North Bend Blues Walk
October 4th - 6pm to Midnight
One Ticket - One Night - 18 Venues - 22 Bands
North Bend Theatre / Event HQ
Will Call and Ticket Sales open at 4PM. If you pre-ordered tickets or you are walking up, this is where you pick them up after 4PM.
125 Bendigo Blvd N, North Bend, WA 98045
6-8:45pm @ North Bend Theatre — PNW Blues Guitar Slingers Showcase
Featuring Tom "T-Boy" Boyle from the T-Town Aces and Soulful 88’s, Eric Rice from the Stacy Jones Band and "Stoop-Down" Tim Sherman from the Joe Cook Blues Band....but wait, there's more! The Deacon Ron Weinstein on Hammond B-3, Mark "The Legend" Dalton on bass, and Conrad "Nag" Ormsby on drums.
6-8:45pm @ The Moose Lodge – The Dangerfields
The Dangerfields, a dynamic group of veteran performers that know the formula to make every event come alive. A mix of blues, rock and funk, original tunes and classic covers, this band brings the energy. Y’all can’t help but to Get on Up and feed off the groove these cats put down.
6-8:45pm @ Boxleys — Joel Astley Band
Since forming his first band in 2014, Joel Astley has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most decorated blues musicians, earning 23 Washington Blues Society “Best of the Blues” Awards in just seven years. A harmonica player, singer, and songwriter, he has risen rapidly on the international blues scene, joining Lee Oskar Harmonicas as a featured artist and releasing his debut album Seattle to Greaseland on Blue Heart Records in 2023. The album debuted at #7 on the Billboard Blues Chart and earned worldwide acclaim, including a Global Music Award and recognition in the International Songwriting Competition. Joel continues to tour, record, and play local venues while working on his next release. A former visual artist, his paintings and designs—including album covers for Quique Gomez and Little Charlie—remain in demand, reflecting the creativity and soul that define his music.
6-8:45pm @ Chang Thai - John Stephan Band
Formed in 2000, The John Stephan Band has long been a staple of the Northwest blues scene, performing original music at top venues including Bumbershoot, The Triple Door, and the North Bend Blues Walk. Led by Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame inductee John Stephan—recognized for his work with the Isaac Scott Band—the group has released five albums, most recently Talking Out Loud (2024), a groove-driven set blending blues, funk, and thoughtful storytelling. The current lineup features John on slide guitar and vocals, Billy Reed (2023 WBS “Best Blues Keyboardist”), Zak Stoldt on drums, and Walter White on bass. In 2025, John won WBS “Best Songwriter,” while Talking Out Loud was nominated for “Best Washington Blues Recording.”
6-9:00pm @ Hartwood Cafe - Randy Norris
With a career spanning decades, guitarist and vocalist Randy Norris brings a soulful mix of blues, rock, and New Orleans rhythm to the stage. Originally from Kansas and Colorado, he honed his craft in California leading Randy Norris & Full Degree, opening for legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Drifters, and Rare Earth, while also working as a Los Angeles session musician. Norris later performed with the band Art Carnage before forming the award-winning duo Norris & Nicely with harmonica player Jeff Nicely. Together they earned the Washington Blues Society’s “Best of the Blues” Award for Solo/Duo in 2017 and were semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge in 2012 and 2013. Known for his gritty guitar tone, heartfelt vocals, and dynamic performances, Norris continues to be a powerful presence in the Pacific Northwest blues scene.
6-9:00pm @ Scott Rinckenberger Gallery — Octopus Ballet
Formed in 2017, Octopus Ballet brings together longtime Northwest blues artists Sheryl Clark (saxophones, flute) and Leanne Trevalyan (vocals, guitar), joined by percussionist Chad Russell. The trio blends acoustic rock, jazz, blues, and folk into a soulful sound marked by Leanne’s crystalline vocals and fingerstyle guitar, Sheryl’s rich horn textures, and Chad’s dynamic rhythms on djembe, cajon, and more. Their name pays homage to the Giant Pacific Octopus of Puget Sound while also reflecting the group’s graceful, feminine energy. Known for heartfelt performances and strong chemistry, Octopus Ballet delivers music that touches the heart and moves the soul.
6:00pm-9:00pm @ Birches Habitat - Ross Robinson
Ross Robinson was born in Rhode Island in 1958 and lived mostly in Massachusetts until 2014 when he moved to Washington state. Ross has been playing Piedmont Blues, Delta Blues and finger style guitar since 1989 sings and writes his own material and has played many fine venues in the Boston area including Club Passim, The Original House of Blues and The Boston Blues Festival. Currently Ross is performing throughout western Washington often with Guy Quintino on upright bass. From Bo Carter to David Bromberg Ross can deliver the real Folk-Blues.
6:00-9:00pm @ DT Vintage & More — Kevin Sutton & Jonathan Pittman
Seattle bluesmen Kevin Sutton (vocals, guitar) and Jonathan Pittman (harmonica) bring a stripped-down, soulful energy to the stage, drawing on deep roots in traditional and contemporary blues. Sutton, known for his fiery guitar work and powerful vocals, has long been a staple of the Northwest scene, while Pittman’s expressive harmonica playing adds grit and heart to the duo’s sound. Together they deliver an engaging mix of raw Delta blues, Chicago grooves, and original songs that showcase their chemistry and love of the music.
7:00 - 10:00pm @ Pro Ski — Cold 102's
Formed out of the need to further expose the Chicago Blues and Funk sound to the South Sound, The Cold 102's are poised to cut down any who dare to contend. Cold 102's features Leonard Daniel: drums, Johnny Horn: bass, Curtis Smith: guitar, Anthony Duron Estrada (Leader): guitar, harmonica, vocals.
7:00 -10:00pm @ Twedes — Mark Riley Trio
Mark Riley Trio is a band from the US who play dynamic music which captivates audiences. Mark Riley is a connoisseur of the Blues as a guitar player, vocalist, writer, arranger, and producer. Mark Riley won "Best Acoustic Guitar" in both 1998 and 1999 at the Washington Blues Society Awards.
7:00 - 10:00pm @ Pearl & Stone — Eric Madis
Veteran of the Chicago, Dallas, Denver and Seattle blues scenes, Eric Madis’ music has appeared on film, television, daily airplay at SeaTac Airport and five solo CDs. He’s worked with Big Walter Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Robben Ford, Deacon Jones, Hawkeye Herman and Seattle artists Blue Madness, Bluescast, Steve Bailey, Grant Dermody, Paul Green, Little Bill Englehart, Mark Dufresne, Mike Lynch and John Hodgkin. Eric has received 26 Best Blues nominations from Washington Blues Society, and has taught electric, acoustic and bottleneck blues guitar for National Guitar Workshop, Canada’s Guitar Workshop Plus, UW Experimental College, Northwest Folklife and Jamplay.com, with whom he has 140 online instructional videos.
7:00 - 10:00pm @ Friends & Co Ice Cream — Moonlight & Wildfire Duo featuring Mercedes Nicole and Willie Straub
The Moonlight & Wildfire Duo brings a soulful blend of blues, roots, and Americana to the stage, featuring rich vocals, heartfelt guitar work, and tight harmonies. Based in the Seattle area, the duo draws on classic blues traditions while weaving in folk and contemporary influences, creating performances that are both intimate and powerful. With a mix of original songs and fresh takes on timeless standards, Moonlight & Wildfire deliver music that resonates with authenticity and emotion.
7:00 -10:00pm @ Main Street Pilates — Mark Dufresne
Mark DuFresne is one of the most powerful blues vocalists and harmonica players to emerge from the Northwest scene. Best known for his rich, soulful singing and explosive harp work, he fronted the legendary Roomful of Blues for several years before returning to Seattle, where he has remained a cornerstone of the region’s blues community. A multiple-time Washington Blues Society “Best of the Blues” Award winner, DuFresne has released acclaimed solo albums showcasing his mastery as both a performer and songwriter. His shows feature a dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary blues, delivered with passion, humor, and world-class musicianship that have earned him fans nationwide. Whether fronting a full band or playing intimate stages, Mark DuFresne brings energy and authenticity to every performance, making him one of the most respected and beloved artists in today’s blues world.
7:00 -10:00pm @ North Bend Trading — Chris Stevens & Jack Cook Duo
Seattle blues luminaries Chris Stevens and Jack Cook combine decades of regional heritage and genre mastery in their duo performances. Chris Stevens, a Seattle native, launched his blues path in the mid‑1970s, infusing his shows with fluid guitar style, rich vocals, and inventive “blues‑on‑the‑edge‑of‑jazz” originals—drawing comparisons to icons like B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, and Duke Robillard. Meanwhile, Jack Cook leads the Phantoms of Soul and is a revered local blues historian whose encyclopedic knowledge and authentic playing make him a favorite wherever he appears. Together, they offer dynamic interplay—melding Stevens’s blazing chops with Cook’s deep-rooted expressiveness—for performances that honor Northwest blues tradition with vibrant, soulful chemistry.
7:00pm-10:00pm @ Volition Brewing — Rafael Tranquilino
Rafael Tranquilino is known locally in the Seattle area as the lead front man and guitarist of his band, The Rafael Tranquilino Band. A power trio consisting of guitar, bass and drums that fuse rock, blues and funk with an alternative and fresh sound. He’ll play a searing riff, tease you with an old-fashioned Delta slide and then bring you back down with his powerful lyrics. Rafael's exciting style and notable chops have earned him the reputation of being one of the "hottest" young guitar slingers in the Pacific Northwest and his band was noted as “Best Blues Band of 2012” in the Tacoma Weekly.
8:00 - 11:00pm @ Twin Peaks Pub - Ryan T. Higgins Band
Seattle-based musician, guitar builder, and bandleader Ryan T. Higgins leads his namesake group with a compelling fusion of rock, blues, jam, and roots music that has made him a standout in the Pacific Northwest over decades. A graduate of Centralia College and the Musicians Institute, Ryan honed his craft through hands-on study before emerging as a vibrant regional force. His latest album, Mad Love, released in November 2023, has earned international praise for its raw emotion and inventive songwriting. Recently nominated by the Washington Blues Society for “Best New Act” and “Blues Songwriter,” the band continues to captivate audiences across the region with its energetic performances and genre-spanning appeal
8:00 - 11:00pm @ North Bend Chevrolet - Michelle D'Amour & The Love Dealers
Since forming in 2011, Michele D’Amour & The Love Dealers have delivered a vibrant fusion of blues, old-school R&B, funk, and soul—an electrifying sound that brings golden-era grooves to life. Fronted by Michele D’Amour—an award‑winning singer-songwriter who penned her first song at age six and was a published poet by her early twenties—this Seattle-area ensemble has released six albums and garnered acclaim, including LA Music Critic’s “Best Band” and multiple Global Music Awards. With a track record of chart-topping releases—like Wiggle Room, which spent 13 weeks at #1—and consistently moving audiences to dance, the band blends stellar originals with soulful classics to create unforgettable shows that celebrate groove, storytelling, and raw musical joy.
9:00 -11:59pm @ The Moose Lodge - Joe Doria Trio featuring Barrett Martin and Cole Schuster
“Joe Doria, a Pacific Northwest native, has been captivating audiences since the early 90s with his mastery of the Hammond Organ, piano, and vintage keys/synths. Immersed in the rich tradition of the Hammond, Joe draws inspiration from the giants of the instrument while fearlessly exploring diverse musical styles. Renowned for his ability to intricately layer bass lines and chordal structures, Joe elevates every performance with depth and dimension.”
9:00pm - 11:59pm @ North Bend Theatre - Big Road Blues
Big Road Blues: is a classic soul and RnB band nominated for Best New Band by the Washington Blues Society in 2017. This six piece horn band is the coming together of six veteran musically diverse musicians whose chemistry is undeniable on stage. This band packs a punch of soulful energetic music drenched in the sounds of Memphis, Chicago, The Bay Area and Blue-eyed Soul with three very distinct vocalists co-fronting the band. https://wickedblues.com/big-road
9:00pm - 11:59pm @ Boxleys — Di & The Blue Hearts
Formed in Fall 2024, Di and the Blue Hearts are a five-piece old-time blues band of misfits. A collection of passionate players with a common desire to create and entertain. The band has a vintage, classic sound with a fresh energy. The setlist includes the band's unique take on blues legends, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, Little Walter, Junior Wells and Big Maybelle, along with odd birds like Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart. Di and the Blue Hearts were nominated Best New Band 2025 by the Washington Blues Society before their first official gig.
9:00 - 11:59pm @ Chang Thai - Lonnie Williams
A true legend of Seattle’s Pioneer Square jazz and blues scene, saxophonist Lonnie Williams began his musical journey inspired by Cannonball Adderley records in his Texas hometown and later made Seattle his creative home. Over the decades, he's shared stages with greats like Eddie Harris and Joe Henderson and built a reputation for his soulful, authentic performances both locally and internationally. Despite his acclaimed status, Lonnie remains dedicated to music education—as a beloved teacher at Mode Music Studios, he instills joy and discipline in the next generation with his mantra “practice practice practice!”
9:00pm - 11:59pm @ Pour House — Billy Stoops & The Dirt Angels
Billy Stoops & The Dirt Angels is an Americana/roots rock band from the Pacific Northwest led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Billy Stoops. A veteran performer for more than four decades, Stoops is known for his soulful vocals, masterful guitar playing, and groove-driven original songs. He first made his mark as a founding member of Junkyard Jane, later forming The Dirt Angels to showcase his own blend of blues, roots, and rock storytelling. Along the way, he has earned accolades including “Entertainer of the Year” and “Best Male Vocalist” from the Washington Blues Society, as well as a Tacoma Music Award for “Male Performer of the Year.” With their newest album Wolf Moon, Billy Stoops & The Dirt Angels continue to deliver heartfelt, high-energy performances that celebrate the soul of American roots music.