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Nolan Parker

Nolan Parker is the Mercury’s former music editor.
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!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

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 […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Bijoux Cone’s Homecoming, and Canadian Piss and Brazil’s Sessa Are in Town

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

Wow y’all, who was at Mavis Staples over the weekend? The diva—at 86 years young—is still a firecracker on stage, doing little dances and hitting her notes better than any imitators could ever dream. A heartfelt congratulations to the Portland Jazz Festival for holding it all the way down again in 2026. Looking forward to […]

Posted inSpring Arts 2026

Philip Glass Spreads His Wings on the First Complete Recording of 1000 Airplanes on the Roof

Portland’s Third Angle played the piece under an airplane in McMinnville, the subsequent recording is pure science-fiction. 
Avatar photo Nolan Parker

The power of place and context are not lost on Third Angle New Music. Founded in 1985, the Portland nonprofit curates site-specific experiences featuring music by young composers and venerated 20th century legends, often commissioning brand new pieces for their performances. For example, in January, Third Angle tucked musicians into the nooks and crannies of […]

Posted inSpring Arts 2026

Do This, Do That: Spring Arts 2026

Take heed! Your spring arts and culture plans have arrived.
Avatar photoAvatar photoAvatar photoAvatar photoAvatar photo Bri Brey, Lindsay Costello, Wm. Steven Humphrey, Nolan Parker, and Suzette Smith

Seven Films by Kelly Reichardt THROUGH MARCH 22 (FILM) Clinton Street’s monthlong series for March centers the Pacific Northwest’s director supreme Kelly Reichardt, working near through her entire filmography. Novelist and Reichardt’s frequent artistic collaborator Jon Raymond will attend three screenings (Wendy and Lucy, Meek’s Cutoff, Showing Up) and offer post-viewing Q&As. If you missed […]

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