JOURNEY TO MEMPHIS

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.

The first round of the Journey to Memphis competition, where local blues artists give it their all for a chance to represent the Cascade Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee is being held Sunday, June 1, 2025 at Mekong Bistro, 8200 NE Siskiyou, Portland, OR 97220. Doors open at 12:30pm, performances will take place between 1:00pm – 5:00pm.

Sunday June 1, 2025 J2M Competition at Mekong Bistro (Time TBD)  Saturday, July 5, 2025 Finals at Waterfront Blues Festival IBC Afternoon Cruise January 13-17, 2026 International Blues Challenge in Memphis The CBA has a long history of sending a Band and a Solo/Duo Act to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) held in Memphis January 2026. The Journey to Memphis Challenge is how we choose the competitors. A Youth Act will also be selected through a separate competition to be held later this year. They will attend but will not compete at the IBC.