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Keb’ Mo’ to headline opening night, July 2

Etta James cancels West Coast tour

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 27, 2009) -- The 2009 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winning bluesman Keb’ Mo’ has stepped in to headline opening night, Thursday, July 2, of the 2009 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union. He will replace Etta James, who has canceled her entire West Coast tour due to illness.

“Keb’ Mo’ packed the festival bowl and was a huge hit when he headlined the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in 2004,” said Peter Dammann, talent coordinator. “We’re fortunate to welcome this extraordinary talent back to the 2009 festival.”

Entire article is available on the Waterfront Blues Festival website.

22nd Year of Fighting Hunger
The 2009 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

July 2 - 5, 2009 at McCall Waterfront Park

Celebrate 22 years of blues, community and fighting hunger at the 2009 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union. The four-day festival runs Thursday, July 2, to Sunday, July 5, 2009, on the banks of the Willamette River in downtown Portland.

Since its grass-roots beginnings in 1988, the award-winning event has grown to be the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and the second-largest blues festival in the nation, attracting more than 100,000 fans.

Read the entire article from Peter Dammann, Talent Coordinator, Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, here (2.3 MB PDF) or in the June issue of the BluesNotes.

2009 Blues Blast Music Awards - Vote for local favorites

July 1st begins the voting for the 2009 Blues Blast Music Awards. Visit their website and vote for local favorites Curtis Salgado and The Insomniacs. For Best Contemporary Blues Recording, The Insomniacs were nominated for "At Least I’m Not With You" while Curtis Salgado was nominated for "Clean Getaway." Both are also in the Best Blues Song category with "At Least I'm Not With You" from The Insomniacs and "20 Years of B.B. King" by Curtis Salgado. The Insomniacs were also nominated for Best Blues Band. Go show your support by voting on July 1st. And congratulations to both The Insomniacs and Curtis Salgado!

For Pete's Sake

What: Benefit Musical Show for Pete Jorgusen
When: Sunday, July 19, 2009. 5 pm til whenever!
Where: Duff's Garage, 1635 SE 7th, Portland, Oregon.
503-234-2337 ( http://www.duffsgarage.com/ )
Cover charge donation: $10

One member of this rat pack, Pete Jorgusen, is battling leukemia. Pete is well known and liked in the Portland music scene. He’s an excellent drummer, with a style that resembles Charlie Watts and Ringo Starr, never flashy or showy, but always on the mark with a steady backbeat rhythm. So, his buddies have decided to come together to play a show to benefit their friend.

The benefit is set for Sunday, July 19, at Duff's Garage in Portland. Musicians to perform include Lenny Rancher, Jon DuFresne and Dave Stricker (Unreal Gods), Houston Bolles, Steve Hettum, Dave Diaz, Eugenio (Church of Surf,) Michael Kearsey and many, many others. The list is getting longer as the days pass. There will also be videos of The Malchick’s Reunion at La Bamba, The Flesh and Blood gig at the Oregon State Penitentiary, and The Two Louie's softball game (with many Portland musicians) provided by David Jester of Pro-Video. The doors will open at 5 p.m. We encourage everybody to come early and enjoy an hour of socializing and drinks and having dinner. Duff's has a full service bar and good eats and a very lively music scene.

The music will start at 6 p.m. with our version of Songwriters in the Round including performances by Lenny Rancher, Jon DuFresne, Houston Bolles, and Steve Hettum. Band performances will follow with a host of musicians, plus videos provided by Pro Video. There will be memorabilia and CD's for sale, all to benefit our friend Pete. The party will continue until it's over. The cover charge is to benefit Pete, as well as any contributions people wish to donate who for some reason are unable to attend. Make checks payable to Pete Jorgusen.

July Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The next General Membership Meeting of the CBA will take place on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, downstairs at the Melody Ballroom at 615 SE Alder in Portland.

Mark Riley

July membership meetings that fall directly before the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival have become a tradition of outstanding showcases the past few times this has occurred. And this year, with the meeting taking place the night before the four-day event, it will certainly live up to those past expectations. So, if you live in Portland and you’re a member regularly attending, or if you’re in Portland a night early for the festival, this is without doubt where you want to start your Wednesday night.

Opening the night will be one of Seattle’s premier slide guitarist, Mark Riley. [more]

The electric set of the night will be the second time that Karen Lovely will be playing in the Portland are. The first occurred barely a month prior as she competed in the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey To Memphis, winning herself a spot in the finals at the Waterfront Blues Festival on the 4th of July. [more]

Of course, the meeting would not be complete without our free ticket giveaways and our winner-take all $1 raffle ticket drawing. Always the right way to start off any month, and just a little lagniappe to get the Waterfront Blues Festival crowd in the right mood a day early. Come on out to The Meloday Ballroom and enjoy good music with good friends. Hope to see you there.

It's Festival Time

Each summer our favorite blues bands make the fesitval tour and showcase their talents. Due to the irregularity of the venues and often multiple shows per day, we do not typically list these on our Blues Calendar. I've made an extra effort this year as I input the July gigs to save these special events. I'm sure I've missed some and others were not sent, but here's what I have. Be sure to take in a festival or three this year and show your support for our wonderful blues musicians.
   — Chris, CBA Webmaster

Visit the Join the CBA page to start or renew your CBA membership.

Who we are...

The Cascade Blues Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of blues and roots music in the great Northwest! Learn more about us on the CBA Information page.

Cascade Blues Association P.O. Box 14493 Portland, OR 97293-0493 Voice/Fax: 503-223-1850 Send e-mail to: CBA Staff CBA Webmaster
	The Cascade Blues Association is an Affiliate Organization of The Blues Foundation.