News Release

2008 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival
to feature five Delta Music Experience
Blues Cruises

PORTLAND, Ore. -- (May 23, 2008) – Tickets are now available for the 2008 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival Delta Music Experience Blues Cruises through Tickets Oregon, a new ticketing venue created by musician Patrick Lamb.

Sit back and relax or get up and dance on the Portland Spirit’s three decks and enjoy blues in an intimate setting as the Portland Spirit cruises the beautiful Willamette River.

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 $30 plus a convenience fee.  Tickets (if any are still available) are $40 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 $20. Tickets on site (if still available) are $3.

Here’s who’s playing on the 2008 DME (Delta Music Experience) Blues Cruises:

Thursday, July 3, 2008, (evening)

Hoodoo Moon Blues Cruise

Canned Heat, Carolyn Wonderland, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue

Canned Heat, the pioneers of blues rock-boogie, are joined by triple-threat singer, songwriter and guitarist Carolyn Wonderland. The cruise also features New Orleans trombone prodigy Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, and the Joe McMurrian Quartet.

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Friday, July 4, 2008, (afternoon)

Driftin' Blues Cruise

The Mannish Boys, Reggie Houston, Mary Flower, Boyd Small and the Souldiers

The cruise features The Mannish Boys, an all-star group including the cream of southern California’s blues scene. In addition, expatriate drummer and vocalist Boyd Small will perform with his new group from the Netherlands, The Souldiers. Reggie Houston and Mary Flower will play a saxophone and guitar duet.

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Saturday, July 5, 2007, (afternoon)

Sail On Sister! Blues Cruise

Ruthie Foster, Lara Price, Lady "A" and the Baby Blues Funk Band and Tahoe Jackson

This cruise celebrates women in blues, featuring Austin’s soulful singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster, sultry vocalist Lara Price, Lady "A" and the Baby Blues Funk Band and acoustic duo Tahoe Jackson.

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Saturday, July 5, 2008, (evening)

Midnight Mambo Cruise-- SOLD OUT

Charlie Musselwhite, Eric Lindell, Back Door Slam, Sherman Robertson

Delta and Chicago Blues harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite joins Eric Lindell, New Orleans’ young songwriter and guitarist and British blues-rockers Back Door Slam and Sherman Robertson.

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Sunday, July 6, 2008, (afternoon)

Blue Bayou Cruise

Paul Thorn, Arthur Adams, Colin Lake and Wellbottom Blues

This cruise features Tupelo Mississippi bluesman and songwriter Paul Thorn, described by musician Mark Knopfler as “a rare and addictive mixture of soul, wit, humor and musicality;” California blues guitarist Arthur Adams, who has written songs and/or performed with B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, and many more; and Colin Lake and Wellbottom Blues.

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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 100 performances on four stages at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the banks of the Willamette River in downtown Portland.

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 919 hunger-relief agencies serving Oregon and Clark County, Wash.

About festival sponsors: The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is presented by First Tech Credit Union. Major sponsors include FeEx Frieght, PacificSource Health Plans, iQ Credit Union, Daimler Truck Financial, Land Rover, The Oregonian A&E, KINK.fm and Travel Portland. Supporting sponsors include Burt’s Bees, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Henry Weinhard's, Deschutes Brewery, Beringer Wine, Snapple, Pepsi, Nutrisoda, Earth2o Water, Frito Lay Snacks, Yoshida Sauce, Mission Foods, Dreyer’s Ice Cream, NW Natural, Impact Advertising, Edge Design, The Boeing Company, PGE, Sprint PCS, KBOO, Oregon Live, Blues Revue, Music Millennium, Karolyn March, Guitar Center, Lions Foundation, Cascade Blues Association, Oregon Potters Association, Cascade Zydeco and Delta Music Experience.

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