November is here, which means a parade of holidays are coming your way, from Election Day to Veterans Day to Thanksgiving. Plus, it’s Native American Heritage Month and the first round of festive winter events are popping up on the calendar. And of course, there’s also the usual array of concerts, festivals, food & drink events, and tons more. As we do every month, we’ve compiled the biggest events you need to know about in every genre, from Portugal. The Man with the Oregon Symphony to the Portland Book Festival and from Fred Armisen to Plus Plus Fest.
COMEDY
Fred Armisen: Comedy for Musicians But Everyone is Welcome
Fred Armisen’s comedy feels like having an inside joke with an old friend. His goofy style and casually awkward delivery helped propel him through 11 seasons of Saturday Night Live, and he was clearly charmed by our city as the co-writer and co-star of Portlandia. But before his comedy career took off, Armisen was a musician (some folks really do have all the talent). He played in punk bands in Chicago’s indie scene and later incorporated music into his comedy, serving as the bandleader of the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers from 2014–2024. In 2025, Armisen released 100 Sound Effects, a comedy audio album featuring 101 tracks of oddly specific, delightfully recognizable sounds. Highlights include a music venue employee kicking everyone out at closing time while tossing bottles, jackets zipping, and airplane cabin white noise. Armisen is a master at turning the sounds of everyday life into comedy gold, and this hybrid live show capitalizes on that, combining stand-up, instrument demonstrations, and hyper-specific music industry satire. Let the B-roll! BRI BREY
Newmark Theatre, Downtown (Fri Nov 13)
