HERITAGE SOULFEST 2023 Featuring Soul Alliance with Special Guests Ladies of the Rose

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Doors open: 7:00 pm
Event begins: 8:00 pm

Event Website: Alberta Abbey & Soundstage Events

Community Organizers: Love is Stronger & Elevate Unity

Elevate Unity, Soundstage Events, and the Alberta Abbey Present the second annual Heritage Soul Festival Labor Day weekend. 

This year will feature the sublime talents of the new PDX artist collective, Soul Alliance. Featuring legendary percussionist and music director Brian Foxworth and his partner in crime, bass bad boy Ben Jones! They have teamed up with some of Portland's select soul female vocalists including Mary Tucker, Claire Newrones, and Brika de Tar, for a fun and spiritual music experience that will have you definitely wanting more. Opening up the night is the incredible break-out vocalist Rain Ezra, and her exceptional group of young, talented, upcoming artists...

Tickets:  
$20 - Online General Admission
$25 - Door General Admission   
$37 - VIP + Dinner & Reserved Seat 

Southern Grill VIP Dinner Special Includes:
Bourbon St. Chicken / Smoked Cajun Pork / Garlic Green Beans / 7 Cheese Mac

Our Vendor Village will be located in the Ballroom and is FREE w/Donations appreciated!

Ballroom Special Events:

3:00 pm: Doors open / DJ mix
• Youth Sneaker giveaway by VYPDX
• Independent Vendor Village

7:00 pm: Entertainment - Food - Host Giveaways

7:30 pm: Light Night & the Organization presents: Ladies 1st NeoSoul Underground Vol. #1

Assets: 

Mary Minnieweather-Tucker:
Mary Minnieweather-Tucker a Portland Oregon native uses gospel singing roots to uplift, inspire, and captivate the hearts of her audience. Coming from a heavily musical family and a cousin to the late Linda Hornbuckle, she is destined for musical success. Recently emerging into the R&B scene, she has had the pleasure of working with some of Portland’s leading musicians and vocalists.

Brika deTar:
Singer/songwriter, Brika de Tar, began her singing career over 15 yrs ago, performing in various venues throughout the Nashville music scene as well as in Portland, OR. performing at various festivals and venues. Brikas vocal vibe is fashioned from the world of R&B, Neo Soul, Jazz, and the genres that we all love the most. Brikas undeniable energy, sultry and transparent vocal vision of life and love will take you on a much-needed journey. She has dedicated herself to creating an atmosphere in which you can feel the vulnerability of her soul's deep love for the art of music from the first until the last note she sings. 

Claire Newrones:
Claire Newrones is new to the Portland music scene but is no stranger to singing and performing. She grew up singing at various competitions, and county fairs, and being a part of various performance and travel groups. Most recently she spent 2 years in a college singing group that performed all over Southern California and New York City. Claire's vocal style is inspired by the world of R&B, soul, and pop, and her love and passion for music and people are apparent with every note she sings. 

Brian Foxworth:
As a leader of multiple bands and a sideman for national artists, @bfox_production has toured extensively and received critical acclaim for his drumming. A winner of multiple Cascade Blues Association awards for Best Drummer, Foxworth was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall Of Fame in 2015. Often a first-call player for studio sessions, in 2019 he appeared on eight different albums plus a commercial for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Some of Foxworth's notable collaborators have included Pleasure, Paul Gilbert, Curtis Salgado, The Drifters, Linda Hornbuckle, Paul deLay, Chaz Shepherd, Jazmin Ghent & Peewee Ellis.

Ben Jones:
Ben Jones, Bassist/Musical Director of 35+ years. Toured and/or recorded with The Neville Brothers, Jeff Lorber, Peter White, Rick Braun, Frank McComb, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson/Jeff Beck), David Pack (Ambrosia), Darren Rahn, (Grammy Winner) Paul Brown, Patrick Lamb, Tommy Thayer (KISS), Lloyd Jones, Liv Warfield (Prince/NPG), Jarrod Lawson, Reggie Houston, Charmaine Neville, (Grammy Winner) Noel Pointer, Phyllis Hyman, Anita Baker, James Carter, The Oregon Symphony, Eddie Martinez (Robert Palmer) Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley- The JB Horns, Michael Firestone- (Moonwalker)

Luke Broadbent:
A cum laude graduate of the University of Oregon with a degree in Jazz Studies, Luke Broadbent moved to Portland a little over a year and a half ago. He’s been working as a session musician in various styles for the last 5 years and has played with artists including Lady Rizo, Halie Loren, Tony Glausi, Tyrone Hendrix, Steve McCoy, Steve Owen, and many others. Luke has also toured the country playing everywhere from Seattle, to Los Angeles, to New York, and Chicago. 

Kenton Davi:
Kenton Davi’s sound is a thoughtful fusion of his favorite genres: the soul-stirring harmonies of RnB and Gospel combined with the expressive creativity of Jazz. Kenton believes in the art of 'placement' where each instrument contributes harmoniously to the band's overall sound. His approach ensures that no one instrument overpowers another but instead enhances the collective performance, creating an immersive and powerful sonic experience.

Ed West:
Ed is a Portland native and has been around the Portland Music scene, in 2 iterations, most recently as the leader and guitarist for 5GRAND and Champagne Life, side man for Kirk Green and Malcolm Noble's Cool Breeze, and previously as a Sax player with Portland legends, Black Velvet, the Gregg Smith Band, Heart and Soul as well as being an alumnus of the Legendary Sounds of Jefferson Music Magnet.

This special weekend of music is part of Elevate Unity Benefit Music Concerts.

This festival is dedicated to honoring the history and resilience of the black communities of the 50's & 60’s located in the Holiday, Elliott, and Boise neighborhoods.

We invite all to help us support local musicians, community, unity, and diversity!

The Elevate Unity Benefit Music Series is a collaborative effort created from the necessity to support the arts, reconnect our community, and promote unity through the healing message of music! Our focus is to advocate for inclusion, and equality while finding help to support our local venues, staff, gig workers, and musicians from the devastating effects of our industry shutdown.

Sponsored by PBOT/ Vibrant Spaces

Hosts include:

Soundstage Events and Southern Grill

Supported by:

Music Millennium, the Portland Skanner, the Black United Fund, Music Portland, Alberta Abbey Inc., the Saturday Samaritans Homeless nonprofit, Aspen Meadow Band, Love is Stronger, B Fox Productions, Jazz Society of Oregon, and J-Fell Productions.

Elevate Unity organizations we support: 

Black United Fund, Cascade Blues Association, Music Portland, Leukemia Lymphoma Foundation, Ladies of the Rose, Kboo Radio, PDX Jazz, Portland Columbia Symphony, Saturday Samaritans, Ethos, Portland Urban League, SEI, and OWAME.

Alberta Abbey is a spacious 400 seat auditorium, and 300 seat ballroom, air-conditioned venue, and features a full bar and superb Creole Cajun food catered by Southern Grill. 

All-ages welcome.
Tickets are non-refundable.