Alcoholic frozen beverages feel like an obvious choice this week, and the Merc’s got plenty of those going around with the arrival of Summer of Slushies—$10 a pop, served up across the city. These pair well with bent notes (the Waterfront Blues Festival returns this weekend) and/or a Pickles game (Jenna Fletcher’s got a theory about Dillon T. Pickle; more on that below). Plus, instead of celebrating the 4th of July like that one neighbor who defies fireworks laws, why not build a lavender bouquet?
MONDAY, JUNE 29
USA Fencing Summer Nationals
Just so you know… there are sports other than soccer! Take for example, fencing, which is technically the older pastime (if you can call killing people a pastime) and can be traced all the way back to 1190 BCE. While admittedly not as popular, fencing is still a thrilling sport to watch, and you can watch some of the nation’s best of the best at the USA Fencing Summer Nationals, featuring epee, foil, and saber fencers of practically every gender and age group. Multiple matches will be happening at the same time, which will give you ample opportunity to check out lots of hot fencing action, along with drop-in clinics, vendors, and… did I mention it’s free to the public? Guys… it’s free to the public! (Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK, Exhibit Hall A-E, through July 6, 8 am-5 pm daily, FREE, more info, all ages) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
Shane Parish Plays Autechre Guitar w/ DJ Patricia Wolf
“This record shouldn’t, strictly speaking, be possible at all,” starts the Bandcamp description of guitarist Shane Parish’s mind-bending album Autechre Guitar. Inexplicably, the album is exactly what it says on the tin: one man interpreting the irritating and dazzling electronic sounds of English electronic duo Autechre with just one acoustic guitar. Even more inexplicably, thanks to Parish’s sublime fingerpicking abilities, the album really works. Want to watch him pull it off live, re-blowing your own mind? For just $23, you can watch the finest example of warmth and humanity being injected into harsh alien landscapes this side of Alarm Will Sound’s orchestral Aphex Twin covers album. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, 8 pm, $23.06, more info, 21+) HOLLY HAZELWOOD
Happy Together
Wong Kar-wai’s Happy Together (1997) follows two Hong Kong lovers adrift in Argentina, where they’re trapped in an addictive and sometimes violent cycle of separations and reconciliations they describe as “start-overs.” Wong’s approach abandons conventions of romance for something lonelier, full of vast roads, dead-end jobs, and dreams of waterfalls. Shifting between black-and-white scenes and heavily saturated color, Happy Together feels like a sketchbook of tonal and visual fragments that Wong would later refine in In the Mood for Love. This precursor is well worth seeing. (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 7 pm, $10, more info, not rated) LINDSAY COSTELLO
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
The Portland Mercury’s Summer of Slushies
Get ready for the coolest, most delicious event of the summer! The Merc presents Summer of Slushies, which brings boozy, frozen, custom-made treats to the frugal and thirsty denizens of Portland at just $10 a pop, all July long. (Various locations, $10/slushie, more info) MERCURY STAFF
Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band
Last year, Portlanders were all abuzz after Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band stopped by Fluff & Gravy’s postage-stamp-sized Cravin’ Gravy Social Club. Fans of Davis’ indie-Americana record New Threats from the Soul still haven’t shut up about how good it was. If you have tickets to see the sold-out Kurt Vile show at Revolution Hall, congratulations: you get to watch the band work. If not, why haven’t you bought tickets to see the group playing at Mississippi Studios one night earlier? Don’t let the rock dudes have all the fun! Plus, the week of the 4th of July is the perfect time to dig on some Americana that doesn’t suck. (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 8 pm, $32.36, more info, 21+) HH
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Harriet Tubman Center Museum
To fully appreciate the impact of the Harriet Tubman Center Museum, first you’ll need to understand an acronym: KSMoCA, AKA the King School Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s an ongoing social practice art project headquartered in a NE Portland elementary school, founded by Portland State University professors/artists Lisa Jarrett and Harrell Fletcher. For this exhibition, Jarrett collaborated with curators from the Harriet Tubman Center for Expanded Curatorial Practice—that’s a group of KSMoCA 4th and 5th graders—pulling together works from PAM’s collections that might surprise you. Expect a show “shaped by emerging curatorial voices and multigenerational knowledge.” (Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park, 10 am-5 pm Tue-Sun through Jan 3, 2027, FREE-$27.50, more info, all ages) LC
Telephone by Ariana Reines
Take heed, because it’s not every day that poet Ariana Reines constructs a play inspired by Carl Jung’s writings, the life of Alexander Graham Bell, and Avital Ronell’s philosophical techno-theory. Yet Telephone feels right in tune with her work, too: Reines’ thick, sprawling poetry collections (A Sand Book, Wave of Blood) have cemented her status as somehow both emblematic of The Moment and entirely original. The Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble’s interpretation of Telephone will grapple with “the way technology seeks to answer a preexisting desire in all of us to be closer to each other.” (Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock, select dates June 27-July 11, sliding scale $45-$188, students and seniors $25, BIPOC FREE, more info) LC
Waterfront Blues Festival
Since 1988, Portland’s brilliant Waterfront Blues Festival has uplifted attendees with its expansive definitions of the genre. This year, the Blues Festival is back with a Portland-dense lineup and eclectic representation including Ural Thomas & the Pain, Toody Cole and Her Band, Orquestra Pacífico Tropical, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, Lo & the Steele Family Band, and Larry Peace-Love Yes. The biggie out-of-towner artists to check out this year are Addis Ababa Ethio-jazz all-star Hailu Mergia and NOLA soul-funk instigators Tank and the Bangas. The fest is free for blues fans 12 and under and for those with SNAP/EBT benefits. (Tom McCall Waterfront Park, SW Naito and SW Pine, 1 pm-late July 2-4, $45+, more info, all ages) NOLAN PARKER
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Portland Pickles Dill-ie Nelson Night
I can’t substantiate this, but there’s a certain VERY queer and chaotic energy about both the in-person and online presence of Portland’s premier collegiate baseball team, the Portland Pickles. It’s certainly not my place to make assertions about how the mascot identifies, but all I’m saying is that I’m here to accept them with open arms if they ever have anything they’d like to divulge. Hey Dillon T. Pickle, love is love! On July 3, the Pickles play the Willamette Wildcats on a Willie-centric night of “outlaw pickle energy.” The Merc will be tabling—come find us! (Walker Stadium, 4727 SE 92nd, 7:05 pm, $15+, more info, all ages) JENNA FLETCHER
Nonbinary Girlfriend, w/ Pacing, Bug Seance, Christian Fransisco, & Backyard Habitat
Just because Pride Month is over, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still spend time with your Nonbinary Girlfriend. This year’s excellent IM NOT PRETTY was absolutely stuffed with the kinds of social isolation, gender angst, and queer rage that Pride Month was founded on, courtesy of the group’s freakishly talented founder James Binkowski. Add in the presence of San Jose homies Pacing and Christian Fransisco (playing alongside each other), plus locals Bug Seance and Backyard Habitat, you’ve got what one Instagram commenter described as “sort of my Avengers: Endgame.” (High Limit Room, 720 SE Hawthorne, 7 pm, $15, more info, all ages) HH
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Fireworks!
Admittedly, I hate fireworks… except for the professional displays like you’ll find at the Waterfront Blues Festival and Oaks Amusement Park this July 4th. If you’re not already attending the Blues Fest, you can post up on the Eastbank Esplanade, Mount Tabor, or a nearby highrise if you have roof access for the best views. Conversely, if you want a true all-American experience, Oaks Park has their own fireworks display, which you can pair with hot dogs, cotton candy, and vomit-inducing rides (if that’s your jam), or you can peep it for free from the Sellwood Bridge, Oaks Bottom, and Sellwood Park. Oh, and as for you amateur firework artists, you are terrible human beings who have no regard for pets, Veterans, or your fingers. Refrain from attempting to satisfy your immediate childish needs for once in your life and watch the professionals instead. For everyone else, report illegal fireworks here, and have a fun evening. (Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 98 SW Naito, Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Sat July 4, 10 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) WSH
Helvetia Lavender Festival
Does gathering fragrant lavender in a pastoral idyll sound like a pretty incredible alternative to scaring dogs with fireworks, or whatever? I figured. Snuggled in the Willamette Valley hills, Helvetia Lavender Farm offers up 60 varieties of the friendly purple blooms for its annual festival. Visitors are invited to wander the fields, build bouquets, or just take a chill pill on the scenic pavilion. The farm also distills its own aromatic lavender oil, so don’t miss their handmade products in the gift shop. (Helvetia Lavender Farm, 12814 NW Bishop, Hillsboro, Fri 10 am-3 pm and Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm through July 12, $10, more info, all ages) LC
The Jolene Ride (Or: Dolly Parton’s America)
Belles and Dolly Parton released the “Jolene” -inspired track “Son of Jolene” back in April, and this ride is partly inspired by that new song—as well as Dolly’s overall greatness. During this Bike Summer group ride, you’ll hear plenty of “Jolene” versions including Beyonce’s, as well as tracks all the way from Dolly’s early days and some of her more recent collabs (including Sabrina Carpenter, of course). But did you know that Dolly Parton also founded the Imagination Library program, sending free books to kids 5 and under across the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia, the UK, and Ireland? In honor of her love for books, the ride will stop off at several free libraries; bring a few books of your own to donate. (Laurelhurst Park, 7 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) KATHERINE CHEW HAMILTON
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Match at the Museum
It’s officially World Cup time! The USA’s prospects are not great as usual, but that’s not really the point. It’s a great time to gather with other football fans, down a pint or two, and cheer for your favorite international teams. Watch games on the tallest screen in town (four stories!) at OMSI, where select matches will be screened free of charge. All you need to bring is your team spirit; the cafe will have plenty of beer, wine, cider, and snacks available. Check out our guide for other places to watch the beautiful game, too, and lock in, Soccer City! (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, 1945 SE Water, various dates and times through July 19, FREE, more info, all ages) BRI BREY
Portland Thorns vs. Racing Louisville FC
In this match between the number three-ranked Portland Thorns and the number 16-ranked Racing Louisville FC, our hometown team most likely have revenge on their minds. At their last meetup on May 8, Racing Louisville took us to the cleaners, somehow defeating the Thorns 3-1, thanks to the sure foot of Louisville’s attacking midfielder Katie O’Kane, who scored twice in that game. Needless to say, THIS WILL NOT DO, and our beloved Thorns will be looking to avenge this earlier loss while continuing to claw their way to the top of the standings. Meanwhile Racing Louisville will engage in a desperate fight to dig their way out of 16th place, while seeking to recapture the magic that helped them take down the (normally) far superior Thorns. So snatch up those tix and support the gals! (Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison, Sun July 5, 4 pm, $29-$143, more info, all ages) WSH
DEVO 250: The Beginning was the End
Put on your energy dome! Mississippi Records digs into the DEVO vault at this multimedia retrospective with the band’s co-founder Gerald V. Casale in attendance to discuss the group’s five decades of dadaist aesthetics and filmmaking. A screening curated by film and music archivist/restorationist Peter Conheim will include DEVO’s experiment short film, The Beginning Was the End: The Truth About De-Evolution (1976), plus restorations of videos for “Satisfaction,” “Freedom of Choice,” and “Whip It.” Stick around for a Q&A, which should dive into the history and longevity, radicalism, and POV of one of America’s quintessential pop-art rock bands. (Hollywood Theatre, 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm, $30, more info, all ages) BRI BREY
Looking for even more events happening this week? Head on over to EverOut!
