If you’re a hardcore blues fan (or have recently had your love of blues music invigorated by Ryan Coogler’s new horror flick Sinners), you should check out the Waterfront Blues Festival’s lineup. The fest was recently augmented with artists including Oregon-based singer-songwriters including LaRhonda Steele and Ronnie Wright, Tahirah Memory and Arietta Ward, along with PDX Soul Collective, ZZ Ward, and singer/guitarist Tevis Hodge Jr. teamed with Johnnie Ward. Head over to the Blues Fest website to scope the full lineup. Other local music news to be aware of: Rontoms is discontinuing its Sunday Sessions—one of the few remaining free live music events in Portland, but not before throwing an epic mini-fest to celebrate the series. Tiff2Icy headlines the Thesis, and Night Heron’s new album, Escapism, is here! Get into all this music goodness happening right Hear In Portland.
MUST SEE:
Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).
Rontoms Farewell Fest
Rontoms is saying farewell to its beloved Sunday Sessions after putting on free shows for 18 years. Having launched the Sunday night series in 2007, the decision to discontinue the showcase was based mostly on a decline in consistent attendance. Owner Ron Toms, says attendance numbers took a hit during COVID, and free shows need to remain extremely well attended to remain viable. Though we will miss Sunday Sessions dearly, it’s going out with a bang—as a seven-hour mini-fest with a two-stage setup similar to the bar’s 10-year anniversary show, minimizing downtime between acts. The final Sunday Sessions lineup features rock band the Builders and the Butchers, dream pop singer-songwriter Ruth Radelet, pop-funk and neo-soul from Bendre the Giant (the music project of Ben Estrada), Collin Hegna’s darkly cinematic psych-rock six-piece Federale, indie-folk mainstays Loch Lomond, classic pop quintet New Move, and experimental post-rockers Sama Dams. (Rontoms, Sun May 25, 4:25 pm, 21+)
The Thesis: Tiff2icy / 4our / Briggzzy / King Tae / DJ Verbz
Despite the sad news of Sunday Sessions’s demise, it’s a good reminder not to take Portland’s other regularly occurring, locally focused showcases for granted—especially when they’re consistently fire and have maintained quality for over a decade. The Thesis is one such showcase, continuing to serve up stellar lineups focusing on hip-hop and R&B, among other related genres. Tickets are $10-15, and in this economy, that’s a steal. Rapper-singer Tiff2Icy has played the Thesis several times, impressing crowds with her infectious energy and stage presence. We’re hoping her sultry new single “Brown Sugar,” and her catchy “Space Boy,” make the night’s setlist. Further packing the bill is R&B singer-songwriter 4our, who headlined Thesis in January. And of course, every Thesis needs some new blood: rapper-songwriter King Tae makes his official debut on the Thesis’ stage. Resident DJ Verbz keeps the crowd satiated with a bevy of bops before and between sets. (Lollipop Shoppe, Thurs June 5, 8:30 pm, 21+)
MUST LISTEN:
New release(s) from Portland-relevant artist(s).
Escapism by Night Heron
In April we recommended Night Heron’s album release show as the band wrapped up its West Coast tour—we’re once again reminding you to listen to the Portland group’s new album, aptly titled Escapism. If you like groovy, eclectic, slightly retro sounds à la Khruangbin, you’re primed to become a Night Heron fan. Spearheaded by frontman Cameron Spies (formerly of Radiation City), Night Heron’s R&B-tinted pop-psychedelia is dreamy, the perfect calm down at the end of a rugged day. In addition to Spies, the band’s lineup includes bassist Grace Bugbee, multi-instrumentalists Andy Rayborn and Jordan Vale, drummer Tyler Verigin, vocalists Molly Evered and Sara Bedau, along with a rotating cast of horn and percussionists. The new album Escapism is infectious from the jump, opening with the single “Sun In My Eyez.” Rapper Epp contributes vocals to highlight “Morning Cloudz,” while “Juice Box” features saxophone by Nicole McCabe and synth by Bijoux Cone. The penultimate track “Milk & Grapes” is about a conversation between Spies and his daughter, the lyrics for which I, as someone with a toddler daughter, find tender and relatable: “I just wanna drink milk with you / I just wanna eat grapes with you.”
