magness, Curtis Salgado, the Old Time Gospel Hour, and Mingo Fishtrap. Photos and stories to come. I gotta go get my blues on.



Time Stage Performance

12:00PM – 12:45PM CU Gary Burford Band

12:00PM – 12:45PM OS Steve Cheseborough

12:45PM – 01:30PM MS Dani Paige Band

12:45PM – 01:30PM WS Blues from Down Under:: Kara Grainger

01:00PM – 01:45PM OS John-Alex Mason

01:30PM – 02:15PM CU Kolvane

02:00PM – 03:00PM OS North Mississippi by Northwest: McMurrian, Lemhouse, Shoemaker & Bott

02:15PM – 03:00PM MS Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band, featuring Mz. Dee

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Sail on Sister! Cruise: Baskery

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Sail on Sister! Cruise: Kara Grainger

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Sail on Sister! Cruise: Divas of Soul (Linda Hornbuckle, LaRhonda Steele, Juliane Johnson, Janice Scroggins)

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Sail on Sister! Cruise: Ellen Whyte Quartet

03:00PM – 04:00PM CU Chris Thomas King

03:15PM – 04:15PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: Devin Phillips Black & Blue

04:00PM – 05:15PM WS From Burnside to Bourbon Street: Mac Potts & Lloyd Jones

04:00PM – 05:15PM MS JJ GREY and MOFRO , presented by Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival.

04:30PM – 05:30PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes w/ Jim Wallace

05:15PM – 06:00PM CU Baskery

05:45PM – 06:45PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band, featuring Mz. Dee

06:00PM – 07:15PM WS North Mississippi by Northwest: McMurrian, Lemhouse, Shoemaker & Bott

06:00PM – 07:15PM MS LITTLE FEAT , presented by IQ Credit Union.

07:00PM – 08:00PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: The Twisters

07:15PM – 08:00PM CU Reggie Houston’s Crescent City Connection

08:00PM – 08:05PM MS Oregon Food Bank Presentation

08:00PM – 09:15PM MS GALACTIC with Cyril Neville and Corey Henry (from Rebirth) , presented by ecoShuttle.

08:00PM – 09:15PM WS Alan Hager &: Mary Flower

08:15PM – 09:30PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: Duffy Bishop

09:00PM – 12:00PM H50 Bott ‘n Gold

09:00PM – 01:00AM MH After-hours Blues Jam:



STAGE KEY

H50 = H50 Bistro at Hotel 50

RE = Rafati’s Encore 310, University Place Hotel

TMWP = Tom McCall Waterfront Park

OS = Oregonian Stage

MS = Miller Stage

MH = Marriott Hotel

TBA = Stage To Be Announced

CU = Credit Union Blues Stage

BC = DME Portland Spirit Blues Cruise

WS = FedEx Workshop Stage

Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival – Day 3, the Fourth of July Edition

It’s officially Independence Day and I’m very excited about today’s lineup for the blues festival. The entertainment has been top notch thus far, but today we get to add Janiva Magness and Curtis Salgado into the mix. As well, I have to go see Karen Lovely perform, although I’ll only see half her set so I can go see Chris Thomas King. Can’t wait!

Yesterday was a special kind of awesome around here. Terry Robb and his band were fantastic. The NW Women in Blues were amazing. Loved Ty Curtis. And when I didn’t think it couldn’t get better than Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm (who played a lot of new music from a soon-to-be-released CD), along comes Bobby Rush! I had him standing over me at one point, thrusting his pelvis my way. Yes, I have photographic evidence. Can today really be better than that? I’m sure they’ll find a way.

Time Stage Performance

12:00PM – 03:00PM OS Cascade Blues Association: International Blues Challenge Winners/Finalists

12:00PM – 12:45PM CU Billy D and the Hoodoos

12:10PM – 12:40PM OS Journey to Memphis Finals: The Catillacs , presented by Cascade Blues Association.

12:45PM – 01:30PM MS Gary Farmer & the Troublemakers

12:45PM – 01:30PM WS Dale LeRoy Perry

12:50PM – 01:20PM OS Journey to Memphis Finals: David Brothers Band

01:30PM – 02:00PM OS Journey to Memphis Finals: Vicki Stevens Band

01:30PM – 02:15PM CU Gretchen Mitchell Band

02:10PM – 02:40PM OS Journey to Memphis Finals: Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band

02:15PM – 03:00PM MS Sultans of Slide: Amundson, Cooper & Goldwasser

02:15PM – 03:00PM WS Blues history/photo presentation: Dick Waterman

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Driftin’ Blues Cruise: Gary Farmer & the Troublemakers

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Driftin’ Blues Cruise: Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Driftin’ Blues Cruise: Norton Buffalo’s Knockouts

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Driftin’ Blues Cruise: Janiva Magness

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Driftin’ Blues Cruise: : Dale LeRoy Perry

03:15PM – 04:15PM CU Linda Hornbuckle & Janice Scroggins Old Time Gospel Hour, w/ special guest Lucky Peterson

03:15PM – 04:00PM OS Journey to Memphis 2009 Winner, solo-duo: Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde

04:00PM – 04:45PM WS Slide guitar workshop: Sultans of Slide: Amundson, Cooper & Goldwasser

04:00PM – 04:45PM MS Mingo Fishtrap

04:15PM – 05:15PM OS Jim Mesi Band

04:45PM – 05:30PM CU The Twisters

05:30PM – 06:30PM MS Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen , presented by First Tech Credit Union.

05:30PM – 06:30PM OS Journey to Memphis 2009 Winner, Band: Karen Lovely

05:40PM – 06:30PM WS 21st Century Blues: Chris Thomas King

06:30PM – 07:15PM CU Norton Buffalo’s Knockouts

06:45PM – 07:00PM OS Franco Paletta: : Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Blow-off

07:10PM – 07:30PM OS Harmonica Blow-off: Stan Street

07:15PM – 08:15PM WS Music of Louisiana’s Bayous: Atomic Gumbo: Steve Kerin & Friends

07:15PM – 08:15PM MS Janiva Magness

07:35PM – 07:55PM OS Franck “Paris Slim” Goldwasser: Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Blow-off

08:00PM – 08:20PM OS Bill Rhoades: Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Blow-off

08:15PM – 09:00PM CU Kara Grainger

08:25PM – 08:45PM OS Kim Field: Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Blow-off

08:50PM – 09:10PM OS Dave Hoerl: : Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Blow-off

09:00PM – 01:00AM H50 Bob Shoemaker & Heidi Shu /: Kara Grainger

09:00PM – 10:00PM MS Curtis Salgado , presented by Good Neighbor Pharmacy.

09:00PM – 10:00PM WS Outside the Box: Miriam’s Well

09:30PM – 10:00PM OS Blowhards’ Jam: Bill Rhoades’ Harmonica Blow-off

10:00PM – 10:30PM TMWP FIREWORKS!

10:00PM – 10:00PM MS National Anthem: Alonzo Chadwick

10:30PM – 11:45PM MH After-hours Blues Jam: Mingo Fishtrap

11:55PM – 01:15AM MH After-hours Blues Jam: JJ GREY and MOFRO
STAGE KEY

H50 = H50 Bistro at Hotel 50

RE = Rafati’s Encore 310, University Place Hotel

TMWP = Tom McCall Waterfront Park

OS = Oregonian Stage

MS = Miller Stage

MH = Marriott Hotel

TBA = Stage To Be Announced

CU = Credit Union Blues Stage

BC = DME Portland Spirit Blues Cruise

WS = FedEx Workshop Stage

Live from Portland: Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival Day 2

It rained off and on yesterday, but that did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the performers or the crowd. I’ve never seen a crowd like that. Huge! When the papers report crowds upwards of 100,000, they aren’t joking. I don’t know that this is how many were in attendance yesterday, but there were a lot of people. And it was all fantastic. The music was incredible, the people were having fun, and the weather kept things interesting.

The cruise afterward was amazing. Super Chikan, Michael Burks and Lucky Peterson, Moreland & Arbuckle, and Colin Lake all performed on board and kept the crowd going. The jam at the Marriott, well, I’d missed all that while on the boat. I hear, however, that Walter Trout, John Mayall, and Trombone Shorty had the place rockin’.

As for the performers during the day yesterday, I loved them all. Trombone Shorty, Lisa Mann, Moreland & Arbuckle, and Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm were amongst my favorites. Better still, meeting some of the vendors brought a smile to this gal’s face. Of special note: United by Music‘s booth. I’ll be writing more about them in the future. For now, though, just know that music touches many lives and gives special needs people a vital outlet to express themselves. One of the young men impacted by United by Music touched my life yesterday and there will be more information about this to follow.

Since activity kicks off a bit earlier today, it’s a rush out the door and off to see what magic the day holds.

Update: Currently listening to Ty Curtis, who’s rockin’ up right. Lovin’ his sound and his presence.

Here’s today’s lineup:

Time Stage Performance

12:00PM – 11:00PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp , presented by Cascade Zydeco Association.

12:00PM – 12:45PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: dance demonstration/class: Roland & Janine Jemerson

12:00PM – 12:45PM WS Eric Tweed

12:00PM – 12:45PM MS Dudley Taft

12:45PM – 01:30PM CU The I-5 Nine: Healy, Miller, Bott, Pain…et al

12:45PM – 01:45PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Corey Ledet & his Zydeco Band

01:30PM – 02:15PM WS Blues Guitar 101: Walter Trout

01:30PM – 02:15PM MS Ty Curtis Band

02:00PM – 03:00PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Capt. Leroy & The Zydeco Locals

02:15PM – 03:00PM CU Terry Robb Band

02:25PM – 04:30PM BC DME Blue Bayou Cruise: Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Blue Bayou Cruise: Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Blue Bayou Cruise: Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse

02:30PM – 04:30PM BC DME Blue Bayou Cruise: David Vest

03:00PM – 04:00PM WS Cigarbox guitars: Jerry Zybach

03:00PM – 04:00PM MS Northwest Women in Blues, w/ special guests Tahoe Jackson and Nicole Fournier

03:15PM – 04:15PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic

04:00PM – 05:00PM CU Lucky Peterson with: Michael Burks , presented by the Boeing Company.

04:30PM – 05:30PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp : Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble

05:15PM – 06:15PM WS Boogie Woogie piano:: David Vest

05:15PM – 06:15PM MS Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks

05:45PM – 06:45PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Capt. Leroy & The Zydeco Locals

06:15PM – 07:15PM CU Juke Joint Duo: Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm

07:00PM – 08:00PM MS BOOKER T. , presented by FedEx.

07:00PM – 08:00PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse

07:15PM – 08:15PM WS Super Chikan’s Chiktars and Diddly Bows: Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks

08:15PM – 09:15PM CU Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound

08:15PM – 09:15PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Corey Ledet & his Zydeco Band

09:00PM – 10:15PM WS Electric Blues Guitar 102 and 103: Michael Burks with: Lucky Peterson

09:00PM – 12:00PM H50 Atomic Gumbo: Steve Kerin & Friends

09:15PM – 10:15PM MS Bobby Rush , presented by Karolyn H. March, attorney.

09:30PM – 11:00PM OS Zydeco Swamp Romp: Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble , presented by Cascade Zydeco Association.

10:15PM – 01:15AM BC DME “Rock the Boat” dance cruise: Bridgetown Sextet, with special guest Marilyn Keller

10:15PM – 01:15AM BC DME “Rock the Boat” dance cruise: Alan Hager & Albert Reda

10:30PM – 01:15AM BC DME “Rock the Boat” dance cruise: PorterDavis

10:30PM – 11:45PM MH After-hours Blues Jam: BOOKER T.

11:55PM – 01:15AM MH After-hours Blues Jam: Bobby Rush

STAGE KEY

H50 = H50 Bistro at Hotel 50

RE = Rafati’s Encore 310, University Place Hotel

TMWP = Tom McCall Waterfront Park

OS = Oregonian Stage

MS = Miller Stage

MH = Marriott Hotel

TBA = Stage To Be Announced

CU = Credit Union Blues Stage

BC = DME Portland Spirit Blues Cruise

WS = FedEx Workshop Stage

Live from Portland: Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

It’s currently raining here in Portland, Oregon. Alternately drizzling and full on rain. No matter, the show goes on and we’ll be having fun.

Most of the acts are spread out far enough that I should be able to maneuver between stages easily. However, I do have a bit of a conflict with Trombone Shorty and Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm playing at the same time on different stages. I’ve wanted to see Trombone Shorty’s show for years. I’ve seen Cedric & Malcolm twice and am mesmerized. So the question becomes: what to do? I have a feeling I’ll be splitting my time.

As hard as I’ve been trying to sleep my morning away, I’m far too excited about today’s lineup!

Time Stage Performance

03:00PM – 03:45PM OS Kicking it off:: Lloyd Allen

03:00PM – 03:45PM CU Kicking It Off: Gunnar Roads Band

03:45PM – 04:30PM MS Boogie Bone

03:45PM – 04:30PM WS Bridgetown Underground

04:00PM – 04:45PM OS Bob Shoemaker Band

04:30PM – 05:15PM CU Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band

05:00PM – 06:00PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: King Louie & Baby James

05:15PM – 06:00PM MS Moreland and Arbuckle

05:15PM – 06:00PM WS Solo Lap-Slide Guitar: Colin Lake & Chance Hayden

06:00PM – 07:00PM CU Walter Trout

06:15PM – 07:15PM OS Swingin’ to the Blues: PorterDavis

07:00PM – 08:00PM MS Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

07:00PM – 08:00PM WS Blues of the Delta Jukes:: Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm

07:30PM – 08:30PM OS Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic

08:00PM – 09:00PM CU JOHN MAYALL , presented by Schwindt & Co..

08:45PM – 09:45PM OS Too Loose Cajun Band, with Reggie Houston, Steve Kerin & Portland All Stars

09:00PM – 10:15PM MS TAJ MAHAL , presented by Safeway.

09:00PM – 10:15PM WS Texas dust, Mississippi mud: PorterDavis

09:00PM – 12:00PM H50 Bott ‘n Gold

10:00PM – 11:00PM OS Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse

10:15PM – 01:15AM BC DME Hoodoo Moon Cruise: Moreland and Arbuckle

10:15PM – 01:15AM BC DME Hoodoo Moon Cruise: Lucky Peterson with: Michael Burks

10:15PM – 01:15AM BC DME Hoodoo Moon Cruise: Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks

10:15PM – 01:15AM BC DME Hoodoo Moon Cruise: Colin Lake & Chance Hayden

10:30PM – 11:45PM MH After-hours Blues Jam: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

11:55PM – 01:15AM MH After-hours Blues Jam: Walter Trout with: JOHN MAYALL

The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival Adventure Begins

Just arrived in Portland and already the music is filling the air. The airport here is kind enough to provide entertainment throughout the facility beginning early in the morning and running all day long. What a fantastic way to ease the stress travel can cause.

I will be blogging throughout my visit here, hopefully providing you with all the incentive you could ever need to make this a destination for next year’s festival.

Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

World-class festival fights hunger – join blues fans from around the world at the 23rd Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, July 2-5, 2010




Taj Mahal * Little Feat * John Mayall * Booker T. * Bobby Rush * Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen * Curtis Salgado * Galactic with Cyril Neville * JJ Grey & Mofro * Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue * Walter Trout * Baskery * Michael Burks Band with Lucky Peterson * Chris Thomas King * Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm * Moreland & Arbuckle * Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks * Mingo Fishtrap * porterdavis * Norton Buffalo’s Knockouts * Janiva Magness * Paul Cebar * Kara Grainger * Sultans of Slide * NW Women in Rhythm & Blues * Zydeco Swamp Romp with Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble * Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse * Corey Ledet & his Zydeco Band * Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic… and that’s just to name a few!

PORTLAND, Ore., – Imagine grooving to the best blues in the world while relaxing on the grassy banks of the beautiful Willamette River, viewing the glacial peaks of Mt. Hood to the east and the stunning Portland skyline to the west – all the while smiling at the thought that you are helping to fight hunger.



No wonder more than 100,000 blues fans from throughout the world will head for the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union, July 2 to 5, 2010, in Portland, Ore.



Now in its 23rd year, the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and the second-largest blues festival in the nation.



Blues fans will enjoy more than 120 stellar performances on five stages, plus artist interviews and workshops, five Delta Music Experience Blues Cruises on the Willamette River, activities for kids, dances, after-hour events, fireworks and more.



Touted as one of the best-run festivals anywhere, the Waterfront Blues Festival remains a grassroots festival, produced and operated by Oregon Food Bank, a nonprofit, charitable organization, with the help of a thousand volunteers. The festival raises food and funds to help people who are hungry throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.



“The need for emergency food remains at alarmingly high levels. The magic of this festival is that it brings people together from throughout the world and from all walks of life to not only enjoy great music but also to create hope for people in need,” says OFB CEO Rachel Bristol.



Daily entry is a suggested donation of only $10 plus two cans of food per person, making this festival one of the great entertainment bargains of the summer.

Tickets and more information are available at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival website.