Another week, another pile of music news for you to sort through. So let’s not waste another minute. Press play!
Luz Elena Mendoza of Y La Bamba just announced she will be performing a series of shows with the Camas High School Choir this spring. You may remember this vocal group, directed by Ethan Chessin, from their fantastic collaborations with Luke Wyland of AU and Kelly Pratt of Beirut. The choir will be working with Mendoza on a piece entitled El Agua de Mi Ser (or The Water of My Being), an all-new work that, according to the Y La Bamba leader, is about the traumas in Mexico’s history and the US, and how classism affects the value of the people in both countries.”
Mendoza and the Camas High School Choir have three live dates lined up for this collaboration so far: March 26 at the Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima, WA; March 28 in Boise as part of the Treefort Music Festival; and here in Portland at Revolution Hall on April 17.
As promised, Pickathon has begun doling out the names of some of the artists playing the 2020 installment of the festival this week. Their first reveals: Americana legend John Prine, who, surprisingly, has never made a visit to Pendarvis Farm before; indie pop space cadets Chad VanGaalen and (Sandy) Alex G; and the fantastic folk singer/songwriter Joan Shelley. The fest has also unveiled the names of the Grove Stage and the Paddock Stage, part of their promise to make the event look “completely different in 2020.” Keep your eyes peeled on Pickathon’s website and Twitter account as more event info gets announced every day.
A friendly tipster hipped us to the news that the Multnomah County Library is set to celebrate Portland’s punk scene with an exhibition to be held at the Central Library’s Collins Gallery. Entitled Pioneers of Portland Punk, the display will feature vintage instruments, photos, and layouts of posters and fanzines from the late ’70s/early ’80s scene. The exhibit will be up from May 9 through July 5, with a special reception and panel discussion on May 16 featuring key figures from Portland’s punk past.
The Oregon Symphony announced their 2020-21 season today, with a full schedule of performances and events that will serve as a long farewell to Carlos Kalmar. Kalmas will be stepping down from his post as the orchestra’s music director after 18 years of service. In the mix are performances of Mozart’s final three symphonies (Oct 31-Nov 2); an appearance by violinist James Ehnes (Nov 7-Nov 9); a program featuring Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony (Jan 30, 2021-Feb 1, 2021); a recently composed piano concerto from Hans Abrahamsen that is performed only using the left hand (April 24, 2021-April 26, 2021); and the crowning event: a performance of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony and the world premiere of a commission from Gabriel Kahane that'll serve as Kalmar’s final appearance with the Oregon Symphony (June 12, 2021-June 14, 2021).
Heads up to all you record heads out there: If you don’t already know, the 2020 edition of the Eugene Record Show is happening on March 1 in, you guessed it, Eugene, Oregon. If you fancy yourself a bit of a record collector, this two-hour drive down south is totally worth it. Dozens of dealers from around the Northwest will be there with boxes of rare and not-so-rare LPs and 45s from across the musical spectrum for you to peruse and potentially purchase. Admission to the big event, which kicks off at 10 am at the Graduate Eugene (66 E Sixth), is only $3, but if you want to get an advance peek at what’s in store, early entry starts at 7 am and will set you back $20.
Listen... we love live shows as much as the next person, but can y’all slow down a little bit with the tour announcements? We’re having a really hard time keeping up, and our well-being and bank accounts are suffering as a result. That said...
Joe Wong, composer for TV shows Russian Doll and Master of None, and the host of the popular drum-centric podcast The Trap Set, is going to be hitting Revolution Hall on May 23 to play tracks from his latest album, Nite Creatures. He’ll be joined by an all-star backing band, including guitarist Mary Timony and Pearl Jam/Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron.
Kraftwerk, the synthpop pioneers who are down to just one original member but still put on one hell of a live show, return to the Keller Auditorium on June 21 for a 3D concert tour to celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary.
On June 26, Santana and Earth Wind & Fire will turn the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater into a boogie wonderland, if only for one glorious night.
Indie blues/rock duo the Black Keys are back again for a date at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater on July 8, with support from the amazing Gary Clark Jr. and Tyler, the Creator collaborator Jessy Wilson.
Beloved UK political folk artist Billy Bragg will be at the Aladdin Theater for a three-night run from August 5 through August 7 that will find him playing a career spanning set on the first night, tracks from his first three albums on the second, and songs from his next three albums on the third night.
Delightful country-pop superstar Maren Morris returns to Portland to partake in our legal weed and to play a show at the Theater of the Clouds (Moda Center) on September 11.
Two nights later, on September 13, another amazing female artist, Kim Gordon, plays the Wonder Ballroom as part of a tour in support of her incredible solo album No Home Record.
They Might Be Giants continue their tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their album Flood with a stop at the Crystal Ballroom on October 6.
And for you road trippers, UK synth-pop legends Pet Shop Boys and New Order are joining forces for a co-headlining US tour that hits the Gorge Amphitheater on September 26. The two groups will each play a full set and alternate headlining along the way. All sounds great, but I’m hoping for a little interlude where they kick out some Electronic jams.
