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Nolan Parker

Nolan Parker is the Mercury’s music and Blazers editor. They also run the Portland-area community resource, Government Palace. Follow them on Instagram and Letterboxd. Send pitches, releases, and collaboration ideas here.
Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Mercury 2026 Music Issue: “All Genres, All Generations, All Genders”

Now is always the time to lock in with the music around you.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Portland music, and Portland in general, is currently experiencing a renaissance, and all that […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Portland Music Map

An incomplete visual guide to music establishments in Riff City.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Portland is a music town—filled to the brim with venues, gear shops, record shops, […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Only Summer 2026 Festival Guide You’ll Need

It’s summer in Portland, and you know what that means… music festivals!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. The most common adjectives tossed around when describing Portland in the summer include incredible, […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: The Portland Mercury Music Issue Launch Party!

Plus Echo & the Bunnymen are mad cute, Andy Stott is mad moody, and Carlos Niño ain’t mad at all.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

Happy Mercury Music Issue to all those who observe! Today marks the release of the Mercury’s first Music Issue since pre-pandemic. Edited by yours truly, the issue is stuffed silly with heaps good music features, including a Portland music map, album reviews, a summer festival roundup, Justin Townes Earle’s Portland years, a Turn! Turn! Turn! […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Cabaret Voltaire’s Portland Debut, Yuvees Back in Town, and Texas Is—in Fact—the Reason

Plus, Ashanti plays the Portland Fire’s franchise opener, and Portland Music News.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

You miss Mercury Music Picks the last few weeks? Well, I missed you too! But the absence was for a good reason—next week sees the launch of the Mercury’s first Music Issue since pre-pandemic. Editing a print issue takes an incredible amount of time and effort by a huge crew of hard working people—and we’re […]

Posted inMusic

Breaking: Portland Mercury to Host “Party of the Year” May 14

Celebrating their first Music Issue since pre-pandemic, the Mercury have Isabeau Waia’u Walker, the Barbaras, Keeks, and La Isla Electronica along for the ride at Turn! Turn! Turn!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

It’s been a long time since the Mercury dropped a Music Issue. So long, in fact, that we’re throwing a party about it and you’re invited!  On May 14, the Mercury ne’er-do-wells are taking over (THE NOT CLOSING) Turn! Turn! Turn! for a two-part concert featuring four of our favorite Portland artists. This here Music […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Hip-Hop Royalty the Pharcyde and Emo Heartthrobs AFI Are in Town

Plus, the first-ever Regional Woodwind Conference and Portland Panorama are happening!
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A beautifully potent message from Iceland’s biggest export, Björk, that Mercury Music Picks would like to echo and amplify: Wednesday, April 15  Oklou / Vickie Cherie  For fans of  QT, PC Music, Hannah Diamond French vocalist, producer, and composer Marylou Mayniel, aka Oklou, burst onto the experimental pop scene in 2020 with her debut mixtape […]

Posted inThe Trail Blazers

Off With Their Heads!

Portland officially declares April 12 No Kings Day after Blazers dethrone Sacramento Kings at Moda Center.
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After one of the rockiest season-starts imaginable, the Portland Trail Blazers, through incredible perseverance, earn themselves a postseason, the first game of which is at the Phoenix Suns tomorrow, April 14, at 7 PM PST.  First off, and let us say this loud and clear for those in the back, good fucking riddance, Chauncey Billups. […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Mix Master Mike Chops It Up and Forty Feet Tall Get Higher at High Limit Room

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
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Last weekend was kooky-beautiful outside. Or at least it looked that way while convalescing in my sickbed… That means that Darkswoon, FKA twigs, Only Fire, Six Sex, and more were missed by this lowly music editor. The absolute pits! But I suppose sickness can be framed as a reminder to be proactive about seeking joy.  […]

Posted inMusic News

Turn! Turn! Turn! Lives! Lives! Lives!

After months of uncertainty, new owners take over the venerated North Portland venue.
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Christmas came way early yesterday, April 1, when it was announced via Instagram that the longtime venue on the corner of North Killingsworth and Williams, Turn! Turn! Turn!, has found new owners to carry on the space’s storied legacy of providing Portland with a music living room.  The news comes at a pivotal juncture in […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Homos Rejoice—Cobrah, Only Fire, Darkswoon, FKA twigs, Six Sex, and HIRS Collective Are All in Town!

Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
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This week is big time for the homosexuals… and it’s not even June! If you a gay and like dancing, Cobrah, Only Fire, and Six Sex are your best bets. If you gay but a more alternative gay, Darkswoon’s album release and FKA twigs will scratch all your itches. If you gay but really not […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Hardcore Shortiez Destroy HLR, Larry Brings His Flask to Showdown, and It’s Spring Break in Kenton

Plus, Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Avatar photo Nolan Parker

Okay, so who saw Sessa last night at Showdown? Was Sessa’s charming stage presence, irresistible Portuguese vocals, and the whole band’s groovy sunshine energy to blame for the entire room falling in love with the musicians from São Paulo? Yes. The originals Gal Costa and Marcos Valle would be proud knowing of the work Sessa […]

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