Cascade Blues Association Programs
The Cascade Blues Association supports the Pacific Northwest blues community through four signature programs.
- The Anthony Roberts CD Fund helps established regional artists, with up to $10,000 in funding to produce their first commercial blues album
- Blues in the Schools brings live blues performances and education to Portland-area classrooms
- Journey to Memphis is our year-long competition and fundraising effort that sends Northwest acts to the International Blues Challenge.
- The Muddy Awards are our annual member-voted celebration of the region’s best blues talent, venues, and festivals
The Anthony Roberts CBA CD Fund
The Anthony Roberts Memorial CD Fund offers established PNW performers funding for their first commercially released blues recording with the artists retaining all rights to their music and recordings. The ideal candidate will demonstrate; a history of musical performances in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, recognition from regional and wider audiences, proactive multi-platform social media marketing, fan base development and retention, compositional and musical mastery, and organizational and budgetary skills.
Blues in the Schools
Our award-winning education program brings blues music into classrooms — teaching not just music, but history, culture, self-expression, and connection. Designed for students of all ages, this program celebrates the blues as a living, breathing part of American heritage.
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The Journey to Memphis: A Year-Long Blues Adventure
Every January, blues musicians from around the world descend on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, for one epic purpose: to compete in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) and represent their home scenes on a global stage. It’s more than a competition—it’s a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the blues.
Since the early 2000s, the Cascade Blues Association (CBA) has proudly sent some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest talent to this renowned event. From up-and-coming artists to seasoned soul-stirrers, our winners carry the spirit of Portland (and beyond) straight to Memphis, sharing the Northwest’s unique sound and energy with blues lovers from around the globe.
The Muddy Awards
Each year, the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Awards shine a spotlight on the people, places, and performances keeping the blues alive in the Pacific Northwest. Named in honor of the legendary Muddy Waters, these awards celebrate the best in blues — from standout musicians and rising stars to the venues and festivals that keep the scene vibrant.