As we count down to being inevitably, forever changed by Cowboy Carter, the new Beyoncé album, we know our new Beyoncé-changed self will still be stoked about things happening on a local level, including some of Portland’s own beloved country-western musicians Jenny Don’t and the Spurs. We've got news about a new release from that group. We’re also jazzed about a chance to see Orquestra Pacifico Tropicale (basically always), and the fact that Pickathon just released its 2024 lineup. Read up on your music news, Hear in Portland.
MUST SEE:
Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).
Orquestra Pacifico Tropicale
Is there ever truly a bad time to see an OPT show? We think not. Led by acclaimed drummer Papi Fimbres (Dreckig, Máscaras), Orquestra Pacifico Tropicale deals in electrifying, psychedelic cumbia inspired by the '50s, ’60s, and ’70s that will transport you. While the band hasn’t released a project since 2018’s excellent El Tren—which we’re still enthusiastically bumping—OPT has a solid reputation for infectious, buoyant live performances. On March 30, the 11-piece band will headline Portland's downtown Star Theater, with Seattle's digital folklore and psychedelic electro-cumbia act Terror/Cactus, as well as Caicedo, the tropical project of multidisciplinary artist Vicco González. (Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, Sat March 30, 9 pm, $20, tickets here, 21+)
MUST LISTEN:
New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.
“Pain in My Heart,” Jenny Don’t and the Spurs
Stalwart Portland-based outlaw country act Jenny Don’t and the Spurs will drop a brand new album called Broken Hearted Blue on June 14 via Fluff & Gravy Records. That's exciting enough as is, but just today, March 28, the band dropped its lead single “Pain in My Heart.” It's an upbeat, hoedown-reminiscent bop that centers on a feeling of being heartbroken and throwing a self-pity party. Front person Jenny Don’t sings in the chorus: “There’s a pain in my heart/ And I don’t really understand it/ But when I saw you is when I felt it start/ And there’s a low I won’t go/ And I’m doing all I can just to avoid it” The band’s Flyin' High tour kicks off this spring, hitting the road across the Midwest, over to the Northeast, and even up to Canada. Portlanders can look for a live set from the group at One Moto Motorcycle Show 2024 on Sat, April 20.
ADDED TO THE QUEUE:
Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar.
Pickathon 2024
As longtime fans of Pickathon, we were thrilled to hear the experiential music festival was able to renew its land use permit for up to 10 more years. On March 20, the festival dropped its artist lineup for 2024, and there is definitely some interesting stuff to see at the Pendarvis Farm-based festival this August. While Pickathon is known to add artists to the lineup as the festival nears, this first iteration is giving. One artist we are particularly stoked to see is French Canadian neo-soul singer/bassist Adi Oasis, whose funky, conscious sound feels like it could be the lovechild of Jamila Woods, Erykah Badu, and Solange. She’ll be jamming out to vintage sonics on tracks like “Adonis.” Other must-see acts to catch at the festival include indie rock singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, deeply improvised and experimental free-jazz quintet Irreversible Entanglements, soul, funk, and hip-hop fusionists the Soul Rebels—who’ll be performing highlights from their new album Poetry In Motion. Also keep an eye for the sets of jazz-minded rapper-singer McKinley Dixon and Atlanta punk rock- and doom-driven band Upchuck. Tickets are on sale now. Check out the full lineup below:
Courtney Barnett
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Durand Jones
Elephant Revival
Vacations
Cocorosie
Adi Oasis
Vincent Neil Emerson
Geese
The Soul Rebels
Chance Peña
Billie Marten
LA LOM
Searows
Irreversible Entanglements
Florry
Jess Williamson
Jake Kohn
JJUUJJUUJJUU
Daniel Villarreal
Melissa Carper
water from your eyes
Ratboys
Erin Rae
Joanna Sternberg
packs
Two Runner
Logan Halstead
Fust
MSPaint
Mitchum Yacoub
Dean Johnson
Theo Lawrence
Greg Freeman
Sluice
Jeffrey Martin
Sami Braman
John Haywood
