Posted inMusic
Ten Bumbershoot Acts Worth the Trip to Seattle
We run down the best and brightest playing at this year’s festival.
Holly Hazelwood
Holly Hazelwood is many things: A freelance contributor for the Portland Mercury, a senior editor and contributor at Spectrum Culture, co-host of the Enjoy Your Life podcast, and a concert photographer at Show Goose. If you spot her in the wild, she’d love to talk to you about the best concerts you’ve seen lately.
Posted inMusic
Getting Baptized in Confetti With the Hold Steady at Mississippi Studios
On the eve of their Pioneer Courthouse Square headliner, the world’s best bar band crammed themselves onto the Mississippi Studios stage for a truly killer party.
Posted inMusic
A Pickathon Recap and Future Forecast: Which Acts Will Make It Big?
We take a look at the bands we expect to blow up imminently, based on their sets at Pickathon 2026.
Posted inMusic
Yr City’s a Sucker: The Best LCD Soundsystem Songs (Released Since They Last Played in Portland)
Sixteen years after their (alleged) final bow in Portland, we look back on the best songs they’ve released since their last Portland show in 2010.
Posted inMusic
A Complete Newbie’s Guide to Pickathon
Considering coming out to Pendarvis Farm for the world’s greatest music festival? Let us help make it way less terrifying!
Posted inMusic
The Mercury’s 20 Must-Catch Acts of Pickathon 2026!
Our resident Pickathon ambassador gives you the supernerd
scoop on the best and brightest of this year’s lineup.
Posted inMusic
Sons of Analog: A John McEntire & Sam Prekop Primer
Ahead of their live album recording at Holocene, we trace the roots of the Tortoise frontman and his Sea and Cake brethren’s collaboration with four great records.
Posted inMusic
The Riot Grrrls Are Back in Town! Heavens to Betsy Reunites After 32 Years Away
Corin Tucker and Tracy Sawyer played a career-spanning set for a sold-out Turn! Turn! Turn! audience.
Posted inQueer Issue 2026
The Many Queer Saints of Stumptown
Shining a spotlight on a few of Portland’s legendary gay greats.
Posted inMusic
GZA Makes Up for Lost Time at Hawthorne Theatre
But he needs to buy himself a watch next time!
Posted inTheater & Performance
Shaking the Tree’s Glass Menagerie Shines Despite the Darkness
Samantha Van Der Merwe delivers the feel-bad hit Tennessee Williams would have wanted.
Posted inTheater & Performance
Mikki Gillette’s Riot Queens Requires Us to Read More Queer History
This story of trans liberation takes place around the 1966 Compton Cafeteria Riot, but it’s not an explainer.
