
A Celebration of Women In Music
From its earliest recordings of the 1920s, the history of the blues is brimming with women who’ve played a pivotal role in its development. Vocalists like Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith, and Bessie Smith ruled the concert halls and the jukes of their…

Crossing Borders IV – Tracing America’s musical heritage from Africa, through Cuba, and into the South
BRAVO Youth Orchestras’ annual fundraising concert brings together youth and world-class musicians, and this year’s theme is Africamerica, with music from Ghana, Cuba, and the United States, featuring Alex Addy, Alma and Alex Martinez,…

APRIL CBA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING CANCELLED
Due to the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s announcement cancelling any events or gatherings of 250 people for a four-week period, the Cascade Blues Association’s General Membership Meeting scheduled…

Interview with Canadian Bluesman Colin James
Interview by Marie Walters
I spoke on the phone with Canadian blues guitarist Colin James while he was in Courtenay B.C. on Tuesday March 3rd
We just had our first show the day before yesterday and I’m here [in Canada] with a three piece,…

Music Mondays – SONG SPEAK Featuring AJ Fullerton & More
Lake Theater & Cafe brings you an opportunity to experience live original music at its best – with the songs, stories and strategies behind them from the songwriters themselves. This intimate and wonderful show features AJ Fullerton from…

Music Mondays – Muddy Waters Tribute & Dance – Four Trains Runnin’
Four Trains Runnin' is a Muddy Waters Tribute show that features four internationally acclaimed blues musicians who relish in the performance of old school traditional blues. Featuring the songs of Muddy Waters and his influences performed in…

Ramblings On My Mind – Greg Johnson, Cascade Blues Association President
The Cascade Blues Association has been involved sending bands to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis for twenty years. We have had a lot of success with acts participating over the years, many pushing forward to the semi-finals since…

Bluesmania – Best of the Benefit Concert for “Uncle” Steve Pringle
Review by Greg Johnson
On November 24th, the Portland blues community came together to celebrate the life of beloved DJ Steve Pringle. The show, titled Bluesmania, was a benefit to help Steve and his family defray the cost of the cancer treatment…

Ben Rice & RB Stone
Out Of The Box
Middle Mountain Music
By Greg Johnson
As the old adage goes, what’s more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? Why two barrels of course. And so what can be more fun on an album than a cigar guitar player. Well, you know where…

Harp Master John Clifton At Catfish Lou’s
Bluesman John Clifton has dedicated himself to the genre that wasn’t getting the respect it deserved. But when you’re a frontman who delivers the goods straight from the heart, soul and gut, the blues become relevant. From the first note…