I swear Randy Oxford is one of the hardest working band leaders in the Northwest. We get no less than three press releases per week from the award-winning blues trombonist. His latest venture is Music for the Mountain â€" a benefit festival for Mount Rainer National Park, Gateway Initiative, Ashford Community Park and Performing Arts Center. 

Along with Phil Freeman, owner of the Copper Creek Inn at Mount Rainer, Oxford has assembled an eclectic lineup of some of the Evergreen State’s most celebrated bands.  From rock, blues, funk, and jazz to country and bluegrass, this festival has it covered, and there is literally something for everyone’s musical hankering.  All of the artists who will appear at the event have donated their time, and what a lineup it is. In addition to Oxford’s high-energy performance, Blues Woman of the Year Nicole Fournier & Her 3-lb Universe will blow your blues away.  Knee Deep Band will rock you while Free Reign and Loose Gravel and the Quarry will offer up some down-home blues. Jazz will be well represented with Hat Trick.

For the complete schedule, visit: www.mountrainier.org.  If you are unable to attend but would like to support this worthy cause, send a check or money order to: Music for the Mountain, PO Box 159, Ashford, WA, 98304.  â€" Tony Engelhart

[Mineral Lake Event Center, March 23-25, $25-$40, 114 Mineral Rd. S., Mineral, 360.569.2745]