Organized by performance day and time
Friday August 15, 2025
NW Women R & B
3:30-4:45 PM
NW WOMEN RHYTHM & BLUES
The Northwest Women Rhythm & Blues group performs specialty shows produced by Sonny Hess since the early ’80s. These unique shows are comprised of the top female performers in the region and exposes newly found talent to the Portland blues scene. Names you might recognize like Lisa Mann,
Ellen Whyte, Rae Gordon, and Lady True Blue got their start in the area with Northwest Women Rhythm
& Blues — women who have gone on to win multiple awards locally, regionally, and nationally. Each
show is different and brings its own certain magic that you won’t want to miss!
This performance will include the following talent:
Sonny Hess: known far and wide for her sensual guitar playing, songwriting gifts and soulful vocals, this
local blues legend has been firing up shows around the Northwest for over four decades. She was the
first woman to be nominated in a male dominated field for Best Lead Guitar.
Joanne Broh: A column of energy, known for her powerful, soulful voice. A dynamic blend of smokin’
blues and R&B with a splash of Funk, Joanne will get you dancing and wanting more. An original song
“Wicked Cool” making it to eighteen on the Blues Charts. Playing all over the NW with the area’s top
musicians. Winner Female Blues Vocalist Rainey Day Blues Society, Soul Blues Band 2021 Rainy Day
Blues Society.
Claudia Paige : Claudia has a very eclectic drumming style, incorporating hand drums from around the
world into her drum kit. Raised on swampy funky blues and a love for music from around the world, Claudia weaves together world fusion rhythms, with a funky groove in her “solid in the pocket” feel to the music. She has played with premier musical artists of the 21st century, including Jerry Garcia, Linda Perry, Bonnie Raitt, Bo Diddley, and many more. Lisa Mann Two-time Blues Music award winning artist, Lisa Mann hails from Portland, OR. Her influences run the gamut, from lown down blues sisters Etta james and Koko Taylor, to
singer=songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and R&B belters like Little Milton.
Ellen Whyte: is a well known performer in the Pacific Northwest. She is an Oregon Music Hall of Fame
inductee and three-time Grammy Award nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist. Continuously
impressing audiences, she is one of the few who can sing blues, pop and jazz with the passion, skill and
authenticity that keeps fans coming back for more.
Rae Gordon: Numerous awards for her blues and heartfelt soaring vocals, hard driving energy like a
freight train. She serves up a delicious stew of grit with a side of soul and gospel.
Sonny Hess
971-322-5853
2023 Lifetime Achievement Recipient Cascade Blues Assoc.
2023 Best Event of the Year NW Women R&B
http://www.sonnyhess.com
http://www.nwwomenblues.com
Herded Catz
5:15-6:30 PM
The Herded Catz were formed last year for the opening of the Ilwaco Cidery. Clint Carter played the drums with Steve Frost, Dee Sense and Mark Storch. Michael Mathis, owner of Ship Wrecords & Moor, got them together and said getting musicians together was like herding cats. So became the name. The Herded Catz are always changing so you never know who will be involved. Playing for this festival will be Steve Frost, Mark Storch, Dave Gager and Don King.
Steve Frost – Singer, Songwriter Entertainer Producer Engineer
Steve has been bringing music to the stage since the early seventies – professionally since 1975. Working music full time, Steve has opened for The Drifters, Pat Travers and Dokken, and currently plays venues across the Long Beach Peninsula.
Mark Storch
Dee Sense – Bass player with the Riptide Band from Spokane, WA
Dave Gager – Drums/Vocals : has recorded and performed with a host of regional, national and world-class musicians since the early 80’s, dividing his time between studio sessions and live performances, and has gained a reputation as an in-demand session player.
Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method
7:00-8:15 PM
https://www.pollyokeary.com/bio.html
Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method bring a searing and joyful performance of today’s blues to audience across the U.S. and Canada. Together, the band has done 10 national tours, released four critically acclaimed albums; been nominated for three Independent Blues Music awards including Band of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year; won Blues Band of the Year from the LA Music Critic; been a top five finalist in the International Blues Challenge Best Self-Produced CD contest; has had a #1single on contemporary blues radio and a #4 album; charted on Living Bluesd, and received a total of 26 awards from the Washington Blues Society and the Inland Empire Blues Society, including Best Songwriter, Best Blues Guitar, Best Blues Drummer, Best Blues Vocalist, and Best Blues Bass, among others.
Taylor Newville & The Riders 8:45-10:00 PM
My music roots began in Portland, Oregon at the age of six. Ukulele was my start and then I moved on to guitar. I was fortunate to be a student of Ethos, School of Rock, and
Rock & Roll Camp for Girls. I fell in love with playing the guitar and playing the blues. Recently I was a finalist for The Journey to Memphis Blues competition at the 2023
Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been nominated for the 2023 and 2024 Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards-Celebrating the Best in the NW Blues: for Best New Artist 2023/2024, Contemporary Blues Act, and Performance of the Year- Sail on Sisters / Waterfront Blues Festival 2024 in Portland, Oregon. In 2023, I was also able to produce two CDs with my originals and will have another CD coming out this summer! Life is so good when I can play the blues! Check out my music on Spotify, Apple music, and Amazon music.
Saturday August 16, 2025
Beacon Street Titans
12:30-1:45 PM
www.beaconstreettitans.com
The Beacon Street Titans, a jump blues band from Portland, Oregon, is making waves with a genre-spanning mix of retro originals and covers. With seven talented members, their performances are packed with catchy rhythms, tight arrangements, and a varied playlist that keeps their audience on its toes.
The Beacon Street Titans are a seven-piece jump blues/swing band from Portland Oregon. Since their beginning the Titans have been nominated for best new blues act 2013, and have
been finalists for the Journey to Memphis (JTM) two years in a row 2015/2016 and won the competition in 2024. The progressed to the semi-final round at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.
Let hear the Titans
http:linktr.ee/beaconstreettitans/
Lead Vocals
The band was started by harmonica/saxophone player and singer Howard McClung, who has spent the last 6 years perfecting his sound and gathering some of the region’s best
musicians.
The Rhythm Section
The Titans have an excellent foundation!
Steve Maliszewski delivers driving bass lines and his strong rhythmic sense and melodic nature evidences his pure musicianship. He’s an outstanding singer as well.
Jeff Abbot’s drumming is rock steady, no click track needed.
This cat’s a human metronome with chops to spare.
Bradford Bleidtis one of the areas finest keyboard players,
and it clearly shows in his ability to blend jazz and R&B influences into the jumpin blues sound of
the Titans.
Trey Davis is a Guitar player extraordinaire and rounds out the rhythm section with his jazz
influence and tasty licks he’s the perfect compliment to the jumpin sound of the Titans.
The Horns
Tom Laducer displays an artistic mastery on tenor saxophone. Tom’s ability to weave his jazz
influence throughout the jump blues and swing is invaluable to the overall sound of the Titans.
John Swecker is an outstanding trumpet player, he’s also a terrific arranger who’s skills are invaluable to the group.
Together these seven musicians combine to produce the most infectious and danceable musicthat define the Beacon Street Titans.
Rich Layton and Tough Town 2:15-3:30 PM
Rich Layton & Tough Town are keepers of the flame for American roots music. It’s high-octane swamp rock, country, rockabilly and the honky tonk blues echoing from an East Texas roadhouse. Each set takes audiences for a harmonica-fueled ride from Sun
Studios to Chess Records, and Muscle Shoals to Bakersfield. Rich’s original songs weave his Gulf Coast roots seamlessly into the mix, all delivered with the conviction of firebrand rock and roll preacher determined to save your soul – and his. Together over a decade now, the band has released three albums and performs throughout the Northwest at showcase clubs and festivals. The most recent album “Salvation Road,” on Portland’s Never Lucky Records label, was named a top five
finalist at the 2020 International Blues Challenge. Rich also appears as a special guest with Lyle Lovett & His Large Band each summer when their tour hits the NW and has joined other long-time friends on their Portland tour stops, including Lucinda Williams, Dale Watson, Buckwheat Zydeco (R.I.P.) and many
others.
Website: http://richlayton.us
Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/richlayton.us/
https://www.instagram.com/laytonpdx/
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vYbgITLpF9FUV8hjtdyfb?si=uETUzP2kTNu76m5e9REP
xA
Video:
Studio performance: https://youtu.be/Uk0oS9we7rY?si=6Wx9l4mqlrSZwfuj
Small club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCQO685i8xk
Mark Hurwitz & Gin Creek.
4:00 – 5:15 PM
Mark Hurwitz and Gin Creek have twice been nominated for the Best Band award from the Washington Blues Society, and last year leader Mark Hurwitz received their Keeping the Blues Alive award. They maintain a busy schedule playing in Seattle and Tacoma area clubs, and have performed at many festivals and events, including The Sunbanks Festival, Gorge Blues and Brews, The Rainier Music Festival, The Bite of Seattle, and Northwest Folklife. This will be their second appearance at the Peninsula Blues Festival. The band plays a variety of blues styles, focusing on jump blues, as well as roots rock and r&b. Hurwitz’s piano playing draws on a variety of influences, from New Orleans keyboard greats like Dr. John to classic Chicago players like Otis Spann to the boogie stylings of Amos Milburn. He shares lead vocal duties with the talented and versatile Sheena Denney.
Norman Sylvester Band with Special Guest Tony Coleman 5:45-7:00 PM
Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester was born in the farmlands of Bonita Louisiana in 1945, his earliest musical influence came from hearing his Father’s Gospel quartet on the radio, singing in church and hearing the blues on the back street of town. His family moved to Portland Oregon in 1957 when he was in the 7 th grade. Norman learned to play in church from high school friend, “King of Seattle Blues” Isaac Scott & had his first professional gig in 1963. While working in the Trucking Industry as a Teamster in the 60’s through the 80’s raising his young family. Sylvester somehow also played in Soul bands during that time but his love
for the Blues was always calling for him. He went to a concert of Buddy Guy and talked his way on stage. After his performance, Buddy encouraged him to devote
himself to a career in music and then he was hooked! When his Trucking Company closed down he took that leap of faith to form; the Norman Sylvester band with his
Bass player of over 40 years, Rob Shoemaker. After they played the first Waterfront Blues Festival in 1987, BB King invited them to open for him twice. They have since shared billing with James Cotton, Mavis Staples, Little Ed and the
Imperials, Tower of Power, the Five Blind Boys, Peter Frampton, Cold Blood and many others. Norman has been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, awarded Cascade Blues Association’s Life Time Achievement Award and the Norman Sylvester band was named Hall of Fame best R&B band for their multiple honors. Norman has balanced a strong family of 7 children, 9 grandchildren & 3
great-grand children. His lead Female vocalist is his amazing daughter Lenanne Sylvester-Miller. The Norman Sylvester band have become a popular NW blues staple playing clubs, festivals, benefits & special all kinds of events. They alsom work in local schools teaching Blues History & mentoring future artists.
Lenanne Sylvester-Miller
has been a professional vocalist & actor for the past 37 years. She began performing with her father, Norman Sylvester in 1987 while going to and from College. She holds a BA in Theater Arts from The University of Oregon and has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Lenanne & the incomparable late Janice Scroggins performed three runs of Lady Day at
Emerson’s Bar & Grill which she produced an Album from. After a break to raise her children, Lenanne has returned to the Norman Sylvester band full time for the past 5 years. She hopes to collaborate in new Artistic ventures along with making music memories with her dad.
www.normansylvester.com
The new CD release, and I do mean NEW “ ” continues Norman’s legacy. The Norman Sylvester Band performs for clubs, corporate parties, wedding receptions, private parties and all types of music festivals. https://normansylvester.com/
Tony Coleman
While reviewing the Peninsula Blues Festival’s program from 2023 I came across a write-up on Portland-based Tony Coleman as one of the most revered blues drummers
in the world. Tony Coleman will be returning to the Peninsula Blues Festival on Saturday, August 16th . During his illustrious career he has toured the world with Otis Clay, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Albert Cotton, Etta James, Freddie King, James Cotton,
Katie Webster, Z.Z. Hill, O.V. Wright, Buddy Guy and BB King, with whom he preformed and recorded for the 29 years until BB’s death in 2015. Three of his mentors and former bosses, the pioneering blues guitarist BB King, Albert King and Freddie King, influenced virtually every rock and blues guitarist of the past sixdecades. Coleman is one of the few musicians alive to have toured and/or recorded
with all three of these legendary bluesmen.
Revival Bros Band
7:30-8:45
The Revival Brothers Band Celebrates & plays tribute to the iconic music of the Allman Brothers Band.The band was formed in November 2022.Been playing to SRO shows up & down the Pacific NW.
The band has won 3 Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards in the past 3 years. Mekong Bistro 2023 Performance of the year, Waterfront Blues Festival Performance of the year & Best New Band 2024.Band features an A list of some of the best NW musicians.The band will take you back you on journey back in time between 1969-1973. When the Allman brothers were at the peak!! Hope to see you at The Pennisula Blues Festival on August 16th .In memory of Clint Carter & celebrating his legacy