Waterfront Blues Festival
The Waterfront Blues Festival is a blues festival that has been held in Portland , Oregon since 1987 . It is the second largest blues festival in the United States. The festival takes place in Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the west bank of the Willamette River. The artists appear on five stages.
history
The blues festival was founded in 1987 as the Rose City Blues Festival and was renamed the Waterfront Blues Festival in 1991. From the beginning it served to raise donations. The first organization to receive grants was the Burnside Community Council's projects for the homeless. In 1988, Oregon Food Share, the predecessor of the Oregon Food Bank, took over the funds. The aim of this organization is to support hungry people in Oregon. Miller Genuine Draft also became the first title sponsor that year. In 2000, Safeway became the title sponsor. As early as 1987, the local radio station KBOO began broadcasting concerts of the festival, which the station continues to this day. As with many other festivals, over a thousand volunteers ensure that the event runs smoothly.
Artists at the festival (selection)
Jimmy Rogers , Hubert Sumlin , Katie Webster , Luther Johnson , Otis Rush , Johnny Johnson , Clarence Gatemouth Brown , Bobby Rush , Roy Rogers, Bobby Blue Bland , J. Geils , Son Seals , Koko Taylor , Jimmie Vaughan , Booker T. & the MG's , Charlie Musselwhite , Jonny Lang , Shannon Curfman, Pinetop Perkins , Robert Lockwood junior , Shemekia Copeland , Solomon Burke , Delbert McClinton, Los Lobos, Rosie Ledet, Little Feat , Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm, Ruth Brown , John Mayall , Dirty Dozen Brass Band , Al Kooper , Michelle Shocked , Etta James , Susan Tedeschi , Taj Mahal , Steve Miller , Norton Buffalo , Keb 'Mo' , The Holmes Brothers , Canned Heat , Buddy Guy , Mavis Staples , Dr. John , Irma Thomas , The Neville Brothers , Joan Armatrading , The Blind Boys of Alabama, Marcia Ball , Watermelon Slim , James Cotton Band with special guest Hubert Sumlin, Eric Burdon and The Animals , Eric Lindell , Robben Ford , Johnny Winter , Sonny Landreth