The Portland Rainbow Coalition Presents: The 13th Annual Inner City Blues Festival Saturday, April 20th   ***   Melody Ballroom Janice Scroggins, Mel Solomon, Robbie Laws, Norman Sylvester

    The Portland Rainbow Coalition is hosting the 13th Annual Inner City Blues Festival on Saturday, April 20th, 6:30 pm to 12:30 am at the Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder.  This year's event, "The Joint Is Jumpin", features a broad array of award winning Portland based Blues stars.

    Opening the Festival will be a set by Lenanne Sylvester & Janice Scroggins titled, "Black Satin, Divas of the Century", reprising the works of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, and more.  Having played in Eugene to rave reviews, the Rainbow Coalition is proud to host the first performance in Portland of this critically acclaimed act.

    Next on the program is the Robbie Laws Band, featuring this year's Cascade Blues Association "Muddy Award" winner for "Best Vocalist", Mel Solomon. Mel's roots are long and deep, having begun his career in the 1950's singing with the legendary R&B group, Hank Ballard and The Midnighters.

    Following in order to "keep the joint jumpin" is the Norman Sylvester Band, featuring LaRhonda Steele, Bethany Massey and Friends Tap Dance, The Jim Mesi Band, with special guests, Duffy Bishop and Chris Carlson, and closing the evening will be the contemporary Rhythm and Blues stylings of the Andy Stokes Band.

    For the 13th straight year we are pleased to have Master of Ceremonies, Paul Knauls. Paul is a long time community activist, business owner, and the former owner of the Cotton Club and Geneva's Nightclub.

    Tickets are $15 or two for $25 and may be purchased in advance from Music Millennium, Geneva's Shear Perfection, Reflections Bookstore, Laughing Horse Books, McPeet's Portland Pub, or from members of the Rainbow Coalition.  Complete dinners or entrees of red beans and rice, barbecue ribs, and chicken will be available for sale.  The Melody Ballroom features a full service, no host bar, and due to OLCC regulations, no minors will be allowed at the event.

    Proceeds from the event will go to fund the ongoing activities of the Portland Rainbow Coalition and the Portland Chapter of Jobs with Justice. The event is cosponsored by the Cascade Blues Association and CBA (card-carrying) members will be admitted for $1 off per ticket.

For further information call (503) 249-5071

- Ken Cropper
Portland Rainbow Coalition

© 2002 Cascade Blues Association