(PORTLAND, OR) – The Waterfront Blues Festival, held at Tom McCall Park in Portland, Oregon, is the largest celebration of blues, soul, funk, and rhythm & blues west of the Mississippi. Join us for a long weekend filled with amazing performances across four stages, food, vendors, river boat cruises, and more! Four days, four stages, over 100 artists! Performers this year include Beth Hart, George Thorogood And The Destroyers, Marc Broussard, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Ruthie Foster, The Mavericks, The Revivalists, Aki Kumar, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, Commander Cody, Curtis Salgado Big Band, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Johnny Rawls, Kid Ramos, Lady “A,” Larkin Poe, Michael Osborn Band W/ Karen Lovely, Muddy Waters Tribute, Nikki Hill, NW Women Rhythm & Blues, “Denise LaSalle Tribute,” Rae Gordon Band and many more!
Of the festival’s two alternating main stages, which play to the audience from opposite ends of Waterfront Park’s grassy bowl, the Brewery Stage has the slightly larger footprint. Located at the north end of the park’s bowl, their other alternating main stage, The Blues Stage with its lower profile, has offered fans an intimate, up-close concert experience. With its Louisiana bayou theme, shaded seating areas, and packed dance floor, the Front Porch Stage provides an informal setting in which to hear anything from Gulf Coast Zydeco and Cajun groups, to acoustic sets from Mississippi blues men and women, to Big Band ‘jump blues’, and the annual “harmonica blow-off.” Out front, one of the region’s largest outdoor dance floors is rockin’ all weekend with Zydeco, blues and swing dancers. For more on dance lessons, see related sections on Zydeco and Portland Blues Experience.
The Louisiana Pavilion is presented by the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus, Portland’s very own Mardi Gras Krewe! Swing by to visit, pass a good time, and learn about Louisiana and Southern culture. Plan to join the joyful second-line parade, complete with costumes, beads, and a brass band. The Krewe will be on hand to share information about some of the music of Louisiana, Mardi Gras culture, and more! Kids of all ages can learn about Mardi Gras traditions and enjoy the craft area.
