Music

The Essentials

13 Things to See and Do in Portland: August 2019

Pickathon returns to Pendarvis Farm, Michelle Wolf plays Helium, Lost Lander drops a new album, and Lents hosts its fifth annual Chicken Beauty Contest.

07/24/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Performance

Universo Marries Latin Pop with Sonny & Cher

Joaquin Lopez’s “electro-pop emotion concert” explores the little stuff—sex, love, queerness, and the phases of the moon.

07/10/2019 By Conner Reed

Cowabunga

How a Rural Washington Grange Birthed a ‘Forest Grunge' Band

Giants in the Trees—Jillian Raye, Ray Prestagard, Erik Friend, and former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic—play Portland Monthly’s Cowabunga food festival on Saturday, July 13.

07/09/2019 By Shannon Henderson

Coffee

A Review, of Sorts, of Stumptown’s New Iggy Pop Coffee Collaboration

Some musings on the punk icon's new beans.

06/25/2019 By Conner Reed

Pop-Up Pianos

This Organization Brings Rescued Pianos to the Streets of Portland

The orphaned instruments—which are tuned up and then decorated by artists—return for an eighth summer of impromptu, al fresco playing.

06/25/2019 By Shannon Henderson

Music

Strange Ranger Returns for First Portland Show Since Relocating to Philly

The indie-rock band plays the Doug Fir in anticipation of forthcoming album, Remembering the Rockets.

05/31/2019 By Brendan Nagle

Music

Sleater-Kinney Drops New St. Vincent–Produced Single

"Hurry On Home" is fierce and danceable, with a cheeky lyric video directed by Miranda July.

05/30/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Music

Portland Soul Singer Blossom Drops Enchanting Debut Album

Maybe comes out May 30, which just happens to be the rising star's golden birthday.

05/28/2019 By Brendan Nagle

Throng Song

A Massive Prince Sing-Along Is Coming to Pioneer Courthouse Square

The drop-in choir formerly known as the OK Chorale celebrates the 35th anniversary of Purple Rain with an all-ages, open-air party.

05/28/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Jazz It Up

Meet MC Shoehorn, Portland's Tap-Dancing Saxophonist

"It's a hard act to sell on the phone," says Michael Conley of his unusual schtick.

05/22/2019 By Jackson Main

Fashion Show

This Celebration of Portland's POC Artists Fuses Fashion and Live Music

“It’s an ode to what BET did in the early 2000s."

04/29/2019 By Eden Dawn

Music

Reptaliens Are a Trippy Sci-Fi Band Time-Traveling from 1991—and We Dig It

The Portland group's inspirations include Of Montreal, Philip K. Dick, and of course, Gorgon, ruler of the third dimension.

04/25/2019 By Marty Patail

Music

Legendary Portland Singer Shirley Nanette Brings Sequins and Soul to Holocene

At 71, the dynamo entertainer returns to the stage to perform her 1973 album, Never Coming Back, in its entirety.

04/09/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Karaoke

Baby Ketten Karaoke Set to Go Brick-and-Mortar on SE Powell

What the New York Times called "America's greatest karaoke night" will soon get a full-time home.

04/08/2019 By Jackson Main

Music

Soul’d Out Marks 10 Years of Bringing Sweet, Sweet Sounds to Stumptown

The city's annual celebration of soul, R&B, blues, and hip-hop returns April 16–21.

03/26/2019 By Fiona McCann

Music

Local Record Store Icon Terry Currier Reflects on Music Millennium Turning 50

The music man talks about the dark days of 2007—and why he's more hopeful than ever for the future of record stores.

03/15/2019 By Marty Patail

Spring Road Trips: Sonic Sidekicks

10 Oregon-Inspired Podcasts, Audiobooks, and Albums

Cue up this playlist for your next Pacific Northwest road trip.

02/26/2019 By Emma Mannheimer

Music

A New Concert Creates a Sonic Snapshot of Portland

With creaking pine trees and sizzling power lines, Third Angle’s Habitat explores the soundscapes of the city.

02/26/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Music

Y La Bamba's New Album Is a Defiant, Bombastic Triumph

And it's been more than a decade in the making.

01/29/2019 By Dez Ramirez

Pop-Up Music

This Guy Will Write You Your Own Custom Theme Song

Tiny Anthems is all about mythologizing you.

01/29/2019 By Sydney Dauphinais