Summer Music Around Portland

It's already started and will begin to pick up a full head of steam this week ... it's summer, and that means live music outdoors in parks and plazas all over the metro area.  It truly is an embarrassment of riches .... and there's nothing stopping you from getting out to one ... or a dozen of these through the summer.

There is free music and ticketed shows ... but let's begin with the free (most paid for by generous sponsorships of local businesses).

Portland Parks and Recreation's Concerts in the Parks:  Thirteen city parks, including Washington Park, will have evening concerts throughout the summer.  These concerts kickoff on July 6th at Mt. Tabor Park and are one of those summertime treasures around town. Grab a picnic dinner (or patronize the food vendors), bring a blanket or chairs and enjoy.  Nothing better on a summer's eve. I've been a part of organizing the Sellwood Riverfront Park shows that will run four consecutive Mondays, beginning on July 12. This year kicks off with a band from Austin, TX, that will be at the Waterfront Blues Festival on July 4th - Mingo Fishtrap.

For all of you who are downtown in Portland for your work week, there a couple of great opportunities - one at lunchtime, one at 5 pm:

Music on Main is a great Wednesday series that begins this week on Main Street between the Schnitz and the Performing Arts Center. Really one of the best lineups of bands for any series this summer!

Pioneer Square has another year of Noon Tunes - every Tuesday and Thursday beginning on July 6th.

And not to leave out those on the east side - there's noon Lunchbox Concerts in the Oregon Square Courtyard (Lloyd District) every Wednesday until 8/25.

A new one is Sundown@Ecotrust Concerts (721 NW 9th) - Thursdays in July at 5pm beginning this week.

Then there are street fairs - for instance, Mississippi Street Fair (July 10) and the Hawthorne Street Fair (Aug 15) - and other events that will have free live music...

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

Lake Oswego has four concert series at Millennium Plaza Park, Foothills Park (including the fabulous Carrie Rodriguez on July 21!), and Westlake Park.

Tualatin has two series - parks concerts and Tualatin Commons.

Beaverton has a Last Tuesday series at the Round Fountain Plaza.

West Linn's has a Thursday night series at Tanner Creek Park.

Vancouver has an evening and a noon series downtown in Esther Short Park.

Ticketed shows:
(recycled some of this from an earlier post)
Of course starting Friday, July 2nd, its the 23rd Annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival - once more with an outstanding lineup of national headliners, regional acts, and locals tearing it up for four days in Waterfront Park. Stay tuned to a post devoted to the festival and a few acts not to be missed.

Head to Sauvie Island for Farm Tunes - every Thursday at 6:30 pm through September 2nd. $10 per car.

Check out the lineup at The Oregon Zoo. A few stand out for me - Carolina Chocolate Drops, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, the Quebe Sisters, The Swell Season and Black Francis, and .... Levon Helm. Holy crap ... Levon ... makes my summer, thank you.

Then there's the McMenamin's Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn, including the Avett Brothers, Crowded House, Pavement, and ...Willie Nelson in September... I hear that a Bob Dylan/John Mellencamp show might be in the mix too.

There's no whining about Maryhill Winery's summer shows that include Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne with David Lindley, and Natalie Merchant.

There's a couple of festivals within minutes of the city ... complete with camping and a feel-good vibe that's hard to resist. First is the annual Northwest String Summit at Hornings Hideout (July 16-18). Then the first weekend of August (6th-8th) brings the annual Pickathon out at Pendarvis Farm ... combining an eclectic mix of touring and local artists - roots music, folk, bluegrass, and indie pop in a beautiful setting just outside of Portland.

I'll bet someone could go to live music outdoors every day this summer! 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 be sure to add other events you know about via the Comments or email them directly to me.