Good news for people who love poetic gravitas, horses, and the Oxford comma: Patti Smith will stop by the Schnitzer this week. Plus, a new silent film festival at the Hollywood turns up the volume with live scores. The fall run of the HUMP! Film Festival offers a reminder that your filmmaking neighbors are very sexy, and Circle V proves that vegan food rules, actually. Eat up!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Spectrum Between: Zorns Lemma on 16mm
Under-the-radar screening collective Spectrum Between—known for holding avant-garde film programs featuring experimental directors like Stan Brakhage and Barbara Hammer—will present Hollis Frampton’s nonnarrative 1970 film, which pulls its title from a mathematical logic theory and began as a collection of photographs. Zorns Lemma offers a clear example of the structural film movement, which prioritized a minimalist aesthetic and emphasized the mechanics of filmmaking. (Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, 7 pm, $10, more info, not rated) LINDSAY COSTELLO
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
El Grito
Portland’s Mexican consulate hosts this massive two-day celebration of El Grito—the shout, in English—marking the day in 1810 when a priest called on his fellow Mexicans to fight for independence from Spain. It’s also a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day, as well as Hispanic Heritage Month. The event is totally free and features entertainment like live mariachi music and folkloric dancing. Don’t miss the market with handmade artisan goods for sale or the community resource booths. (Moda Center, 1 Rose Center Ct, 11 am-10 pm, FREE, more info, all ages) KATHERINE CHEW HAMILTON
Patti Smith
September is seeing the return of Patti Smith to Portland in the form of songs and stories. I read Just Kids at a pivotal point in my life and I can only imagine her latest memoir, Bread of Angels, will offer sweet new insight into the life and mind of avant-garde punk’s most treasured luminary. Whether you’ve seen her play before or this is a first, this is sure to be a gem of an event, featuring a live performance and talk about her most intimate memoir yet. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $30-$75, more info, all ages) STARLY LOU RIGGS
Thievery Corporation
Another year, another opportunity to see the legendary trip-hop duo Thievery Corporation! The duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton seem to love playing shows in Portland, especially towards the end of the year, when the cooler weather begins to set in, all but begging you to get really close with your boo. 20 years ago, “Lebanese Blonde” was slick enough for Zach Braff to drop onto the cooler-than-the-movie soundtrack for Garden State alongside Zero 7 and Frou Frou, but somehow, their downtempo atmosphere and sexy attempts at aping Massive Attack’s style remain delicious as hell. Buy that cutie you’ve been crushing on a ticket to this set and let the bossa nova beats do the talking. (Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, 8 pm, $57, more info, all ages) HOLLY HAZELWOOD
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Anish Kapoor: Dissolving Margins
Anish Kapoor is well-known around the world for his sculptural works, including monumental public pieces like Cloud Gate (the “Bean”) in Chicago’s Millennium Park and Ark Nova, the world’s first inflatable concert hall, which debuted in Japan. Among the most influential active contemporary artists, Kapoor’s use of vibrant color and exploration of emptiness reveals his dedication to an ever-evolving and fascinating decades-long printmaking practice. This retrospective showcases his lesser-known print work and features over 150 pieces created over the last 40 years. The exhibit also marks the end-of-summer reopening of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University. (Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, 1855 SW Broadway, Tues-Sat 11 am-5 pm through Dec 5, FREE, more info, all ages) BRI BREY
Lido Pimienta
I love Lido Pimienta immensely, and I’m not shy about saying it. The Colombian-Canadian singer/producer/composer simply doesn’t get enough love and adoration, which is a real shame, because this year’s Caribenya was a breath of fresh air. While 2025’s La Belleza was more baroque than pop, Caribenya re-embraces the Björkian beats and playful rhythms that made her 2020 masterwork Miss Colombia as addictive as it has remained. One day, the world at large is finally going to catch up and realize how singularly talented Pimienta is—if you want to join me in smugly telling people you knew it all along, buy the damn ticket to this show. (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, 8 pm, $34, more info, all ages) HH
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Sonic Silents Festival
Composer Mark Orton’s inaugural festival commissions fresh scores for four silent films—Buster Keaton’s The General among them—with each performed live by chamber, jazz, and indie music legends. Head to Hollywood Theatre for the screenings, with new tunes provided by Jenny Conlee and Nate Query of the Decemberists, Max Knouse and Rachel Blumberg of Califone, and Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, among over a dozen other musicians. (Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, various hours through Sept 20, $35, more info) LC
HUMP! Fall Film Festival
Calling all sexpots! The most exciting film festival in the world—HUMP!—is back with a brand new lineup of absolutely filthy short films this fall, directed by and starring your very own sexy friends and neighbors across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. As expected, this edition of HUMP! refuses to play it safe. Featuring something for every sexual taste and body type, HUMP! comes in hot with tiny dirty flicks featuring thoughtful explorations of desire, eye-popping experimentation, and hilarious depictions of Noah’s Ark, LEGOs, dim sum, Frankenstein, food (that’s not food), doctor role play, and haunted glory holes. HUMP! is the film festival that never disappoints. (Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, 6:30 pm and 9 pm, $25, more info, 18+) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Josh Thomas
Comedy and TV fans (as well as the gays) are likely familiar with the bright, shining talent of Josh Thomas—the Australian comedian whose career skyrocketed in his teens, and who now at 39 years old has produced and starred in two fantastic television shows, Please Like Me and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay. The winner of multiple comedy awards and festivals, Thomas is also an accomplished actor and is known for his bubbly, awkward, and smart stand-up, where he talks about his neurodivergence and massive dating fails. He’ll take you on a rollercoaster ride of enthusiasm paired with emotional depth. Oh, and he’ll make you laugh… so there’s that, too. (Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $51.50, more info, all ages) WSH
Also worth it:
Croz Boyce, Patricia Wolf, Mission Theater, more info
Although they’re best known as one-half of Animal Collective, Avey Tare and Geologist’s new project, Croz Boyce, represents a more relaxed, breezy collaboration between the pair. Local ambient luminary Patricia Wolf opens this show.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Portland Weird Fest
The Unipiper is undoubtedly the Portland ambassador most responsible for Keeping Portland Weird, as the bumper stickers urge. But did you know that he actually founded a nonprofit, Weird Portland United, dedicated to weirdness? That nonprofit also now has a yearly festival at Oaks Park, promising a chicken beauty contest, an interpretive dance competition, a vendor market full of weird wares, and a rave for kids—oh yeah, and a beer garden. We recommend dressing your weirdest for the occasion. (Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park, 10:30 am-5 pm, $15-$16, more info, all ages) KCH
M
It’s a testament to Fritz Lang’s sense of claustrophobic mise-en-scène and dramatic pacing that his Weimar-era film remains so arresting. Lang distills German Expressionism with surprising sensuality, pairing moments of stark silence with lamplit streets, tobacco pipes billowing smoke, and blood pudding. An atmosphere of outrage and suspicion builds across Berlin as M’s unnerving child killer whistles an eerie song before committing his crimes. Although none of the murders are directly depicted on screen, slasher cinema owes a serious debt to M’s chilling effect. Read more in Second Run Portland. (Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, 11 am, $9, more info, PG-13) LC
Maddie’s Secret
I’ll be honest: I’ve absorbed most of my knowledge of John Early’s work through osmosis due to my fixation on his longtime creative collaborator, Kate Berlant. But if you’re anything like me (deeply invested in a certain crowd of kewl comedians like Berlant, Jacqueline Novak, Conner O’Malley, etc.) then Early will be to your taste, too. The comic with a glittery, desperate gleam in his eyes has done something wholly original: written, directed, and starred in a semi-serious, genuinely profound eating disorder drama inspired by the melodramatic morality and earnestness of ’90s-era made-for-TV storytelling. If Maddie’s Secret sounds insane, that’s because it is. (PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division, 2:30 pm, $15, more info, not rated) LC
Also worth it:
The Big Bounce America, Washington County Fairgrounds, more info
This traveling bounce house show claims to be the largest in the world, with four distinct zones and special sessions for little kids and for adults only.
Portland Polish Festival, Polish Hall, more info
Come for pierogi and kielbasa, check out the traditional Polish music and dancing, and buy some handicrafts, including amber jewelry.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Circle V
One of Portland’s biggest food and drink festivals is also completely vegan. Twenty restaurants/pop-ups are participating in Circle V, from staple vegan restaurants like Jade Rabbit and Boxcar Pizza to rare pop-ups like Mama Dút and Alley Mezza. They’ll pair up to create ten event-exclusive collaborative dishes, all of which are included in the ticket price. Your entry fee also includes small bites from vegan food producers, as well as wine, cider, beer, and sake and non-alcoholic bevvies. And for the line-averse, don’t worry—tastings are split up into two sessions to reduce crowds. (Castaway Portland, 1900 NW 18th, noon-2:30 pm and 3-5:30 pm, $110-$125, more info, 18+) KCH
The Front Bottoms
Finish putting the fresh bedding on your Twin Size Mattress, drink one more Summer Shandy, and head on down to Revolution Hall to see Jersey neo-emo darlings The Front Bottoms. They’ll be blasting through their beloved record, Back on Top, its B-sides (including that sweet, sweet “Joanie”) and a beefy, career-spanning encore to make every younger sadsack in Portland as happy as you can be while listening to Brian Sella whine on stage (complimentary). They’ll also be playing the Roseland the night before this show, but… c’mon, you know you’d rather see this at the Rev! (Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, $56.99, more info, all ages) HH
Also worth it:
Stupid Pet Tricks Contest, Ankeny Rainbow Road, more info
No real skill is required for this contest, but you and your dog can win a real prize—a $25 gift card to Sloshy Pops, which makes boozy pops (for humans). KCH
Looking for even more events happening this week? Head on over to EverOut!
