The 2016 summer outdoor music around Portland post!

Reuse, recycle ... as a big believer in both, this is the 2016 version of my annual post about the many, many summer outdoor music options we are so lucky to have.

Something I truly love about Portland in the summer is that there's music in the parks, plazas, and other outdoor venues all over town and the surrounding communities. Does summer get any better than this?

First, here's an excellent resource link that details more than I have time to list.

PDX Pipeline's Ultimate 2016 Portland Summer Events Calendar: Festivals, Concerts, Movies, Street Fairs and More

As I've said before (ad nauseum), when it comes to live music outdoors in summer, we really do have an amazing number of choices, so there's no excuse for not catching some great music throughout the summer.

I'd like to first note some of the free music out and about in the region ... and, as nothing is really free, remember most of it is paid for by the generous sponsorship of local businesses (who you should thank and support), and in many cases your generous contributions at the shows.

Portland Parks and Recreation's Summer Free for All: Concerts in the Parks:  Over a dozen city parks, including Washington Park, will have evening concerts throughout the summer. These concerts kickoff on Tuesday, July 5. I've had a ton of fun being one of the organizers of Sellwood Riverfront Park series. We have a great lineup that includes Edna Vasquez, Karen Lovely, Pete Krebs, Keegan Smith, and Quarterflash! These are community events that are a blast. So, find your local park (or venture further!), grab a picnic dinner (or patronize the food vendor/sponsors), bring a blanket or chairs, and enjoy. Nothing better on a summer's eve! Also note that there is music before each of the scheduled Movies in the Park - another 50 nights to catch music (and a film) for free in a Portland park this summer.

For all of you who are downtown in Portland for your work week (or if you just like slacking downtown), there a some fine musical opportunities, like:

Music on Main is a great Wednesday series that begins July 6 on Main Street between the Schnitz and the Performing Arts Center. As usual, it has a fine lineups of bands this summer.

Pioneer Square has another year of Noon Tunes - every Tuesday at noon - July 5 to August 30.

Then there are street fairs - for instance, Mississippi Street Fair (Saturday, July 9), the Alberta Street Fair (Saturday, August 13), and the Hawthorne Street Fair (Sunday, Aug 28) ...

There's the annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival - three days of great music ... free in St John's - July 15-17.

The Doug Fir Lounge hosts free Pickin' On Sundays starting July 10 through August 21 at 3 pm. And I know this is only one example of the restaurants, bars, and backyards that have bands playing outside!

But Portland isn't the only city in the area that has an abundance of free music ... check out these summer concert schedules:

Milwaukie has noon concerts on Wednesdays in Scott Park, across from the Ledding Library. There will also be evening concerts in Ardenwald Park.

Lake Oswego hosts sixteen concerts spread among Millennium Plaza Park, Foothills Park, and Westlake Park through the summer - Wednesday nights and Sunday nights.

Marylhurst University in West Linn has it's free Summer on the Green series of music and theater performances through July and August.

West Linn also has a Thursday night series at Tanner Creek Park beginning on July 21.

Hillsboro has music every Tuesday night at the Hillsboro Marketplace starting at 5:30 pm.

Tualatin spreads music around a number of parks on Thursdays.

Vancouver has a Thursday evening and a Wednesday noon series downtown in Esther Short Park and a new Sunday series at the Columbia Tech Center.

There are also a ton of ticketed outdoor music shows that bring top acts to the region all summer. A few of the highlights for me are:

Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn -  already underway and with a solid lineup that includes Willie Nelson, The Avett Brothers, Jackson Browne, Michael Franti, Band of Horses, Father John Misty, Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt ... and a lot more. Some shows are already sold out!

Oregon Zoo Concerts - also a fine lineup this year with Case/Lang/Viers and Lyle Lovett doing shows over the July 4th weekend. Also, UB40, B-52s, Flogging Molly, Ziggy Marley, Pink Martini, and more.

Plus, how about the oh so Portland shows like the Caravan Campfires - Songs n' S'mores! series.

And you can always take a trip to Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island for the Thursday night concerts ... they charge by the carload, so pile in and head to Sauvie Island!

Sampler of summer festivals:

Waterfront Blues Festival - July 4th weekend with an excellent lineup!
Northwest String Summit
Wildwood Music Festival
Pickathon
MusicFestNW/Project Pabst (two festivals are now one)

Sisters Folk Festival

I'll bet someone could go to live music outdoors every day between July 1 and Labor Day! No, it isn't going to be me ... but I'll do my share ... and I'm sure you'll do yours!

See ya out and about .... and, have a great summer!

Brief blast of tasty tunes

This is gonna be quick ... just a few (though you know there's so much more ...)

Summer is heating up (this past week not withstanding) ... Pretty good touring night with Flight of the Conchords at the Keller, Toots and the Maytals at Revolution Hall, and Ben Harper at Edgefield ... not to mention the Flaming Groovies at Mississippi Studios.

Little Sue and Lynn Conover do happy hour at the Laurelthirst, and Pete Krebs and his Portland Playboys hold down happy hour at the Secret Society.

Hailey Niswanger will be blowin' her sax at Jimmy Mak's with PDX Soul at 7 pm.

The Rose City Kings with special guest Hershel Yatovitz (from Chris Isaak's band) will host a very special album release show at the Rose Room Bar and Grill. Starts at 8:30.

And, it's the annual The Great Big Fais-do-do! A Honky Tonk, Western Swing and Cajun Music Festival with some big happenings tonight and tomorrow night at the Spare Room.



Stay tuned for the annual summer post of live outdoor music ... coming soon!

Live and loud this week

Wednesday, Lincoln Crockett will take some time off from building his house in Washington to come play at O'Connor's...sweet songs from a sweet guy!
Friday...DIVERS, imho, about the best band in Portland we rarely get to see, will headline Lakewood Festival of the Arts, Friday, 8pm, George Rogers Park..just get over there!!
And last, June 28, John Doe, with Jesse Dayton and the lovely Cindy Wasserman, plays the Doug Fir.    John will also do an in-store at Music Millennium at 7pm.
See you there!

Carrie Rodriguez tonight at the Alberta Rose Theatre

Tonight the wonderful fiddler, vocalist, and songwriter, Carrie Rodriguez brings her fiery Austin, Texas blend of folk, country, Tex-Mex, and Americana to the Alberta Rose Theatre stage. ... Highly recommended!

Carrie Rodriguez Jun 9, 2016 at 8:00 PM Doors at 7:00pm $18 Advance $22 at the Door  Tickets at www.albertarosetheatre.com & 503-764-4131

  

Carrie Rodriguez, finds beauty in the cross-pollination of diverse traditions. A passionate performer, she effortlessly melds fiery fiddle playing, electrifying vocals and a fresh interpretation of new and classic songs with an "Ameri-Chicana" attitude. Her newest project, the upcoming Spanish/English album "Lola," is both a return to her musical roots and something of a departure where she delivers her own twangy, Texas-bred twist on Mexican Ranchera songs, creating culturally blended music for a culturally blended world. more >>>

 

Great Minds....

Was at Casey Neil and Norway Rats/Eyelids show last night and thinking that it had been awhile since I or Jim had posted anything here...and lo and behold....what do I find now in my inbox?....So I'll add my two cents on some up coming shows....Monday, the 6th Sadies at the Star...it's been some time since the Good brothers have come this way with their beautiful tunes and Nudie suits!
On Tuesday the 7th, Isaac Frankle, alias Shovelman is doing a show at 8 PM at the Refuge, 116 SE Yamhill...watching this guy play a shovel is amazing!! Check him out on YouTube!
Wednesday brings Brian McPherson and Michael Dean Damron (I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House will always be a fave band name..) at the Twilight Cafe on SE Powell.
Reina Collins, who used to live here but now resides in Florida will be visiting and playing Mississippi Pub on Friday, June 10.
My old pal, Jon Koonce at O'Connor's June 17, and also at O'Connor's on June 22, Lincoln Crockett will be in town...great musician and spiritual healer.
End of the month will bring the shows I am most excited about....my fave local band, Divers will be at Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, Friday, June 24 at 8 PM...punk meets Springsteen with really smart lyrics..so good!!!!
And then John Doe will be at Doug Fir on the 28th, promoting his new solo album and book about LA punk scene, "Under the Big Black Sun".  He will be accompanied by our pals, Cindy Wasserman, DJ Bonebrake, Jesse Dayton.
...July...well let's just say if you need a date to Willie Nelson, I am available and the Alvin Brothers will be coming to the Old Church....can't wait!

Cool music for a hot weekend

Long enough without a post ... to many cool music opportunities this weekend (cool may be the operative word!).

Summer unofficially begins in Portland with the Rose Festival, and with the heat this weekend it will actually feel like summer is kicking off. Lots of activities around town with the Starlight Parade (with the Mysti Krewe once again parading!) and the Bridgetown Comedy Festival.

One of the music events tonight at the Rose Fest is an evening of Americana Roadhouse featuring Wilkinson Blades, Rich Layton and the Troublemakers, and Melissa Mickelson ... 6 pm

There some stellar happy hour songcraft from Buzz Holland at the Starday Tavern ... 6 pm, no cover

Swing with the Barn Door Slammers at the Secret Society ... 6 pm $5 ... then stay for more jump and jivin' with The Jumptown Aces and Johnny Boyd ... 9 pm, $15

Time to salsa at the Newmark Theatre with Grammy-winning Tiempo Libre ... 7:30 pm, $26-36

The Cascade Blues Association's Journey to Memphis Competition kicks off with a weekend of bands at The Rose Room Bar & Grill ... 7 pm, $10

Iron & Wine's Sam Beam and singer-songwriter Jessica Hoop bring their collaborative project to the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $25 (but looks like it's sold out)

One of my local faves, Stephanie Schneiderman and band will be at Jimmy Mak's. She'll also be joined by Dirty Martini and Swan Sovereign bandmates McKinley (who will also open) and Lara Michell ... 8 pm, $12

The Alberta Rose hosts the jazz guitar/vocal duo of Tuck & Patti ... making wonderful music together for over 30 years ... 8 pm, $30

How about some psychedelic Latin folk? Check out De Mala Fama at the Sante Bar (411 NW Park)... 8 pm, $??

Mississippi Studios will be soaring with outstanding R&B vocalists Corinne Bailey Rae and local Moorea Masa (who you might know from Ural Thomas & the Pain) ... 9 pm, $25 (also sold out, but may be some tickets at the door)

There's more happening through the weekend, but kick it off with some cool tunes tonight!

On my radar for next week ...
Robbie Fulks on Tuesday at the White Eagle
Carrie Rodriguez on Thursday at the Alberta Rose