Music, music everywhere! What's up for the weekend around Portland

Wow, outside or inside, everywhere you turn there's some great live music in and around Portland this weekend!

Tonight ... if you're looking for early music, how about Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys at Secret Society (6pm, $5); Little Sue and Lynn Conover at the Laurelthirst (6 pm, no cover); LaRhonda Steele at Fernhill Park (6:30 pm, free); or Sera Cahoone and Ana Tival on the rooftop deck at Revolution Hall (7 pm, $15)

Looks like a cool new festival in Sandy hosted by Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons - the Dixie Mattress Festival - great lineup including the hosts, plus Casey Neill, Richmond Fontaine, and Hillstomp (all tonight), Steve Kimock, Patterson Hood, and more through Sunday.

Time for the 13th PDX Pop Now! Festival - tonight through Sunday, and free.

Big shows in town this weekend - tonight how about the Avett Brothers at Edgefield (7pm), Dead and Friends at the Moda Center (7 pm), UB40 and the Wailers at the Zoo (7 pm)

The Wailin' Jennys bring their sublime harmonies to Revolution Hall for two nights. They should sound amazing with the outstanding acoustics at RH ... 8 pm, $35

It's the first time in Portland for Haitian superstar band, Lakou Mizik at the Alberta Rose ... 8pm, $25

And, at the late show at the Laurelthirst, catch Mike Coykendall and Tommy Alexander ... 9:30pm, $5

On Saturday, check out the Division/Clinton Street Fair that includes performances by Stephanie Schneiderman, Tony Furtado, and Lost Lander.

Mississippi Studios has a wonderful show with Laura Gibson and Loch Lomond ... 9 pm, $17

Rich Layton and the Troublemakers with special guest Jon Koonce will be at O'Connor's ... 8 pm, $5

And Sunday, catch the eternal Willie Nelson and Richmond Fontaine at Edgefield ...

And, in a shameless plug for a concert series I help put together, don't forget on Monday, Sellwood Riverfront Park has the passionate Latin America singer-songwriter, Edna Vasquez. I been a fan of hers since seeing her a few years ago - a unique talent you should check out ... (6:30pm, free)

Haitian band Lakou Mizik at Alberta Rose on Friday

Another upcoming weekend with tons of great music going on, but this looks like a pretty cool show at the Alberta Rose on Friday night.

Lakou Mizik is an excellent new band from Haiti and making their Portland debut. The band is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The group includes elder legends and rising young talents, united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their collective culture and communicate a message of pride, strength and hope to their countrymen and the world.

 
The idea for the band was hatched in 2010 on a hot November night in Port-au-Prince. Haiti was still reeling from the earthquake, a cholera epidemic was raging and a political crisis filled the streets with enough tire burning ferocity to close the international airport. Steeve Valcourt, a guitarist and singer whose father is one of the country's iconic musicians, singer Jonas Attis and American producer Zach Niles met in Valcourt's muggy basement studio and agreed that Haiti's music and culture could serve as an antidote to the flood of negativity. Two veteran music producers joined the group to help create their debut album: Chris Velan, a Montreal singer-songwriter and producer responsible for producing two albums for Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, and British producer Iestyn Polson, famed for his work with David Gray, David Bowie, Patti Smith and others.

 

The resulting album, Wa Di Yo, reflects the African, French, Caribbean and U.S. influences that collide in Haiti. The spirit-stirring vodou rhythms and call-and-response vocals are supported by the French café lilt of the accordion. Intricate bass lines and interlocking guitar riffs mesh mesmerizingly with the joyful polyrhythmic hocketing of rara horns. These powerful layers are topped by sing-along melodies with inspiring, socially conscious lyrics. The end result is a soulful stew of deeply danceable grooves that feels strangely familiar yet intensely new -- and 100% Haitian.

 

View/listen to the band here - www.youtube.com/user/LakouMizik/videos

Plethora of possibilities!

The choices are painful tonight. Too much great music around town ... but ya gotta choose something! Or I suppose you could just stay home. But given the choices, why?

Wanna get it going early? Check out the Sportin' Lifers at the Secret Society (6 pm, $5), Michael Hurley at the Laurelthirst (6 pm, no cover), or Buzz Holland at the Star Day Tavern (6 pm, no cover)

If you want to start earlier (or head there later), tonight kicks off the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival - blues and r&b tonight, jazz tomorrow and Sunday. (5 pm, free but also now a fundraiser, food collection drive for the Oregon Food Bank)

More free music in Portland parks? Of course! How about The Quick & Easy Boys at Fernhill Park ... 6:30 pm

Are you a fan of the venue Jimmy Mak's? This weekend it's celebrating its 20th anniversary with "An Evening of Rhythm & Blues" led by Curtis Salgado and joined by a who's who of Portland vocalists and players. As Lloyd Jones would say, "crushing!" ... 8 pm, $33

One of the darlings of the Americana genre, singer/songwriter Hayes Carll, is at the Aladdin ... good stuff, and the always delightful Ashleigh Flynn opens ... 8 pm, $25

The Alberta Rose Theatre hosts a theatrical musical bill with Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers, Saloon Ensemble, and Chris Chandler & Paul Benoit ... 8 pm, $14

The Portland Cello Project is doing a Prince tribute - Dance Party in Purple - at the Doug Fir - tonight and Saturday ... 9 pm, $18

Though he's been living in south Asia for the past three years, James Low manages to make it back to the friendly confines of the Laurelthirst each summer. A lot of folks never go out all year until he returns (ok, maybe not really). They'll be all jammed in the Laurelthirst catching up on the year and listening to one of Portland's best songwriters with a band that can rock the doors off the place. Only chance to catch this show until next summer! This also marks a year since Portland lost Dave Camp, James' friend, guitar player, and an extraordinary soul in the music community. Dave would have us all rock hard and have as much fun as possible. Let's make that happen tonight. See ya there ... 9 pm, $5

And finally (I know there's more), there's more soul and r&b with Midnight Honey at Jo Bar ... 10 pm

On Saturday M. Ward at Revolution Hall is sold out, but there's other great choices.
Early music - Everything's Jake will swing the Secret Society (6 pm, $5) and Redray Frazier is at the Laurelthirst (6 pm, no cover)

Matt Miner is hosting a backyard house concert with the outstanding singer/songwriter Buddy Mondlock. The charming local duo Pretty Gritty opens ... 5 pm, $16.50 / 19.60 with a donation to the Jeremy Wilson Foundation

Jimmy Mak's continues their 20th anniversary weekend with Soul Vaccination ... 8 pm, $20

Lewi Longmire and the Left Coast Roasters and James Low will be at the White Eagle. Very last chance to catch James in town ... 9 pm, $8

Kris Deelane & the Hurt will be creating soul and r&b havoc at the Laurelthirst ... 9:30 pm, $8

And remember concerts in Portland Parks all week (and all summer). Sellwood Riverfront Park has Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys on Monday evening!

Lisa Lepine, RIP..

Lisa Lepine was a major force in the Portland music scene for almost as long as I have been here...from managing Ed and the Boats and 44 Long and promoting concerts and music of all types.  She had recently undergone cancer surgery and passed suddenly this morning from a staph infection.  There will be a memorial gathering at McMennamin's Kennedy School from 7-10 PM tonight....bring your instruments if you play...

Fwd: two july shows coming up

Two excellent shows from producer Matt Miner coming up this month! Matt is an excellent curator - what he chooses to present is always a treat.    --Jim

Better than Ear Candy: Dark Chocolate for your Soul: July 9: Cal Scott Band at O'Connor's Matt Miner Presents, sponsor Hearing Health and O'Connor's Vault present singer-songwriter Cal Scott with a supporting cast of some of Portland's finest musicians, Saturday July 9 at 7:30pm.  Tickets at http://calsband.brownpapertickets.com   Cal Scott http://calscottmusic.com/ is a Portland singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His CD, "Carved Wood Box," received widespread nationwide radio-play in 2013.  He was awarded First Place in the Great American Song Contest for Paid Too Much for the Diamond, and Second Place in the Dallas (TX) Songwriter's Contest for Smallest Act of Kindness, both from the CD.   7:30pm at O'Connor's Vault, 7850 SW Capitol Hwy in Multnomah Village, just off I-5 at the Multnomah exit.  Hearing Health http://www.yourhearinghealth.com generously sponsors these performances. Their support, plus the price of your tickets, help these working musicians pay for things like guitar strings, food and child care. July 16: Backyard Concert: Buddy Mondlock and Pretty Gritty Matt Miner Presents, and sponsor Hearing Health welcome Nashville singer-songwriter Buddy Mondlock and Portland-based duo Pretty Gritty for a summer afternoon backyard concert, Saturday July 16 at 5:00pm.  Tickets at http://buddybackyard.brownpapertickets.com Buddy Mondlock buddymondlock.com writes songs.  He does it so well that some great songwriters, like Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary and Janis Ian have recorded his songs on their own albums.  But there's nothing like hearing the guy who wrote 'em, sing 'em. He's not going to pin your ears back with those songs. He's going to draw you into his world.  Where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship, where you get your pocket picked by a Roman cat, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you're not careful and where dreams that don't come true still count.   Pretty Gritty prettygrittymusic.com is the serendipitous joining of the talents of Blaine Heinonen and Sarah Wolff, both from Montgomery County, Maryland. They started in different rock bands, but fate brought them together at local open-mic nights, where it became evident that they shared an interest in writing and performing songs that mix country, rock, blues, and soul. It's said that she brings the "pretty" while he brings the "gritty," combining for an engaging alt-country duo with seducing harmonies and addicting acoustics. This show is being staged in a private backyard in Southwest Portland's Garden Home neighborhood, just south of Multnomah Village. The venue address will be provided with advance ticket purchase or by phone at 503-484-8196. Our generous sponsor, Hearing Health yourhearinghealth.com, is Portland's #1 rated Hearing Aid Provider, located in Raleigh Hills. More information from Matt Miner at 503-484-8196 or mattminermusic@gmail.com.