News Release

20 years of blues, community and fighting hunger 

2007 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival
to offer more activities for kids

My favorite Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival moment was 20 years ago when my son took his first steps at the first blues festival. We were dancing, and he got up and joined us. And now he’s taking another step as a college student. – Margaret Sprinkle, Portland, Ore. 

I didn’t know whether my son, Aaron, 10, would enjoy the Waterfront Blues Festival…. But I still remember him dancing to the music while I sat on the blanket and listened. He danced nonstop for more than two hours … At some point a small cluster of children began to imitate him. These little people were feeling something. They danced and danced. As we were leaving the festival to go home, my son told me it had been the best time of his life.  – DeLise Palumbo

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 19, 2007) – As the stories above remind us, the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union, is a powerful family tradition. And to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the 2007 festival will offer more activities for children than ever before.

Talented youth take to the stage

Youth can dance their heart outs as they listen to some of the best young artists around:

Crossroads Youth Blues Ensemble, Friday, July 6, A&E Front Porch Stage. This group of talented young blues guitarists, taught by Muddy Award-winning guitarist and band leader, Robbie Laws, will showcase the love and inspiration these kids have for the blues and how this great musical style is being carried on through the next generation.

Eighteen-year-old guitarist Ty Curtis and his band from Salem, will perform Friday, July 6, on the A&E Front Porch Stage. The band’s latest release is getting airplay on KINK, KBOO and KMHD.

Ben Rice & Youth of the Blues. Fronted by 19-year-old guitarist Rice, the band competed in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis last year. They band will host some special guests, including harmonica wiz Hank Shreve from Eugene and 13-year-old Gunnar Roads from Vancouver, Wash.

The Pilar French Intention, will feature a young, blues-roots rocker and songwriter; the R&B diva Lila D’Mone; and the bluesy rocker Mirriam’s Well.

Special Features

Rainbows on the Willamette, presented by PacificSource Health Plans. Rainbow Maker Fred Stern will create gorgeous rainbows as Portland Fire Department fireboats spray fountains of water, Wednesday, July 4, between 5 and 7 p.m., depending upon the sun rays. In case of rain, the festival will reschedule rainbows for July 5 or 6.  Practice session open to media, Monday, July 2.

Rainbow-making session for kids at the Salmon Street Fountain, presented by PacificSource Health Plans, Saturday morning, July 7. Details to be announced.

“Frozen Carrots,” presented by NW Natural, a funny, vibrant and thoughtful, bite-sized, musical play for the K-8 crowd and the adults in their lives that teaches about hunger in Oregon and southwest Washington. It follows two students through an afternoon of working as volunteers at Oregon Food Bank, where they make a deal with the volunteer coordinator: If they can answer three questions about hunger, they can leave early. In answering those questions, the young heroes dispel myths about hunger and learn the value of “kids helping kids until the hunger ends.” Presented in partnership with Oregon Food Bank.  Book and Lyrics by Andrew Berkowitz, music and stage direction by Patrick Short. Based on a concept by Ruth Jenkins. Wednesday, July 4, 2:15 to 3 p.m., on the FedEx Freight Workshop Stage. (32 minutes) www.portlandcomedy.com/shows/frozen_carrots.html.

Afternoon DME Blues Cruises open to all ages.  Take the family on a DME Blues Cruise. Hear blues in an intimate setting as the Portland Spirit cruises the Willamette River. Five blues cruises, sponsored by Delta Music Experience. DME Drifting Blues Cruise, Wednesday, July 4; DME Sail On Sister! Blues Cruise, Thursday, July 5; DME Rock the Boat Blues Cruise, Friday, July 6; DME Crescent City Celebration Blues Cruise, Saturday, July 7; DME Blue Bayou Blues Cruise, Sunday, July 8. Afternoon cruises board at 2 p.m. and return to dock at 4:30 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance are $15; $10 for children 12-years or younger. Tickets on site (if still available) are $20; $15 for children 12-years or younger. The Portland Spirit requires photo identification to board all cruises. The only exception is for children 12-years-old or younger. Purchase tickets in advance through TicketsWest at 503-224-8499 or 1-800-992-8449 or www.ticketswest.com (search under “blues cruise).”

Spectacular fireworks, presented by DaimlerChrysler Truck Financial, July 4, 10:05 p.m.  Look for biggest display in the festival’s history.

Workshops on the FedEx Freight Workshop Stage

Young Guitar Slingers. Ty Curtis, Ben Rice and Gunner Roads, all teenage blues guitar slingers, share their riffs, talk about their mentors and learning process, and jam with each other.

Kids Blues Piano Workshop with David Moore.

Victor Johnson, presenting a family performance/workshop.

And more ….

Note: The Ethos Music Lab bus will not be operating at the festival this year.

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. OFB distributed 34.3-million pounds of food last year.

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 Exerience.

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