Waterfront Blues Festival Early-Bird Tickets On Sale Now

PORTLAND, OR - From Waterfront Blues Festival: Four-day passes for Portland's award-winning Waterfront Blues Festival over the July 4 weekend go on sale today at early bird, discounted prices.

Basic 4-day passes start at just $30, a 25 percent savings over pricing closer to the event, and range up to $1,250 for the all-access VIP Patron Pass. The popular KGON Buddy Pass, at $75 significantly discounted from last year's pricing, offers fans early access to the festival and discounted admission to after hours shows.

All multi-day passes offer priority re-entry to the festival grounds, enabling fans to come and go as they please over the weekend. Single-day passes, which will be available in June, do not include re-entry privileges.

This year's 4-day festival will feature more than 100 acts on four stages. Festival proceeds help Oregon Food Bank fight hunger in Oregon and Clark County, Washington.

Blues legends, up-and-comers and regional favorites will be featured, including: George Thorogood & the Destroyers * Beth Hart * The Mavericks * Robert Randolph & the Family Band * Marc Broussard * The Motet * Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band * Commander Cody * Larkin Poe * Curtis Salgado * Ranky Tanky * Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express * Jimmy "Duck" Holmes * Johnny Rawls ...and many more to be announced, including additional headliners!

"This is the concert deal of the summer," says Festival Artistic Director, Peter Dammann. "Four days, four stages, more than 100 eclectic performances--starting at just $30 for an early bird 4-day pass."

The following 4-day passes are offered this year.

Basic 4-Day Pass ($30 early bird) — Four-day pass, priority re-entry.

KGON Blues Buddy Pass ($75 early bird, a significant reduction from last year's pricing) — Four-day pass, EARLY entry, priority re-entry, and discounted admission to Waterfront After-Hours Concerts in the Marriott Ballroom (first-come, first-served).

The first 250 KGON Buddy Passes will get a "limited edition" KGON Waterfront Blues Festival commemorative T-Shirt.

Benefactor Pass ($300 early bird) — Four-day EARLY entry & priority re-entry, access to Brewery Stage shaded seating, access to central stage shaded seating, admission to After-Hours concerts, four meal and drink vendor coupons, festival T-shirt and poster, parking pass & more! SOLD OUT LAST FEW YEARS!

Patron Pass ($1,250) — Four-day EARLY entry & priority re-entry, priority access to on-stage seating at Brewery Stage and Blues Stage, access to central stage shaded seating, access to VIP Hospitality Pavilion with catered buffets and VIP restrooms, invitation to July 4th BBQ with river's edge viewing of fireworks, admission to After-Hours concerts, parking pass and many other VIP perks. SOLD OUT LAST FEW YEARS!

Tickets and lineup information for the popular DME Blues Cruises aboard the Portland Spirit, as well as the After Hours Concerts in the Marriott Grand Ballroom across from the festival, will be available in early April.

For artist bios, preliminary schedule, videos and music samples, visit the newly updated: waterfrontbluesfest.com.

About Waterfront Blues Festival:

Since 1988, the Waterfront Blues Fest has raised funds and awareness to fight hunger in Oregon and Clark County, Washington.

Oregon Food Bank, which had produced the event for three decades as its major annual fundraiser, recently turned over production responsibilities to its longtime festival partner, Waterfront Blues Production LLC. OFB remains the beneficiary of the event.

Since its inception, the festival has raised nearly $11 million and more than 1,000 tons of food to fight hunger in the region.

This Portland flagship festival has become a treasured tradition for locals and visitors alike, and has served as downtown Portland's signature Fourth of July Celebration.

It is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi, the second-largest blues festival in the nation, and one of the most revered festivals of its kind in the world. It is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Memphis-based Blues Foundation's coveted Keeping the Blues Alive Award for 'Best Festival.'

Since its inception, the festival has been committed to elevating the presence of local non-profits through fundraising and exposure.

Major sponsors: Buick GMC of Beaverton, KGON radio, KOIN-TV, The Oregonian, Coors Light, Deschutes Brewery. More information: waterfrontbluesfest.com

Photo courtesy of Water Front Blues Festival