KBOO is a proud sponsor of the 2012 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

This is our 25th year working with the Oregon Food Bank on the Waterfront Blues Fest!

KBOO will be broadcasting the festival live from the First Tech Blues Stage (North) and the Miller Stage (South)!

100 percent of gate donations help Oregon Food Bank’s mission to fight hunger and its root causes ... because no one should be hungry.

Wanna check out a preview hosted by Blues Festival Artistic Director, Peter Dammann, including live performances by Joe McMurrian and Mary Flower in the KBOO studios?

Thrill to the best blues in the world while relaxing on the banks of the beautiful Willamette River – all the while smiling at the thought that you are helping the Oregon Food Bank fight hunger. That’s the magic of the 2012 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, July 4 to 8, in Portland, Oregon.

The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival is the largest blues festival on the West Coast and the second largest blues festival in the nation.

The festival not only brings the best blues artists to Portland, it benefits Oregon Food Bank's work to eliminate hunger and its root causes ... because no one should be hungry.

The 2011 Festival attracted more than 120,000 people, who contributed 110,454 pounds of food and $748,000 through donations at the gate as well as advance purchases of special passes, exceeding the festival’s donation goal of 100,000 pounds of food and $650,000. The Oregon Potters Association also broke a record, contributing $20,760 to Oregon Food Bank through sales of hand-made pottery and glass at its Empty Bowls booth.

Join more than 100,000 people from throughout the world at the 25th annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, and enjoy more than 120 stellar performances on four stages plus fireworks, workshops, dances, blues cruises and more.

Why Oregon Food Bank?

The Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, produced by Oregon Food Bank, the nation’s premier blues festival, the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and the second-largest festival in the nation. It is also Oregon Food Bank’s largest annual fundraiser. One-hundred percent of gate donations support Oregon Food Bank’s mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes.

The festival is produced and operated by Oregon Food Bank, a charitable nonprofit organization, with the help of a thousand volunteers, to raise food and funds to help people who are hungry throughout Oregon and Clark County, Wash. It is Oregon Food Bank’s largest annual fundraiser.

During the last fiscal year (July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011) the Oregon Food Bank Network distributed an unprecedented, record 1 million emergency food boxes (1,024,000) as growing levels of long-term unemployment forced more and more people to fall into poverty and to seek emergency food. That’s a 12 percent increase over the previous year. Already during the first three quarters of this fiscal year (July 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012), we’ve seen an additional 10 percent increase statewide and an additional 13 percent increase in the Metro area.

Feeding America just put out its Child Food Insecurity Meal Gap study. It shows that Oregon and Arizona have the highest rate of food insecurity of any state in the nation at 29 percent. Only Washington, D.C., has a higher rate of child food insecurity.

73% of emergency food box recipients have a household income below the federal poverty level ($22,050 for a family of four). 29% of recipient households had incomes below 50% of the federal poverty level ($11,025) for a family of four. 42% of recipient households had at least one worker. Of households with a worker, 42% fell below the federal poverty level. People are working hard and still can’t make it. 64% of recipient households with children had incomes below the federal poverty level.

Listen to Oregon Food Bank stories on KBOO!

• Rachel Bristol, retiring CEO of the Oregon Food Bank, on the history of OFB and hunger in Oregon (Radiozine, 6/29/2012)
• The Oregon Food Bank: Ending Hunger Through Dedication and Innovation (Radiozine, 6/27/2012)
• Portland Blues Fest Supports Oregon Food Bank (Evening News, 06/30/2011)
• The Oregon Food Bank in Action (Radiozine, 6/29/2011)
• Understanding hunger in Oregon (Voices from the Edge, 6/23/2011)
• Workers Helping Workers (Labor Radio, 4/18/2011)
• Hunger in Oregon (Talk Radio, March 12, 2011)
• The Oregon Food Bank and Hunger in Oregon (Political Perspectives, 06/30/2010)
• Hunger in Oregon (More Talk Radio, 11/23/2009)
• Poverty in Oregon: An Interview with Rachel Bristol (Voices from the Edge, 09/24/2009)
• Young Ladies Radio Project on Food Emergencies (The Underground, 05/26/2009)

Entry

Festival entrance is a suggested donation of $10 (or more if you are able) plus two cans of nonperishable food per person, per day (including children), making the festival one of the best entertainment bargains in town.

The festival also offers four levels of passes that provide exclusive benefits in addition to festival entry, DME Blues Cruises and After-Hours Allstars Concerts. 

Entry donations and proceeds from all ticket and pass sales directly benefit Oregon Food Bank’s work to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Oregon and Clark County, Wash.

Your $10 donation at the festival gates allows Oregon Food Bank to collect and distribute about 40 pounds of food, equivalent to 30 meals for people who are hungry.

In addition, food collected at food drives like the Waterfront Blues Festival is some of the most nutritious food that Oregon Food Bank receives. See our list of most-wanted foods.

Festival Passes Now On Sale!

Enjoy the blues with ease by purchasing a Waterfront Blues Festival pass.

The popular festival often fills to the site's capacity, limiting entry and re-entry. To ensure your access to the festival at all times, buy a festival pass. Passes guarantee entry even when festival gates close due to site capacity. Patron, Benefactor and Buddy passes also give you access to special After Hours All-Star Concerts and other VIP benefits.

Issues purchasing passes? Contact Ticket Tomato at 1-800-820-9884.

BLUES PATRON
$1,250 OR $2,250 PER PAIR

The Blues Patron Pass is the ONLY pass that gives you unlimited sponsor pavilion access and VIP on-stage seating at the festival's main stages. You'll receive:

• Five-day early entry to the festival (30 minutes before general admission) with an official festival credential
• Guaranteed re-admission, even when gates are closed
• VIP access to on-stage seating at the Miller and Credit Union stages
• Unlimited access to sponsor hospitality pavilion, featuring complimentary catered buffets, shaded tables and VIP restrooms
• Free daily vehicle parking at Smart Park, one block west of the festival (two per pair)
• Invitation to Fourth of July barbecue with river's-edge viewing of the festival's spectacular fireworks display
• Free admission to After Hours All-Stars Concerts at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom on a first-come, first-served basis. The concerts are popular and space is limited. We recommend arriving 30 minutes early to ensure entry.
• Special festival patron T-shirt
• Limited-edition, archivally-printed festival poster, signed by artist Gary Houston
• 50 percent off massage coupon
• Recognition on Waterfront Blues Festival website
• As a Blues Patron, $780 of your contribution ($1,310 per pair) is considered a tax-deductible donation to Oregon Food Bank. 

BLUES BENEFACTOR PASS,

SOLD OUT!

Get the up-close blues experience! Blues Benefactors get special access seating. You'll receive:

• Five-day early entry to the festival (30 minutes before general admission) with official festival credential
• Special access to viewing area with seating close to the festival's main stage
• Guaranteed re-admission, even when gates are closed
• Unlimited access to central benefactor-only stage viewing area with seating and shade
• Free daily vehicle parking at Smart Park, one block west of the festival (two per pair)
• Five beer or wine coupons and five meal coupons, redeemable from festival vendors (ten each per pair)
• A complimentary omelet and mimosa brunch
• Free admission to After Hours All-Stars Concerts at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom on a first-come, first-served basis. The concerts are popular and space is limited. We recommend arriving 30 minutes early to ensure entry.
• Festival T-shirt
• Festival poster, signed by artist Gary Houston
• 50 percent off massage coupon
• The fair market value of the Blues Benefactor Pass exceeds the price paid, so this level of pass is not tax deductible. 

BLUES BUDDY PASS
$100

Early-bird discount: $75.
Like us on Facebook to get the early-bird promo code. 

Don't miss a thing! Blues Buddies get in early and stay late. You'll receive:

• Five-day early entry to the festival (30 minutes before general admission) 
• Guaranteed re-admission, even when gates are closed
• Free admission to After Hours All-Stars Concerts at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom on a first-come, first-served basis. The concerts are popular and space is limited. We recommend arriving 30 minutes early to ensure entry.
• Your Blues Buddy Pass is considered a $40 tax-deductible donation ($15 for early bird discount price) to Oregon Food Bank.

FIVE-DAY FESTIVAL PASS
$50

Early-bird discount: $40.
Like us on Facebook to get the early-bird promo code. 

It's easy to get the blues! You'll receive:

• Five-day admission to the festival
• Guaranteed re-admission, even when gates are closed
• Your Five-Day Festival Pass is considered a $50 tax-deductible donation ($40 for early bird discount price) to Oregon Food Bank. 

AFTER HOURS ALL-STARS

Catch some of the festival's biggest acts at after-hours concerts at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom, directly across the street from the festival, at 1401 S.W. Naito Pkwy., Portland.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Individual tickets are available in advance from Ticket Tomato.
• After Hours All-Stars concerts are non-smoking and 21 and over.
• Doors open at 9:30 p.m., music begins at 10:15 p.m.

Get a Blues Buddy, Benefactor or Patron pass and you'll receive free admission to all After Hours All-Stars concerts on a first come-first served basis, plus many additional benefits.

All proceeds benefit Oregon Food Bank.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

Charlie Musselwhite
Too Slim & the Taildraggers with Curtis Salgado

THURSDAY, JULY 5

JJ Grey & Mofro
The Stooges Brass Band

FRIDAY, JULY 6

Pimps of Joytime
Monophonics

SATURDAY, JULY 7

Bobby Rush 
James Hunter

BLUES CRUISES

Cruise the beautiful Willamette River and hear the blues in an intimate setting on the Portland Spirit. A no-host hors d’oeuvres buffet and full bar are available on all cruises.

To avoid disappointment, purchase your ticket before the festival begins. The popular DME Blues Cruises sell out quickly.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Tickets are available in advance through Ticket Tomato. 
• All DME Blues Cruises board from the seawall at S.W. Salmon and Naito Parkway, in front of Salmon Street Springs Fountain, just north of the Oregonian Front Porch Stage.
• The cruises will head south up the Willamette River to Oregon City, and/or north past the Port of Portland docks.
• Most evening cruises are ages 21 and older, with the exception of the Rock the Boat Dance Cruise that is open to all ages. All evening cruises board at 10:15 p.m., returning to dock at 1:15 a.m.
• Afternoon cruises are open to all ages and board at 2 p.m., returning to dock at 4:30 p.m.
• All passengers 18 years of age and older must present photo ID upon boarding. All carry-on bags are subject to inspection, and passengers may be photographed.

Proceeds benefit Oregon Food Bank's mission to eliminate hunger and its root causes ... because no one should be hungry. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

DME Driftin' Blues Cruise - all ages
Cruise boards at 2 p.m. and goes from 2:30  to 4:30 p.m.  
Featuring:

• Lionel Young, first double champion in the International Blues Challenge
• Arsen Shomakhov, Russian-born guitarist/songwriter
• Nick David, Boston-based harmonica ace returns to his Oregon roots
• Brooks Robertson, a young, Eugene-based solo guitar virtuoso

THURSDAY, JULY 5

Midnight Shanghai Cruise - 21 and over only
Cruise boards at 10:15 p.m. and goes from 10:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. 

Featuring:

• Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy & the Cajun Country Revival, a fresh blend of Cajun and Honky Tonk
• If Birds Could Fly 
• Pete Krebs & the Portland Playboys, Texas swing 
• Freak Mountain Ramblers
• Too Slim Raw & Unplugged

FRIDAY, JULY 6

DME Sail on Sister Cruise - all ages 
Cruise boards at 2 p.m. and goes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Divas of Soul: Linda Hornbuckle, Rae Gordon, Lady Kat, Lady A, Sonny Hess
• Lisa Mann and Her Really Good Band 
• Lauren Sheehan

DME Hoodoo Moon Cruise - 21 and over only 
Cruise boards at 10:15 p.m. and goes from 10:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.

Featuring:

• Otis Taylor Band, guitarist, banjo player and soulful vocalist
• The Mannish Boys, all-star veterans of the West Coast blues scene
• Joe McMurrian, acoustic blues master
• The Forty Fours, Los Angeles based blues and roots rock

SATURDAY, JULY 7

DME Backwater Juke Cruise - all ages
Cruise boards at 2 p.m. and goes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. 
Featuring:

• Marquise Knox, St. Louis blues prodigy
• Cedric Burnside Project
• Reggie Houston & Janice Scroggins
• The Strange Tones

SUNDAY, JULY 8

DME Highwater Blues Cruise - all ages
Cruise boards at 2 p.m. and goes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Featuring:

• Kilborn Alley, gritty Chicago blues and southern-fried soul
• Bobby Rush: "Lowe-down Rush." Mississippi soul legend Bobby Rush and vocalist Mizz Lowe deliver a set of stripped down Delta blues
• Backyard Blues Boys