12
AUGUST 25–SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
SOUND CHECK
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Big band sounds in Baker City
The Blue Yesterdays
play Sunday, Aug. 29 B
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
Travel Baker County
For the Powder River Music Review’s season finale, the Blue Yesterdays will play
Sunday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. in Baker City’s Geiser-Pollman Park.
AKER CITY — For 40
years, The Blue Yester-
days have kept big band music
alive at venues around Baker
City.
This weekend, the band
plays at Geiser-Pollman Park
for the season finale concert
of the Powder River Music
Review.
The show starts at 4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 29. Admission is
free, although donations are
welcome.
Raffle tickets for a chance
to win a gift basket are sold
to support the music series,
which depends on donations,
grants and sponsorships. Tick-
ets are $5 each or 15 for $20.
Jim Monroe and Doug
Smurthwaite started The Blue
Yesterdays in 1981. Both men
have passed away, but the
tradition they started contin-
ues today.
11am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday
POWDER RIVER
MUSIC REVIEW
4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29
Geiser-Pollman Park
Baker City
The pandemic has been
tough on maintaining regular
rehearsals, said Brian Watt, a
current band member. They
did practice outside until the
summer days got too hot, but
they persevered and about 14
musicians will take the stage
this Sunday.
“We play old-timey swing
music from the ’30s, ’40s, and
’50s,” Watt said.
The band is open to new
members. Prior experience
is recommended — even if
someone played years ago
with a high school jazz band.
“We’d love to have more
locals,” Watt said. “It’s about
having fun.”
Instruments include saxo-
phones (tenor, alto and bari-
tone), trombones, trumpets,
piano, bass, drums and guitar.
Anyone interested in learn-
ing more about joining The
Blue Yesterdays can call Watt
at 541-523-4662.
SUPPORT FOR THE
CONCERTS
The concert series is spon-
sored by Sorbenots, Oregon
Trail Electric Cooperative,
Gray’s West & Co. and Coles
Tribute Center, Oregon Trail
Motel and Restaurant, Scorpio
International, Country Finan-
cial, Baker City Realty, Vision
Wealth and Mountain View RV.
Weekly gift baskets are also
supported by Copper Belt
Winery, The Cheese Fairy and
North Seven Brewing Co.
UPDATES
For news about the Powder
River Music Review, visit the
Facebook page or go to www.
bakercityevents.org. The con-
cert series is organized by the
nonprofit Baker City Events.