Peter Dammann

Chicago-born Peter Dammann is probably the world's most seriously under-rated blues guitarist. He backed Paul deLay for nearly 20 years, recording several chart-topping CDs with the northwest harmonica legend. Although the blues is his first love, Pete is an all-around musician, and he can be found playing Brazilian music as well as classical guitar, from time to time. Peter also serves as talent coordinator for the Waterfront Blues Festival on behalf of the Oregon Food Bank.

Steve Kerin

Born and raised in the Heart of Cajun Country, Steve discovered piano at the age of four, and studied classical music in college. But he soon found himself playing a different kind of music regularly with such Louisiana greats as "Big Daddy" Harry Hypolite, former guitarist for Zydeco great Clifton Chenier, as well as Grammy nominated songwriter David Egan. In 2005 Steve played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival alongside such artists as Randy Newman and The Black Crowes. A true student of the New Orleans style, Steve's playing is complex and dense, and his voice has the gruff New Orleans sound. From Jazz to Rock to Blues to Classical, he goes wherever his talent and soul take him.

Tim Shaughnessy

Tim was raised by orcas in Puget Sound, and discovered there by fur traders in 1873. The preserving effects of fine whiskey have kept him young all this time. Needless to say, after 125 years at it he's a darn good bass player..

Lefty Head

Lefty, a native of Portland, started playing old time American music on the mandolin in the year 1977. He went on to find traditional French and Cape Breton music with the band Cour des Miracles. He later plied his carpenter skills on the fiddle with the legendary Willamette Valley band Blackfish. He now works his downtuned fiddle and the frattoir with TooLoose.

Rick Obbink

Influenced early on by his accordion playing German grandmother, Rick played the piano accordion at the family house parties. Adept at boogie-woogie piano and the guitar, he has worked the single row Cajun accordion for several years.  He has been known to get delusional when singing and playing the tunes of Lefty Frizell, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and others.  

Robert Lee

Robert Lee's soulful singing and true grit fiddle playing combine the subtlety of a seasoned performer with the polish and irreverence of a big city kid. He grew up listening to Louisiana-inspired rock'n'roll in New York City in the 50's and 60's. Leaving the east coast for San Francisco in his twenties, he worked his way into the music business first through folk guitar and then bluegrass banjo. At the ripe age of 37, he found the fiddle and "that was all she wrote". Robert's style and repertoire are strongly influenced by the rhythm and melody greats of the Mississippi Delta and French Louisiana – the pianists, fiddlers, drummers, and songwriters who give the music its unique sound. Visit Robert's web page.

T. Bedard Aschoff

Acadian by modest Quebecois descendants, T came West from the Jersey shore to discover the American roots music of jazz, punk, old timey and traditional Cajun.  Often caught with a mandolin or upright bass in his hands, TBA hits the skins, plays the 'tit fer and frottoir, and sings in the band. Email T or call him at 503 804-4977.