DJ Bios

We are currently collecting our favorite dance instructors and DJ's to inspire your bodies and ears with the rhythms of the blues. Meanwhile, take a look at the awesome DJ's we've had at our previous events.

Steven "Dr. Feelgood" Watkins, a national favorite and DJ mentor for the Blues Community, comes to Portland Blues Experience not only to challenge, but be challenged by the live music, dancers, and other DJs. PBEx is all about inspiration, getting and giving. With Blues music being more than 100 years old, the community goes through trends region by region and year to year. Portland Blues Experience is a place where trends are explored, tested, and forwarded. Come participate in this evolutionary process; dance in front of the DJ booth, whoop and holler, and explore where the music can take you.

Matt Mickle has loved dancing ever since he began in 2003. First caught by learning Swing Rueda, he began lindy hopping at the Nocturnal every week. He started Blues dancing as it began to flourish in Portland and began DJing and teaching at Nocturnal before it was PB&J. He also started West Coast in 2005 and continues to teach, compete, and DJ in both WCS and Blues. Matt is also the DJ coordinator for PB&J and has a passion for discovering and helping others dance to both new and classic sounds.

Chance Bushman DJs music that he loves. Old. New. Jazz. Blues. Everything will make you want to get down and not leave the dance floor. You're likely to hear music from the thriving New Orleans music scene as well as his favorites John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Count Basie, and many more!

Brenda Starr started DJing in 2003 and is house DJ for both the Century Ballroom, Seattle's lindy hop palace, and Burn Blue, Seattle's blues dance paradise. She loves all variety of jazz, blues, and soul, and delights in being able to spin at a wide variety of venues, including Portland's Lindy Exchange, Blues in the Pearl and Champagne and Roses. Brenda has traveled several times to New Orleans since 2005 and is eager to showcase her collection of modern swing, blues and funk currently being recorded in the Crescent City. She is looking forward to attending the Portland Blues Festival for the first time, especially to hear one of her favorite artists - Taj Mahal, and is especially excited to be able to participate in the Portland Blues Experience.

Karissa Lightsmith started blues dancing one steamy night in Seattle kitchen and knew the blues was for her! This music makes her weep, rejoice, praise, and melt all at the same time. With any luck, her sets will do the same to you!

Trina Siebert has been dancing since '95 and teaching since '98. Her favorite styles are the contemporary social dances (west coast swing, nightclub two-step, and hustle) as well as blues and Argentine tango. An active competitor on the west coast swing circuit, Trina has been an invited instructor, performer and DJ at workshop weekends and dance conventions throughout the Northwest. Students appreciate her clear and relaxed instructional style; her philosophy is that dancing should be fun and accessible for everyone. As a DJ, her taste is eclectic, but she has a soft spot for dirty blues and anything that has a great groove.

Brenda Russell fell in love with headphones at age three when she learned how to plug them in before turning on the stereo to avoid waking up her parents in the morning. She then learned to clean the needle and record before carefully placing the needle on her favorite song. Times have changed, but her love of music grows on. Brenda has an immense and diverse collection of music and delights in sharing it with dancers. As an instructor she plays music to coordinate with the lessons she teaches, allowing the dancers to be stretched to new heights with their dance skills. Another focus of Brenda's DJing is to play something for everyone, even if it mixes things up a bit.

Emily Smith — From fast harmonica to sexy soul, Emily tries to play new tunes each time she spins a set. She loves to feel the energy of the room and keep the dance floor moving. She experiments with new vibes, while keeping the old favorites in the mix as well. She started to DJ blues after moving to Seattle in 2005. Some of her favorites include Sonny Boy Williamson II and Janiva Magness.

When Emily DJs at weekend events, she posts her set-lists at www.djemilysmith.blogspot.com.

John Lozano was first introduced to the dance scene in 1998, however his journey began much earlier than that. Some of his fondest memories are of he and his family singing along with Detroit's "oldies" radio station which included a special blend of Detroit's own blend of motown, soul and early rock and roll. Around 2001 he was exposed to blues dancing and has ever since been dancing, djing, and teaching swing and blues side by side.

Over the years he has continued to grow in his dancing and musical knowledge, and taught workshops throughout the midwest, parts of Canada, and after a brief "pause for the cause" (a volunteering stint/spritual journey which may take a couple cups of tea to even begin to explain) has resurfaced on the west coast to spread joy and love through music and dance. John is always on the lookout for live music to dance to, and loves to pay homage of those bands that have most moved him by djing their music with dancers who may have never otherwise heard them. Quite often you'll hear him refer back to his favorite former Detroit public radio dj Gene Elzy, saying that he too delivers "the bluesy side of jazz, and the jazzy side of blues."

Christine Corey and David Accurso love to have fun, so much so that they organize and DJ a blues dance every Thursday night in Olympia WA.

Christine has taught more people how to east coast swing than she cares to admit. Whether it's disco on the dance floor or the parking lot of a Grateful Dead show, Christine is sure to rock it.

David runs and owns a book shop. He likes his music like his books and follows: new and used. Marinated in music, David's brother has a thriving music career on Broadway. Fortunately, some of this has rubbed off on David. ¡Viva Free Radio Olympia!

Josh and Emily McLaughlin

Josh learned how to DJ in Eugene, Oregon through a non-profit organization called "ELLA." After a few years, he moved back to Portland, where he has regularly been teaching, performing, competing, DJ-ing vintage jazz and judging competitions. Emily has been dancing since childhood, swing dancing for about seven years, and DJ-ing, competing, performing, and judging swing for about three years.

Josh and Emily regularly teach and DJ around the Portland Metro area. They are co-owners of a company called "Syncopated Rhythms," with whom they teach and hold an annual event called "Swingin' Gypsy Weekend." They travel to compete, DJ, judge, and teach around the nation, at small events and large festivals such as the Sun Valley Jazz Festival, and are getting more and more gigs every year.