Happy official spring, Portland! This week weâre honing in on the thrilling news that the Thesis has a new home base, indie rockers Jakki and The Pink Smudge have a new single out, and this summer, country music superstar Chris Stapleton is swinging pretty closeâ15 miles away đ at RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater. Read all about these locally relevant music news thatâs happening Hear in Portland.Â
MUST SEE:Â
Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).   Â
The Thesis' New Venue and Housewarming Party
Well, itâs official, folks: After leaving its longtime home at Kellyâs Olympian due to a misalignment of values, local hip-hop series the Thesis has decided on its new home at inner Southeast bar venue Lollipop Shoppe. Instant positives that come with this venue upgrade include a slightly larger capacity, a longstanding reputation for good shows, andâespeciallyâthe fact that no one needs to walk next door to get a drink anymore! On March 23, the venue will host a âhousewarmingâ event, providing an opportunity for the Thesis crowd to get acclimated to its new digs. Comic and comedic rapper Shrista will perform and keep the crowd entertained, along with Jai Baby, as well as DJ sets from DJ Verbz and DJ Aspen. The series will return to its monthly, full-blown first-Thursday shows on April 4, with a lineup of Swiggle Mandela, Siah Tha Kid, Kmar Woods, Refugio, and DJ Verbz on the ones and twos, to kick off an all-new era of the Thesis. (The Thesis Homecoming, Lollipop Shoppe, 736 SE Grand, Sat March 23, 8:30 pm $10 at the door, 21+; The Thesis, Lollipop Shoppe, 736 SE Grand, Thurs April 4, 9 pm, $10-15, 21+)
MUST LISTEN:Â
New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.Â
âGoing Upâ Jakki and the Pink Smudge
At the end of January, Portland indie rock band Jakki and the Pink Smudge released âI Go On Walks,â along with a video animated by the group's singerâwho leaves pink smudges of lipstick on her microphones, hence the name. At the time, Jakki Wise told the Mercury, âI Go On Walksâ was "more of an experimental song," and said soon the group would have something a bit more indie-fuzz-rock-pop for listeners. On March 15, the group released the foretold single, âGoing Up.â In an Instagram post promoting their new single, the band explained that âGoing Upâ is the first song recorded with all of its current members: Wise, bassist Oliver Lester, guitarist Caleb Ballard, and drummer Charlie Oakes. Mixed and mastered by Ballard, the song carries a sunny, surfer disposition; Wise cheekily sings âYou make me feel like Iâm low quality/ Like Iâm off brand, off brand,â and stands up for herself, adding âdonât put me down again.â
ADDED TO THE QUEUE:Â
Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar.
Chris Stapleton
Ever since the career-defining moment where Chris Stapleton performed his version of âTennessee Whiskeyâ with Justin Timberlake, at the 2015 Country Music Awards, the country singer has been on an upward climb, racking up award nominations and wins and consistently topping the Billboard charts. The Nashville artist arguably possesses the best contemporary male voice in his genre right now, and in my opinion, itâs because the man has soul. His previous three albumsâTraveller, From A Room: Volume 1, and Starting Overâall won the Grammy for Best Country Album; his latest, 2023âs Higher, follows 2020's acclaimed Starting Over. This April, Stapleton embarks on his All American Roadshow Tour, which makes a stop in Ridgefield, WA on July 26. Supporting Stapleton on the bill are R&B artist Allen Stone, and Americana-country act Nikki Lane. Fans can hope to hear Stapletonâs outlaw country-tinged, rock-infused âWhite Horse,â and âCrosswinds,â the blues-informed âSouth Dakota,â and the poignant and romantic âI Think Iâm In Love with You.â Count on him performing his career-making rendition of âTennessee Whiskey,â and most of all, expect chill-inducing vocals and epic guitar solos. (RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, 17200 NE Delfel, Ridgefield, WA; Fri July 26, 7 pm, $165-779+, tickets here, all ages)