Friday, July 24, 2015

Something everywhere you turn ... that's summer in PDX!

Sometimes there so much going on I have no idea where to begin, so it's easier not to write at all. I know ... weird. But it becomes rather time consuming and I'd rather be doing something else - like spending time in the glorious weather, or needing to pay attention to a very busy income-producing job (have I mentioned I'm getting a bit envious of friends who retire?). But I diverge.

This weekend has much to offer ... the Brewers FestivalPDX Pop Now, the Clinton/Division Street Fair, the NE Sunday Parkways, The Big Float, and the final three days of Chamber Music Northwest's 45th Summer Festival ... this is the city's summer in full swing.

Music highlights for the weekend?
One more chance to catch James Low in Portland on Saturday before he heads back to Malaysia ... at the Laurelthirst ... 6 pm, no cover

Saturday also has my pick show of the weekend - Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin, and Amy Helm at the Zoo ... Mavis is one of those transcendent talents that has remained strong and vital since the early days of the civil rights movement. And to be supported on the bill by Griffin and Helm (daughter of Levon) is some of the tastiest icing on the cake ... 7 pm, $35

Oh ... and Friday night it's Bruce Hornsby at the Zoo (7 pm, $ 28) ... quite the weekend with the animals!

Remember to check for the summer music and movies in the parks ... here's a link back to my post about many of those happenings ... 

Check the local calendars ... head out to catch something ... there's a whole lotta stuff happening out there! Keep enjoying summer in Portland.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Weekend music picks

Man ... it's hoppin' all over town ... so here's some quick picks for the weekend.

It's a bluesy evening at the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival in St. Johns starting at 5 pm ... free

Conjunto Alegre brings the salsa, cumbia, and more to Fernhill Park as part of Portland Parks summer concerts ... 6:30 pm, free

Touring into town for Project Pabst tonight is New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Revolution Hall ... from Hall to Hall ... highly recommended!  ... 9 pm, $25 ... check out Project Pabst for more excellent shows over the weekend, including locals Fernando and Jeremy Wilson at the Doug Fir tomorrow ...

SoCal's Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys fly into Duff's tonight for a swinging good time ... 9 pm, $15

KD and the Hurt will be rockin' the Laurelthirst with some Motown soul and r&b ... 9 pm, $8

And for something a little different, check out Beloved Presents: Fanna Fi Allah - Sufi Qawwali in the lineage of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at the Alberta Rose ... 8 pm, $30

Saturday

James Low has done a couple of Portland shows since returning to Portland for a short visit this summer. Saturday, it's the first of two (next Saturday, too) full band reunion happy hour shows. This will be a bittersweet show for so many in the Portland music community who lost Dave Camp this week to cancer. Dave was a longtime friend and bandmate of James (and so many others) and the outpouring of love for Dave in the past weeks has been rather overwhelming (those of you who follow Dave on FB know what I'm talking about). But come out and we can all raise a glass to Dave ... gone way too soon ... 6 pm, no cover

Jonatha Brooke checks into the Alberta Rose ... really talented singer/songwriter, storyteller, actress   ... 8 pm, $25

With a long and amazing career both as part of a couple groups you might know and solo, it's a welcome arrival of Graham Nash to the Aladdin. Nash is also a longtime voice for peace and justice and the environment and puts his money, time, and energy where his heart is ... 8 pm, $56

Excellent late show at the Laurelthirst with Jerry Joseph (solo) and Walter Salas-Humara ... 9:30 pm, $10


... and don't forget Monday at Sellwood Riverfront Park, it's Mary Flower & the BBQ Boys ... 6:30 pm, free

Monday, July 13, 2015

Ural Thomas and the Pain tonight at Sellwood Riverfront Park

For our Sellwood Riverfront Park series, we are thrilled to host Ural Thomas and the Pain this evening. Hope you can make it! See ya later!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Heads up on a few options this week

So tonight there's Elvis Costello and the Imposters at the Schnitz ... always a great choice when he comes through town ... 8 pm, $47 - $89

Also tonight is the Local Roots Radio Show 2nd Anniversary Celebration Showcase at the Alberta Street Pub ... 7:15 pm $5


Thursday night, there's a couple of highly recommended shows ...

At the Old Church, Pro Musica presents Joe Powers & Friends. Joe is a not your traditional harmonica player - he specializes in playing jazz, tango, and classical. His friends tonight include award-winning Japanese guitarist Yosuke Onuma and pianist Randy Porter ... 7 pm, $20

The James Low Wreck Trio and Fernando make a great double-bill at the Laurelthirst. It's great to have James Low back in town, even if it's only for a few weeks ... 9 pm, $5


Friday kicks off two sold out shows for The Decemberists and Calexico at Edgefield ... but if you don't have a ticket, there's always ways to find one if you're patient at the venue. ... 6:30 pm

Ron Rogers and the Wailing Wind are at the Hawthorne Theater Lounge for happy hour ... 6 pm, no cover

Outta New Orleans, it's trad jazz with a modern twist from Tuba Skinny at the Melody Ballroom ... 8 pm, $20

There's cool jazz and bossa nova with guitarist Hershel Yatovitz and friends at Wilf's ... 7 pm, $10

It's Portland Cello Project's Extreme Dance Party at the Doug Fir (Saturday, too) ... 9 pm, $18

Willy Vlautin's other band, The Delines, along with Camerado, are at the Secret Society ... 9 pm, $10

Rich Layton and the Troublemakers are at the Trail's End Saloon ... 9 pm, $??

Monday, July 6, 2015

After the blues festival ...

I've taken to using the blues festival to mark the transition to summer in Portland and the plethora of outdoor music events going on in and around the city. Today kicks off a summer full of music in Portland parks with the first of five shows at Sellwood Riverfront Park. Performing tonight is the wild and crazy eastern European sounds of Chervona.

Music begins at 6:30 pm ... and there should be a great breeze off the river to cool down the heat ... so come on out!

And a quick heads up ... James Low is back in Portland for a few weeks and a great slate of performances. Welcome back, James! First show this week is Thursday, 9 pm at the Laurelthirst where he'll be backed by Alan Hunter and Chet Lyster (it's the "Acoustic Wreck" show!).



Oh, and some guy named Costello (Elvis, not Lou) is playing the Schnitz on Wednesday ...