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Jenni Moore

Jenni Moore is a former music editor and hip-hop columnist and current freelancer at The Portland Mercury. She also writes about comedy, cannabis, movies, TV, and her hatred of taxidermy.
Posted inHear In Portland

Hear In Portland: Aminé Drops New Album and PDX Live is Back!

Read all about what’s on the music forecast, Hear In Portland. 
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

Kind of a short one this week, music fans, but we couldn’t let mention of the new Aminé album pass without a review. Also, don’t sleep on the PDX Live line-up—she’s almost here! (Okay, she’s in August). On a rainy day like today, imagine the August heat on your skin, sipping a seltzer surrounded by […]

Posted inMusic

After 18 Years, Rontoms Bids Farewell to Their Sunday Sessions

The final show is an epic all-day mini-fest! 
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

In this economy, a free weekly concert featuring local bands at a hip, centrally located bar is something special—even in artsy, indie music-loving Portland. Ever since the spring of 2007, popular East Burnside watering hole Rontoms has been providing one such opportunity with its Sunday Sessions showcase. “We had only been open for about four […]

Posted inHear In Portland

Hear In Portland: Bye Bye Rontoms Sunday Sessions, We’ll Miss You!

Night Heron’s new record offers the calm of Escapism, milk, and grapes.
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

If you’re a hardcore blues fan (or have recently had your love of blues music invigorated by Ryan Coogler’s new horror flick Sinners), you should check out the Waterfront Blues Festival’s lineup. The fest was recently augmented with artists including Oregon-based singer-songwriters including LaRhonda Steele and Ronnie Wright, Tahirah Memory and Arietta Ward, along with […]

Posted inBlackOut

Being a Good Villager Is an Act of Resistance

The case for giving birth in a chaotic world.
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

[Editor’s Note: The following article is part of BlackOut: A Five-Year Retrospective on Portland’s Racial Justice Movement, a joint publication from Donovan Scribes and the Portland Mercury. Written exclusively by Black Portlanders, the purpose of BlackOut is to remember and reflect on the May 25, 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, […]

Posted inHear In Portland

Hear In Portland: Local Queens Esparanza Spalding and Karma Rivera Drop Emotional New Tunes

Read all about what’s on the music forecast in the latest HIP!
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

While our local music calendars continue to fill as May marches on, this week we’re praising Karma Rivera’s new single—especially the acoustic version—in addition to a visit from Coco Jones at the end of the month. Plus! June will see Esperanza Spalding lending her talents in closing out the programming of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s […]

Posted inMusic

Fans of PDX’s Upgrade, Mass Timber, and Sustainability Just Got a New Anthem!

DJ Avelanche’s fire video for “PDX (Wooden Roof)” is a fun who’s who of Portland hip-hop 
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

It’s no secret that Portlanders are really really proud of Portland International Airport, to the point that the city has become synonymous with PDX (our airport’s code). And let’s be honest, the obsession is warranted. In fact, I challenge anyone to show me a cooler, prettier, or more pleasant airport in the United States of […]

Posted inCity Guide 2025

Six Essential Events for Black Culture and Community in Portland

Celebrating Blackness with rodeo, music, brunch, and more!
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[Read all of the articles in our Portland Fun Guide HERE! Looking for a print copy? Look at this handy-dandy map!—eds.] Contrary to popular belief, Portland’s Black community has a significant presence in the city, and the impact and influence of Black culture on the city’s food, arts, and music scenes is undeniable. These six […]

Posted inHear In Portland

Hear In Portland: Night Heron Album Release, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, and New Music by Veana Baby

Read all about what’s on the music forecast, Hear In Portland!
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Now that we’re in the thick of Portland’s pollening and have been enjoying some ridiculously gorgeous days, we’ve also been loving some new tunes perfectly primed for sunny weather soundtracks. This week we’re bumping a gorgeous new single by soul songstress Veana Baby, looking forward to Portland band Night Heron’s album release gig, and adding […]

Posted inHear In Portland

Hear In Portland: Feasting on a New Track From Milc, Wynne, and Spinitch

Plus where to catch a Cinco de Mayo cumbia dance party and SiR at the Crystal Ballroom.
Avatar photo Jenni Moore

Along with spring being in the air, there’s a ton of unmissable upcoming music happenings in the Rose City. This week we’re stoked on the new three-way collaboration between rappers Milc and Wynne and producer Spinitch, along with some upcoming May shows by epic cumbia act Orquestra Pacífico Tropical and touring R&B star SiR.  MUST […]

Posted inHear In Portland

Hear in Portland: Epic Upcoming Shows from Oh, Rose, Durand Bernarr, and a Wu-Tang Finale This Summer

Read all about what’s on the music forecast, Hear in Portland.
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Right now we’re seeing artists express complex feelings of guilt and shame for sharing their projects and career highlights on social media in a time where multiple waves of genocide, corruption, and the dismantling of our democracy are constantly splashing across our screens. However, I’d like to chime in and offer that now is when […]

Posted inSpring Arts 2025

Nail Art Is Art!

The first year of ManiFest celebrates the fine art we wear on our fingers.
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The Mercury covers culture & art because we think all its various forms are—quite plainly—how people understand one another. Conversations about food, music, performance, and “weird” installation art provide touchstones to deepen friendships, create new connections, and better understand our world. If you appreciate the Mercury’s interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution […]

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