Journey
to MemphisJourney
to MemphisBack on the 17th of September at The Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom on Yamhill St. in downtown, Portland, the Cascade. Blues Association held it's First Annual Band Play-Off to see who the CBA would sponsor for the Blues Foundation's 17th Annual International Blues Challenge to be held February 2nd & 3rd, 2001 in Memphis, Tennessee. It was a fabulous day of great Blues. There were five bands all playing their very best stuff at a level not seen often enough here in town. At $5 for the day (that's only a buck a band), it was a "real treat" to see and hear these groups playing their heart's out.
The day started with the soul-touching voice and sounds of Ellen Whyte and Reflex Blue, then moving to the mystic gaiter work of Robbie Laws & The Strat Daddies (two Portland bands). Third on the bill, from Eugene, was the strong rhythms of The Vipers featuring Eagle Park Slim. Then came an explosion of sound, sight, and energy with Junkyard Jane from Tacoma, Washington and ending the day of great music with a band that knows what the Blues is all about and had no qualms in showing us, Blind Rhino, from Philomath, Oregon.
I'm having a tough time in finding words to tell all of you who were not there how wonderful the day really was. All of the bands played as if there were no tomorrow and the Blues fans in attendance just loved every minute of it.
With help from a host of people, the day was a success. And, at the end of the day, our four judges came to a very difficult decision in trying to pick a winner. After looking at the bands and tallying all the scores from the five areas to be rated on, TALENT, BLUES CONTENT, ORIGINALITY, STAGE PRESENCE, and OVERALL IMPRESSION, Junkyard Jane was our winner!
The CBA will be awarding Junkyard Jane $500 to help them get to Memphis, along with the "best wishes" and "endorsement" of the Cascade Blues Association. And, we hope that Junkyard Jane will bring home the #1 spot at the Blues Challenge. Good luck kids!
I do want to thank so many people for helping out. Most of all, I want to thank all the bands that sent in applications and encourage them to apply again in 2001. Keep an eye on the BluesNotes fir the dates. I also wish to thank Starshine Sound, Richard Day-Reynolds, and the Adrianna Hill Grand Ballroom for all their help. We could not have done this without your, Last, but far from least, is the Journey to Memphis Committee, Greg Johnson, Del Seitzinger and Susan Stewart, with whose help this became a reality. Thanks one and all!!!
- Jackson K. Lee
Journey to Memphis Committee Chair
© 2000 Cascade Blues Association