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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.
Nolan Parker
For decades, Portland’s lampposts and community boards have told a vibrant history. Oftentimes stacked one on top of another, feet-thick, stapled up on poles lining hip-strips like Mississippi and Hawthorne avenues, concert posters clue in passersby that certain artists will be playing at a certain time and date at a certain place; while also telling […]
On November 2, via an Instagram post, the much loved Central Eastside staple, Lollipop Shoppe announced that they plan on closing their doors around Thanksgiving this year (November 27) due to financial stress. The venue will continue hosting shows until its closure, with show announcements being shared out via Instagram and the Shoppe’s website. Since […]
Well, has it finally happened? Are we in the season where concerts and events are slowing down, allowing us to chill and take some time to ourselves? Yes and no! There is still so much happening around town right now that tough decisions still need to be made between one show and another, and between […]
John Gourley of Portland-based Portugal. The Man has been quietly dropping heat since the mid-2000s, well before the formation of P.TM and the band’s move from Wasilla, Alaska, down to Rip City. It’s been all community building of some sort or another: community building with other musicians and creatives, community building between cultures and traditions, […]
It’s not every day there’s a groundbreaking for a new venue in Portland. In fact, we’ve never seen a groundbreaking like this in the Rose City. On Wednesday, October 22, local booking and promotion agency Monqui Presents, along with international bookers and promoters Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for their new Lloyd […]
LINDSAY COSTELLO: What’re you up to this Halloweekend? NOLAN PARKER: Idk yet, there’s so much on! Papi’s got a Día de los Muertos gig on in NE and Nonbinary GF are headlining a medieval punk show at High Limit Room. She/her about town, Jenna Fletcher is also chirping about a queer dance party at White […]
Of all the squares on Portland’s “Let’s Get Rid of Trail Blazer Head Coach Chauncey Billups” bingo card—Mafia ties, extortion, and illegal gambling perhaps weren’t on the top of the list. Last night—October 22, 2025—the Portland Trail Blazers played the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing the energetic home game 114 to 118. Though fashion icon Jerami Grant […]
So who was at Turnstile, Amyl & The Sniffers, and Speed last Wednesday? Half the Mercury staff was there… it’s the kind of show that makes you never want to miss another show ever again. The lead dude in Sydney, Australia’s Speed was fucking strapped, looking like a kangaroo about to beat you down in […]
Whose idea was it to book Autechre, Nourished By Time, Lucinda Williams, and Fleshwater all on the same night? And then, the very next night, Turnstile, Amyl & The Sniffers, Speed, and Jane Remover?? At least those last four are on the same bill…. Having a friend visiting you from a city you used to […]
At 6 PM on October 5, 2017—just 35 days before Fred Cole’s death—the City of Portland officially decreed the date, and all following October 5’s into perpetuity, an official City holiday: Dead Moon Night. That first Dead Moon Night was celebrated with performances at City Hall, including appearances by Michael Hurley, Ural Thomas, Marissa Anderson, […]
Many life-giving shows have transpired since the last Mercury Music Picks two weeks ago: NxWorries at Crystal, Cosmic Tones Research Trio album release at Hollywood, The Barbaras album release at Showdown, my DJ set at Dream House (plug), Grandaddy at Rev. Hall, Sun Blood Stories at Bunk Bar, 45th Parallel Universe performing Philip Glass’ Quartets. […]
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