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Milwaukie Festival
Daze:
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Milwaukie Festival Daze started out as a community gathering spot back in the early 1920s. People from all ages felt that coming together was a great time to celebrate the Bing Cherries. Today the people still gather for this annual town tradition and each year have walked away with a smile on their face.
In June, the Cascade Blues Association was invited to take part in Milwaukie's hometown celebration theme that was well fitting for the "RED, WHITE and BLUES" festivities. Everyone that I met on the street seemed to surely enjoy the low keyed environment. What I truly loved was the excitement in the eyes of the little children along the morning parade route. Friends and neighbors took to the streets early that morning in Milwaukie, Oregon with the excitement of just being there.
Getting up early in the morning is not any musician's favorite thing to do, especially when most musicians have had a gig the night before. But I have to tell you something, when it comes right down to the Northwest Musicians stepping up to donate their personal time to community events, they always meet a good challenge. The Great Northwest has loads of artists who give from the heart because of their love of music and the community. Maybe that is why we love them all and their pure dedication to Blues Music!
I want to personally thank the volunteer artists; Richard Day-Reynolds Band, Jake Blair Band, Chris Estes (Solar Blue), and Allen deLay for adding their gifts of music; not to forget the volunteer drivers for donating their time and vehicles (the DuVal Family, David Lunning, and Les Schwab of Milwaukie); volunteer helpers (Boy Scouts Troop # 33 - Scott Vanassche, and Steve Lombardi, band wives, family and friends), and donations by members that made this parade event possible. Totally cool! The Richard Day-Reynolds Band provided demos of their new music to the crowd. The Jake Blair Band played through the entire parade route — way to go, guys! Chris Estes was totally awesome playing solo on his harp, besides the helpful hand before, during and after the parade event. And let's not forget Allen deLay (yes, Paul's dad) warming the hearts of many as he played his magical saw for all to hear.
Let's not forget the dedication of the Robbie Laws Band, and Ethos, supporting and promoting the Blues In Schools program with Kinzel & Hyde — both of these groups were also in the parade.
Taking part in the Milwaukie Festival Daze events gave the CBA and the participating blues artists an opportunity to show the community that we are here to support what we know best — Blues Music! It is our hope that the spirit and dedication we showed during the festival will live on and spread throughout the community — ultimately helping to support, promote and preserve Blues and Blues-related music.
The parade and the musicians' stage performances (Duffy Bishop Band, Richard Day-Reynolds Band, Robbie Laws Band and TC Blues Band) are all examples of how Blues music can help carry the message of community involvement to other parts of the world. To go out into the streets of a community and show that even for just a single day everyone can peacefully gather, have a good time, dance and listen to the best Blues music around in public streets and parks without trouble or conflict is incredibly inspiring.
I also want to thank the CBA — the Board of Directors and Member Volunteers who covered their booth shifts. You all are superfine!
Congratulations also to Jake Blair and Matt Seymour from the Jake Blair Band on your current successes! Jake now has his driver's license and Matt has been promoted to the Twilighters singing group at school. You can catch the boys' busy schedule on the band's Web site at www.jakeblairband.com.
Amy
Allen
Board of Directors, CBA