PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The 38th annual Waterfront Blues Festival entered its second and final day on Saturday.
Even though the festival was shortened this year, that did not stop thousands of attendees from taking in everything they could.
One of the acts in the early afternoon included a powerhouse tribute to Etta James, known as Come to Mama, featuring vocalists including “The First Lady of Portland Blues” herself, LaRhonda Steele.
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The crowd packed the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
KOIN 6 News anchor Todd Unger at the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
cked the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
cked the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
The crowd packed the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
Dan Berkery with the Bayou Boyz at the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025. (KOIN) -
Boats parked in the Willamette River during the Waterfront Blues Festival in downtown Portland, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
The crowd packed the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
The Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN) -
‘Come to Mama’ celebrating Etta James performs at the Waterfront Blues Festival, July 5, 2025 (KOIN)
There were also some umbrellas in the audience, with festival goers keeping cool as the sun shown on the field of Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
But once the evening sets in, people will see sets from artists including Blues Fest familiar faces ZZ Ward, The Record Company, as well as Allen Stone who will close out the festival.
KOIN 6 and Portland’s CW are media partners for the Waterfront Blues Festival.