[/caption]Carol Forsloff - It was hot on the river with the sun overhead and the folks swaying to the blues Louisiana style. If you think New Orleans has the blues, you might want to wander West and find where that great Southern city has sent its favorite sons.
Portland, Oregon has been jumping and jiving in an annual blues festival that brings thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to the Oregon Food Bank. This weekend the crowds were brimming over onto streets, boulevards, and city parks from all parts of downtown, but the park along the Willamette River held most of the multitude of fans.
Those fans sure got the blues, as some of Louisiana’s finest musicians merged with Oregon artists to bring a blues concert considered among the biggest and best on the West Coast.
The party started Friday and will continue through the 4th of July with fireworks and other celebrations spreading out along Portland’s famed river front. The beauty of the river combined with the colors and flavors of Portland’s own special melting pot have made the occasion something special for residents and tourists alike.
On nine different stages from Friday July 1 through July 4 the blues will be part of Portland weekend fun with such noteables as Jaceo Parker, Lucinda Williams and Buddy Guy just some of the name groups in town.
For the Zydeco fans Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys had them rocking in the aisles and all the way down to the water.
Yes, this City of Roses for sure got the blues on a weekend of red, white and blue.
