News Release

2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival to kick off with 20th anniversary DME Blues Cruise

PORTLAND, Ore.  (updated June 6, 2007) – Relax on the Portland Spirit’s three decks and enjoy blues in an intimate setting as the Portland Spirit cruises the beautiful Willamette River.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the 2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival will kick off with a special, anniversary pre-festival DME (Delta Music Experience) Blues Cruise, Tuesday, July 3, featuring Pinetop Perkins, presented by Karolyn H. March, Esq.; Lurrie Bell; Hot 8 Brass Band; John Boutte; and up-and-coming Portland act, The Insomniacs.

To purchase tickets, call TicketsWest at 503-224-8499 or 1-800-992-8499 or visit TicketsWest and search under “blues cruise.”

In honor of its 20th anniversary, the festival is offering an expanded schedule of nine DME Blues Cruises: five evening and four afternoon cruises. 

• Evening cruises, for those 21 and older. Evening cruises board at 10:15 p.m. and return to dock at 1:15 a.m.  Tickets purchased in advance are $25 plus a convenience fee.  Tickets (if still available) are $30 on site. 

• Afternoon cruises, open to all ages. Afternoon cruises board at 2 p.m. and return to dock at 4:30 p.m.  Tickets purchased in advance are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12-years-old or younger. Tickets on site (if still available) are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12-years-old or younger.

• The Portland Spirit requires photo identification to board all cruises. The only exception is for children 12-years-old or younger.

All DME Blues Cruises board from the seawall in front of McCall Fountain at S.W. Salmon and Naito Parkway, just north of the A&E Front Porch Stage.

DME Blues Cruises are in addition to the festival’s stellar lineup of more than 125 performers on four stages at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the banks of the Willamette River in downtown Portland.

Here’s who’s playing on the 2007 DME (Delta Music Experience) Blues Cruises:

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, (evening)

DME Hoodoo Moon Blues Cruise

Lurrie Bell, Pinetop Perkins, John Boutte, Hot 8 Brass Band, Mark Lemhouse, The Insomniacs

The legendary pianist Pinetop Perkins will join Lurrie Bell, “the premier guitarist in the Windy City, according to Boston Blues News, for this special 20th anniversary kickoff cruise. The cruise also features New Orleans’ funky Hot 8 Brass Band and the Crescent City’s male vocalist of the year John Boutte, Mark Lemhouse and up-and-coming Portland act, The Insomniacs with Sean Carney.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007, (afternoon)

DME Driftin' Blues Cruise

J.W. Jones; Reunion Jam: The Terraplanes; Terry Robb; Lauren Sheehan with Southern Jumbo.

 J.W. Jones, 25, is already hailed as “one of Canada's top blues guitar stars” by Toronto’s Globe and Mail.

Thursday, July 5, 2007, (afternoon)

DME Sail On Sister! Blues Cruise

Fiona Boyes; Between Friends (with Linda Hornbuckle, Duffy Bishop, Ellen Whyte, LaRhonda Steele, Lady Kat, Janice Scroggins, Myrtle Brown); Del Rey with Steve James.

This women’s blues cruise will feature Australian guitar phenomenon Fiona Boyes and Between Friends, a first-ever grouping of Portland’s women blues all-stars, including Linda Hornbuckle, Duffy Bishop, Ellen Whyte, LaRhonda Steele, Lady Kat, Janice Scroggins and Myrtle Brown. They will share favorite repertoire from their mentors. The cruise will also feature acoustic blues guitar wizard Del Rey and her collaborator, dobro and mandolin ace, Steve James of Austin, Tex.

Thursday, July 5, 2007, (evening)

DME Backwater Juke Cruise

J.J. Grey and Mofro, Watermelon Slim and the Workers, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Hillstomp

This cruise will feature swampy, rootsy blues with an edge by a powerful lineup of up-and-coming acts. Emerging from that eloquent tradition of Southern storytellers, J.J. Grey and his band Mofro will deliver serious, rocking funk fueled by brilliant musicianship.

Nominated this year for a stunning six Blues Music Awards, Watermelon Slim  “sings with a hard-weathered grace and punches out rough harp chords … to deliver the only message that matters to him: the blues can rise out of the pulverized soil of bare existence,” writes the Nashville Scene.

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, consisting of guitar, washboard and bass, is a “rousing, hyper and authentic brand of blues.” Portland’s Hillstomp will rev up the crowd on the upper deck.

Friday, July 6, 2007,  (afternoon)

DME Rock the Boat Cruise

Too Slim and the Taildraggers with Henry Cooper, The Strange Tones, Dylan-Thomas Vance.

Spokane’s favorite power trio, Too Slim & the Taildraggers, will host Seattle slide guitar ace Henry Cooper and New Orleans’ harmonica/accordion ace Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone in a rockin’ set of blues.

Friday, July 6, 2007, (evening)

DME Moonlight Shanghai Cruise

Savoy Brown, Kim Simmonds, Brian Auger and Oblivion Express, Monti Amundson, Lloyd Jones, Josh Fulero, Boyd Small

This cruise will feature a British blues invasion with blues and jazz fusion pioneer Brian Auger and Oblivion Express and blues-rock legends, Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown and a showdown of Portland all-star guitar slingers Monti Amundson, Lloyd Jones, Josh Fulero and more, backed by expatriate drummer Boyd Small.

Saturday, July 7, 2007, (afternoon)

DME Crescent City Celebration Cruise

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Charmaine Neville with Reggie Houston, Donna Angelle, Rick Holmstrom Trio

 Zydeco vocalist Donna Angelle, strutting her bluesier side, with Zydeco Posse, will join New Orleans funkiest brass band, the renowned Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  New Orleans vocalist Charmaine Neville will join Portland-based New Orleans saxophonist Reggie Houston.  Rick Holmstrom’s Trio, which is touring as Mavis Staples’ band, is a power in its own right.

Saturday, July 7, 2007. (evening)

DME Midnight Mambo Cruise

Marcia Ball, Buddy Flett and the Bluebirds, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone with Paris Slim, Nathan James and Ben Hernandez.

Gulf Coast boogie-woogie piano queen, Marcia Ball, will rock the Mambo cruise with help from Louisiana slide guitarist Buddy Flett and the Bluebirds. The cruise will also feature Jumpin' Johnny Sansone with Parkis Slim. The upper deck will feature International Blues Competition winners Nathan James and Ben Hernandez.

Sunday, July 8, 2007 (afternoon)

Blue Bayou Cruise

Tab Benoit Band, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Mary Flower and Reggie Houston

Texas blues-belter Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps will join Cajun bluesman Tab Benoit, presented by Good Neighbor Pharmacy.  “Teresa James is a true original. When she sings you can feel it in your bones,” writes The Band. Portland acoustic guitarist Mary Flower will join New Orleans saxophonist Reggie Houston for sublime duets.

For more information, visit www.waterfrontbluesfest.com.

About Delta Music Experience: Amanda Gresham’s Delta Music Experience includes: Riverboat Cruises (three to seven nights on the river, Riverboat Adventures (three to seven night land-based trips with harbor cruises), producing private concerts, benefit performances, stages, harbor cruises and DME VIP tent at festivals and events.

About Oregon Food Bank: Oregon Food Bank is a nonprofit, charitable organization. It is the hub of the Oregon Food Bank Network, a statewide network of 20 regional food banks and 884 hunger-relief agencies serving Oregon and Clark County, Wash. Last year, OFB distributed 34.3-million pounds of food.

About 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.

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