Our Celebrated Artists

Few musicians earn awards. Fewer still have awards named after them. Blues guitar virtuoso Terry Robb is one of the latter. After winning the Muddy Award for Best Acoustic Guitar so many times, the Cascade Blues Association permanently attached his name to the honor. A Vancouver-born, Portland-based artist and Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee, Robb is widely regarded as “one of our finest acoustic guitarists today” (Living Blues).

Praised by Rolling Stone, Acoustic Guitar, Vintage Guitar, Living Blues, DownBeat, and The Blues Foundation, Robb is celebrated as a master fingerpicker, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Vintage Guitar notes, “In Terry Robb’s hands, it makes perfect blues sense,” while Blues Matters calls his work “outstanding, clever, and creative… from a true blues legend at the top of his game.”

Robb has toured with Buddy Guy, Steve Miller, Robin Trower, and John Fahey, appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, collaborated with the Oregon Symphony, performed for Portland Trail Blazers crowds, and had his music featured in Game of Thrones. His recordings—nominated, award-winning, and internationally acclaimed—span country blues, ragtime, Americana, jazz, and American Primitivism. As Vintage Guitar sums it up: “One of the best players, on acoustic and electric, embracing a range of blues styles and then some.”

PK Mayo (born Paul K. Mayasich) is an acclaimed Americana, roots, and blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, and recording artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A native of the mining town of Eveleth in northern Minnesota, Mayo’s early musical education came from the diverse sounds he absorbed on local college radio and from his older siblings’ record collection. “Since the first time I heard Duane Allman’s intro to Statesboro Blues … I knew I wanted to play guitar,” he recalls, a passion that launched a lifelong devotion to his craft. 

Over a career spanning decades, Mayo has performed more than 200 nights a year, sharing stages worldwide—from Greece and Belgium to New York and San Francisco. He has played with a veritable who’s-who in rock, blues, and jazz, including Johnny Lang, Tracy Nelson, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), and Bernard Allison, among others. His musicianship has earned him inductions into both the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Rock & Country Hall of Fame. 

Mayo’s music blends country, rock ’n’ roll, blues, and folk into what his website describes as an “aural quilt” that reflects the rich tapestry of American roots styles.  Critics and fans alike praise his work: on social media listeners have called his sound “Such talent! INCREDIBLE!” and lauded tracks like Arms of the Blues for their “great sound” and “great music selections.”

Reviews:

https://elmoremagazine.com/2021/09/reviews/albums/pk-mayo

Jimi "Primetime" Smith  is likely the only person who can say that he was homeschooled on guitar by Jimmy Reed and Eddie Taylor. He is also one of the few guitarists on the present scene who learned early on how to accompany blues pianists such as Sunnyland Slim and harmonica players such as Big Walter Horton. Jimi Smith is simply not one to blow his own horn, crafting his own carreer in a remarkably humble and preserverant manner. 

https://www.jimiprimtimesmith.com

Reviews:

https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/jimi-prime-time-smith-its-my-time-album-review/

https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/q-a-with-original-bluesman-jimi-primetime-smith-with-a-unique-sty

Jacob Burgess is a singer-songwriter that writes and performs with honesty and heart. Having been playing instruments since he was eight years old and singing harmonies with his dad and sister since well before then, music would and always will play an integral role in Jacob’s life.

For almost 10 years, he has been performing live at various venues from the mountains to the coast of North Carolina either solo or in the duo act called “2 Lane” with the collaborative effort of his dad. He was discovered by New Folk Records with a standout performance that won the  talent contest, “Nashville in the Carolinas”.

His fingerpicking style paired with unique chord progressions and sensitive vocals creates an atmosphere of sincerity and sonic exploration. 

Jacob’s debut album, “Land of Plenty” is set to release in the Spring of 2026. 

 Native of County Limerick, Mike Wallace’s musical career began with several Irish rock and roll bands where he developed his unique performing style. Arriving in America in the early seventies 

along with his original partner Gerry Goodwin, he brought with him a resurgence of Irish music and they became known as the Irish Brigade. Years later Gerry returned to Ireland and Mike continued on playing with various artists and bands along the way (mainly with folk group The Old Triangle) before reforming the Irish Brigade with Sean Conway in 1988. His most recent partner until 2015 was Joe Smith, and is currently playing with many talented musicians from the Twin Cities and St. Louis, Missouri. Mike has been instrumental in introducing many new Irish performers to his American audiences. He is regarded as one of the key persons responsible for the growth of Irish music and dance, not only in the Twin Cities but throughout America. Mike carries with him the enthusiasm and energy into every performance just as much today as he did when he first arrived on the shores of America in the early seventies, “I wouldn’t tell ye lies lads, I wouldn’t tell ye lies”. http://www.theirishbrigadeband.com/

Pam Linton is part of the great tradition of troubadours, marking miles on the road, making fans one fair, festival or venue at a time; always dedicated to the art of the music. Pam has a heart for the great traditions of Americana music, and a voice to tell the stories with sincerity.

Pam’s expressive vocals tug at the emotions. She is a stylist and interpreter. Her delivery is always genuine and heartfelt, touching deeply at the feelings woven into the lyrics. “Conveying the story, emotion and theme of the song is so important to me,” Pam says. “That’s what makes a musical performance memorable.”