News Release
   
Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival
Portland, Oregon
July 4-8, 2007
20 years of blues, community
and fighting hunger
… a feast for both the eyes and ears.
- Glide Magazine
It’s hands down the largest, best-attended arts event of the year
- The Oregonian
The crown jewel of blues fests. What a deal! World-class blues,
all in support of a worthy cause. – Blues to Do
PORTLAND, Ore. (updated June 18, 2007) – Celebrate 20 glorious years of blues, community and fighting hunger at the 2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union. The five-day festival will kick off with a special, 20th anniversary, pre-festival DME Blues Cruise on Tuesday, July 3. The festival opens at noon Wednesday, July 4, and run through Sunday, July 8, 2007, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the grassy banks of the Willamette River in downtown Portland.
Since its modest beginnings in 1988, the award-winning festival has grown to be the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi, annually attracting more than 120,000 blues fans from throughout the world.
The musical feast includes four stages and 125 stellar artist performances from throughout the world, including The Neville Brothers, Koko Taylor, Joan Armatrading, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Marcia Ball, Pinetop Perkins, Watermelon Slim, James Cotton Band with special guest Hubert Sumlin, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Voice of the Wetlands Allstars (Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Johnny Sansone), Savoy Brown, Lurrie Bell, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, J.J. Grey and Mofro, J.W. Jones, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks and more.
Plus …
- spectacular fireworks, July 4,
- Rainbow Maker, July 4,
- acoustic acts on the A&E Front Porch,
- expanded schedule of nine DME (Delta Music Experience) Blues Cruises on the Portland Spirit as it cruises the Willamette River,
- after-concert dances,
- educational workshops for all ages,
- special activities for children,
- Louisiana Pavilion,
- after-concert jam sessions,
- workshops and interviews with festival artists,
- after-concert, outdoor blues films,
- and more!
An anomaly in the festival world, the festival is produced by and as a benefit for Oregon Food Bank. Daily admission is a donation of $8 per person per day and two cans of food. All festival proceeds benefit Oregon Food Bank’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Oregon and southwest Washington … because no one should be hungry.
A few highlights:
Tuesday, July 3: special, late-night, 20th anniversary kick-off blues cruise
DME Hoodoo Moon Blues Cruise with Pinetop Perkins, presented by Karolyn H. March, Esq,; Lurrie Bell; Hot 8 Brass Band; and John Boutte. Order tickets through TicketsWest.com.
Wednesday, July 4: Windy City Blues Tribute
The festival will kick into high gear, Wednesday, July 4, shining the spotlight on Chicago Blues, including:
- “Queen of the Blues” Koko Taylor. “Deep soul, raw vocal power, blustery swagger … the great female blues singer of her generation.”
- Pianist Pinetop Perkins, presented by Karolyn H. March, Esq., will return to the festival to celebrate his 94th birthday, July 4, on the Miller Main Stage. During his tenure with the Muddy Waters Band, Pinetop created a style that has influenced three generations of piano players.
- Guitarist Lurrie Bell. Boston Phoenix describes Lurrie as “perhaps the most talented guitarist of his generation … eclectic, accidental genius.”
- J.W. Jones, one of the country’s top blues guitarists,
- Sean Carney Band, 2007 International Blues Challenge winner,
- Hot 8 Brass Band, New Orleans-based brass band that blends hip-hop and R&B.
- Fiona Boyes, “most significant female blues performer,” says Rhythms magazine.
- John Nemeth Band, vocalist and harmonica player, voted “crowd favorite” at last festival appearance.
- Harmonica Blow-Off,
- Journey to Memphis Finals,
- Rainbow Maker on the Willamette River,
- John Boutte, Best of Beat Best Male Vocalist, singing the National Anthem,
- Spectacular fireworks over the Willamette River.
- DME Driftin’ Afternoon Blues Cruise with J.W. Jones and more.
Thursday, July 5
- Joan Armatrading, her recent “Into the Blues” debuted as #1 on billoard blues charts.
- Watermelon Slim and the Workers, presented by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, nominated for six 2007 Blues Music Awards,
- The Blind Boys of Alabama, presented by Karolyn H. March, Esq.,
- James Cotton Band with special guest Hubert Sumlin and Pinetop Perkins,
- J.J. Grey and Mofro, “rocking funk fueled by brilliant musicianship.”
- Fritz Richmond Tribute with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks,
- The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, “rousing, hyper, authentic brand of blues.”
- Reel Blues, after-hour films presented by Northwest Film Center.
- DME Sail On Sister! Afternoon Blues Cruise with Fiona Boyes, Between Friends (Linda Hornbuckle, Duffy Bishop, Ellen Whyte, LaRhonda Steele, Lady Kat, Janice Scroggins, Myrtle Brown), Del Rey with Steve James.
- DME Backwater Juke Evening Blues Cruise with J.J. Grey & Mofro, Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Hillstomp.
Friday, July 6: British Blues Invasion
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Burdon and the Animals. Their now classic hits, “Don’t Let me be Misunderstood” and “House of the Rising Sun,” helped launch the U.K. blues-rock movement, paving the way for Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Rolling Stones.
- Savoy Brown, featuring founder and guitarist Kim Simmonds.
- Innovative organist Brian Auger and Oblivion Express, who worked with Long John Baldry, the Yardbirds, Rod Stewart and London’s other early blues rockers before scoring hits of his own as a jazz-rock-fusion pioneer.
- Too Slim and the Taildraggers with Henry Cooper,
- After-hours Zydeco dance with Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse, Keith Frank & Soileau Zydeco, presented by Cascade Zydeco Association,
- Reel Blues, after-hour films presented by Northwest Film Center.
- DME Rock the Boat Afternoon Blues Cruise with Too Slim & the Traildragerss with Henry Cooper and Jumpin’ Johnny Sanson, The Strange Tones.
- DME Moonlight Shanghai Evening Blues Cruise with Savoy Brown, Brian Auger & Oblivion Express, Monti Amundson, Lloyd Jones, Josh Fulero, Boyd Small.
Saturday, July 7: Gulf Coast Celebration
Celebrate Gulf Coast blues and R&B with
- Marcia Ball, Louisiana-born “swamp boogie queen,” returning to the festival with a set of bayou blues.
- The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, New Orleans’ funkiest brass band, returning to the festival with its irrepressible mix of Crescent City jazz, funk, R&B and pop.
- Mavis Staples, presented by FedEx Freight, headlining Women in Blues lineup, with Marcia Ball, presented by iQ Credit Union, Louisiana-born “swamp boogie queen,” returning to the festival with a set of bayou blues.
- Charmaine Neville with Reggie Houston’s Crescent City Connection,
- LaRhonda Steele, powerhouse soul/blues vocalist, rooted in gospel.
- A singers’ singer, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps, is based in California but rooted in the blues and bayous of east Texas.
- All-day Zydeco Swamp Romp on the A&E Front Porch, celebrating Louisiana’s blues-Cajun hybrid, with Keith Frank & Soileau Zydeco, a surprise hit from last year’s lineup, will return to the festival; Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters; Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse; Dexter Ardoin & the Zydeco Allstars, presented by Morgan Stanley; Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys; and Too Loose Cajun Band,
- Zydeco dance class with Roland and Janine Jemerson,
- DME Crescent City Celebration Afternoon Blues Cruise with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Charmaine Neville with Reggie Houston, Donna Angelle, Rick Holmstrom Trio.
- DME Midnight Mambo Evening Blues Cruise with Marcia Ball, Buddy Flett and the Bluebirds, Nathan James & Ben Hernandez.
Sunday, July 8: Gulf Coast Celebration:
The Gulf Coast tribute continues Sunday with
- Baton Rouge guitarist Tab Benoit heading up the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, presented by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, featuring Cyril Neville, guitarist and songwriter Anders Osborne, accordion and harmonica ace Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux. The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars formed to raise funds to save Southern Louisiana’s wetlands before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the region.
- The Neville Brothers, presented by First Tech Credit Union, Crescent City’s masters of funk, soul and R&B, closing the festival.
- Paul deLay Memorial Allstars,
- Curtis Salgado,
- Linda Hornbuckle & Janice Scroggins Old Time Gospel Hour,
- Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, featuring Carmen Getit, “San Francisco’s premier jump-swing band,” according to the San Francisco Weekly. The group will close the A&E Front Porch with a swing-blues dance.
- Hawkeye Herman, “one of America’s finest acoustic guitarists and blues educators,
- Lily Wilde Orchestra,
- MarchFourth Marching Band,
- DME Blue Bayou Afternoon Blues Cruise with Tab Benoit Band, presented by Good Neighbor Pharmacy; Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps; Mary Flower and Reggie Houston.
Festival sponsors
The 2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is presented by First Tech Credit Union. Major sponsors are iQ Credit Union, The Oregonian A&E, KINK.fm, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, PacificSource Health Plans, FedEx Freight, DaimlerChrysler Truck Financial, Miller Brewing and Delta Music Experience.
Award-winning festival
The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival has won numerous awards, including: the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the National Blues Foundation, the Ovation Award as Oregon’s Best Festival, Civic Celebration or Community Event, and Best Northwest Blues Event of the Year by Cascade Blues Association. On June 28, the festival will receive the 2007 Rose City Award from the Portland/Oregon Visitors Association.
About Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Food Bank is the hub of a network of 20 regional food banks and almost 900 hunger-relief agencies. Last year, Oregon Food Bank collected and delivered 34.3-million pounds of food throughout Oregon and Clark County, Wash.
In an average month, almost 200,000 people in Oregon and Clark County eat meals from an emergency food box. Of those, 37 percent are children. In addition, soup kitchens and shelters serve almost 4-million meals per year, and 80,000 people receive food through other network programs.
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Note to editors: Artist bio (click on performances), downloadable photos (click on news) and more are available at www.waterfrontbluesfest.com
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