Who’s got the soul, style, and stage presence to take Portland blues all the way to Memphis? Meet the finalists in this year’s Journey to Memphis competition—each one ready to light up the stage and carry the spirit of the Pacific Northwest to Beale Street.
Lilla / Photo courtesy of Debra Penk
Lilla is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and producer. Her music brings a new spin and vibrant combination of blues, rhythm and blues and storytelling, Lilla also loves and is influenced by soul, jazz and funk.
Her music has charted on Billboard in the US and reached the top 10 in the UK.
Her solo performance is soulful, groovy, genuine, creative and draws the listener in. Seeing her perform is healing and entertaining. Her writing and performance bring joy and warm the heart.
She has toured throughout the world connecting people through music globally. From Kingston, Jamaica, to Beijing, China, Lilla has performed with an impressive array of artist.
As a writer and performer, blues is always at the core of Lilla’s music. With her rich and soulful vocals, Lilla strives to create music that uplifts, empowers, reflects current social issues and connects through song.
Juliet Sings / Photo courtesy of Kat Rose
Juliet Sings performs original music influenced by a multi-faceted background of genres, and traditional tunes. Her lyrics are homegrown. She plays guitar, dobro, and ukulele.
Born Julie Yänko on a Wisconsin farm, Juliet grew up steeped in rural life—long winters, fresh venison, homegrown tomatoes—and with a quiet creative spark that would drive her all the way to Memphis and Portland. After a farmhouse fire led her family to Missouri, she earned a scholarship to Memphis College of Art and soaked in the sounds of Beale Street blues. She later transferred to PNCA in Portland, fueling her voice with jazz and blues in Irish pubs and Northwest venues.
Juliet studied the great jazz divas—Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone—and refined her chops with Portland’s blues community. A member of the Cascade Blues Association, she’s earned accolades including Best New Act, Best Traditional Act, and a Journey to Memphis win.
From farm to stage, her music is rooted, soulful, and poised to bloom anew—making her a perfect finalist in the Journey to Memphis competition.
NIkki Jones Band / Photo courtesy of Debra Penk
Hailing from Salem, Oregon, the Nikki Jones Band delivers a potent blend of blues, rock, funk, and soul that captivates audiences. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Nikki Jones, whose raw and emotive delivery stems from genuine life experience, the band formed in 2017. Guitarist Brandon Logan, a lifelong musician from Portland, lays down rich and soulful riffs that weave seamlessly into the groove. The rhythm section—drummer Loren Christian and bassist Kevin Kelley—brings an irresistible pulse that keeps feet moving and hearts racing.
Nikki grew up in Beavercreek, Oregon, in a musical family, singing and playing guitar, piano, and bass from the age of ten. With vocal roots in Led Zeppelin and The Who, she later discovered her blues and soul powerhouses—gospel-blues legends like Rea Gordon—shaping her signature sound. After relocating to Salem in 2017, she assembled a dynamic group (initially known as Riven) and quickly became a regional standout, hitting stages from Portland venues to the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival.
Their debut album, Battle Me Up, dropped in spring 2025, showcasing heartfelt songwriting powered by live-fire energy. With accolades from regional festivals and airplay across Pacific Northwest radio, the Nikki Jones Band is a seasoned contender—primed to shine as a Journey to Memphis finalist.
Kit’s Bag ‘o Cats/ Photo courtesy of Debra Penk
Kit, frontman, singer, and guitarist of Kit’s Bag ’o Cats, has been part of Portland’s vibrant blues scene since 2023. After connecting with top local musicians, he assembled the lineup he calls “the finest players in the area.” Together they deliver hard‑driving electric blues laced with funk and rock—music that’s at once great for dancing and immersive to simply soak in.
Their show is e a full‑throttle experience: Kit channels his boundless stage spirit, the band locks into groove, and audiences can’t help but move—or lean back and savor every note. They are a “fresh voice in Portland’s blues scene—and a force to watch”
Behind the scenes, the lineup is stacked: Keith Widom on Fender 4‑string bass, Benjamin Scholz on drums, and Drew Baird on sax, together creating a rich rhythmic tapestry. Whether riffing through blues‑rooted originals or extending solos that stretch time, Kit’s Bag ’o Cats bring both precision and spontaneity—fueling communal joy and keeping the soul of the blues alive.
Their high‑energy performance and musical chemistry make them a compelling Journey to Memphis contender, in step with the competition’s electrifying spirit.
