Bottleneck Blues Band

At five years old Noah Bell was at a garage sale in Arizona where he saw a used Stella guitar for sale for $25.  He knew he had to have it. His parents signed him up for lessons, but they didn't last. Years later he realized his old Stella was out of tune and didn't help him learn but it made an early impression on him. His parents had 3 records that weren't classical, Johnny Cash 'I Walk the Line', Willie Nelson 'Stardust' and Lighting Hopkins "Walkin' this Road by Myself.'

Noah Bell has been performing professionally since he was 14. He took the money from playing a Halloween dance at his high school and went and purchased a PA system the next day at the local music store and has been performing professionally ever since. 

In the 1980s he began his musical journey performing hard rock in the local teen clubs and playing parties. This experience taught him the technique of shredding that brought speed and intensity to his style. In the backwoods of Missouri, the sound of country is king, and he spent a summer jamming with country group in Cairo, Il before going to college to study classical guitar and jazz. All long playing and listening to the Blues.

Once in Springfield, Mo his true formative years began. He played in many groups in various styles for a ten-year period. He toured the area performing all over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kanas, Missouri and Illinois. Playing different styles from hard rock, blue grass, southern rock, hip hop, classical, jazz and Latin. Always performing and traveling from St. Louis to Carbondale, IL to Fayetteville, Ar. to Kanas City.  Always playing Blues tunes in his groups when he could work it into the set.

In 2001, Noah relocated to Portland, Or. to play music. He became one of the founding members of the west coast jam band Big Island Shindig which had much success. The group performed alongside groups such Steel Pulse, Jerry Gracia Band, String Cheese Incident, Steve Kimock,  and Umphreys McGee. 

Later Noah joined the Americana group Sugarcane String Band toured the northwest playing festivals and concerts opening for groups such as Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth. Still mixing the Blues into his sets.

In 2011, he decided it was time to start his own Blues group and with the help of David Cushman on bass they began the Bottleneck Blues Band. This journey has led him to play in countless clubs, parties, festivals, fairs, city events and concerts. He has played with great players along the way and inspired countless audience. For the past fifteen years he has constantly refined his craft and his voice making him one of the region's top performers. His ability to take a song and make it his own while retaining its essence is considered one of his strengthens.  He has one foot strongly planted in the past while the other is moving into the future and there is no sign of him slowing down anytime soon!