You really gotta give it to the tireless team behind the largest blues fest west of the Mississippi. Now in its third decade, a horde of supportive volunteers has always been integral to its success, but it’s the expert musical curation of Peter Dammann that has kept this Fourth of July affair a centerpiece of the region. Purists might grumble but let’s be real: Isn’t the blues all about expressing emotion? That’s exactly what a lineup that mixes Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Robert Cray, The California Honeydrops, Trombone Shorty, and Vintage Trouble does. Add classic bluesmen like Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Sugaray Rayford to Chubby Carrier’s everpresent zydeco and locals like MarchFourth, Curtis Salgado, LaRhonda Steele, Ural Thomas, Mary Flower, Andy Stokes, Kevin Selfe, Rose City Kings, Ty Curtis, Lilla, Terry Robb, Samuel Eisen-Meyers and Worth and this is a fine place to spend four summer days.
Waterfront Blues Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park
WIN TICKETS: Fourth of July Weekend: July 4 - 7, 2019
Tom McCall Waterfront ParkSW Naito Parkway PortlandOR97204all ages
With fireworks on the banks of the Willamette, the Waterfront Blues Festival is the largest celebration of blues, soul, funk and more west of the Mississippi. And kids 12 and under are free! Basic four-day passes start at just $50 but you can win a pair of Blues Buddy passes (valued at $85 per pass) by leaving a comment below!
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