News Release

20 years of blues, community and fighting hunger

Reel Blues films to celebrate
blues legends and more

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 12, 2007) – After the musicians leave the four festival stages, the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union, will continue into the night with two special outdoor screenings on the First Tech Blues Stage.

The Northwest Film Center invites blues fans to see “Johnny Otis Reunion” on Thursday, July 5, and “Hendrix & the Blues” and “The Losers Club” on Friday, July 6. All-day admission to the festival, which includes the late-night films, is a donation of $8 and two cans of food. All donations benefit Oregon Food Bank’s mission, to eliminate hunger and its root causes … because no one should be hungry.

Thursday, July 5, 10:15 p.m.

“Johnny Otis Reunion” In 1970, bandleader Johnny Otis, the godfather of rhythm and blues (“Harlem Nocturne, Willie and the Handjive), gathered old friends for a special, one-night-only salute to the glory days of the Center Avenue R&B scene in Los Angeles in the ‘40s and ‘50s. With his own stellar band (including his son Shuggie) providing back up, the parade of fellow legends includes Charles Brown, Big Joe Turner, Little Ester, Roy Milton, Lowell Fulson, T-Bone Walker and Eddied “Cleanhead” Vinson, each of whom deliver performances that make you wish you were there. As Joe Turner exclaims, “Have mercy, Mr. Percy,” which means this rare archival treasurer is something you won’t want to miss. Director Alan Muir. U.S. 1970 (60 minutes)

Friday, July 6, 10:15 p.m.

“Hendrix & the Blues” Produced for Martin Scorsese’s THE BLUES series, Alex Gibney’s short documentary features timeless Jimi Hendrix live performances of “Red House,” “Hear My Train A Comin’,” “Killing Floor” and other blues classics as well as commentary from former Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Buddy Guy.

“The first guitarist I was ever aware of was Muddy Waters. I heard one of his records when I was a little boy, and it scared me to death, because I heard all those sounds. Wow! What was that all about? It was great. I like Muddy Waters when he had only two guitars, harmonica, bass and drum. Things like “Rolling and Tumbling” were what I liked. That real primitive guitar sound,” Hendrix tells us. Director Alex Gibney. U.S. 2003. (25 minutes)

“The Losers Club” Born and bred in the age of hot rods and surf music, Portland guitarists and bandleaders Jim Mesi and Steve Bradley, both became local legends in the Portland music scene in the 1970s. Mesi, who toured with BB King, cemented his position as a world-class blues player while Bradley became an anchor in the local club scene with his quirky songwriting, singular guitar style and inventive rock and roll bands. Over the years, both have brought their craft to polished perfection while playing night in and night out on virtually every stage in Portland. Director Pierre Ouellette, a guitarist himself (an original member of ‘60s Portland band Don and the Good Times), affectionately celebrates the lives of these two journeymen performers as they rock across the tides of pop music trends, changing clubs and audiences and the siren call of fame and fortune. Director Pierre Ouellette. U.S. 2004. (50 minutes)

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, Delta Music Experience and Land Rover.

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