Taylor Newville’s musical roots took hold in Portland at the age of six. She first picked up the ukulele before moving on to acoustic and electric guitars. As a student at Ethos, School of Rock, and Rock & Roll Camp for Girls, she fell in love with the guitar — a passion that continues to drive her today. Over the years, Taylor has explored many styles, from heavy metal and rock to jazz and blues. She now focuses on the blues with her band, Taylor Newville and the Riders. The band launched with a major milestone, becoming a finalist in The Journey to Memphis Blues competition at the 2023 Waterfront Blues Festival. In addition to fronting her band, Taylor teamed up with award-winning guitarist and songwriter Ty Curtis in 2024 to form a blues duo act.

Taylor was nominated in 2023 and 2024 for the Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards in the categories of Best New Artist, Contemporary Blues Act, and Performance of the Year (for her 2024 appearance on the Sail on Sisters Blues Cruise). In 2023, she produced two albums of original music and plans to release another album in early 2025.

Taylor Newville & The Riders will perform at the Sail on Sister Blues Cruise on Friday, July 4.