Spring is springing, festival announce season is in full swing, and there are so many shows popping off in Portland, it’s bananas! As ever, the Portland Mercury has rounded up what, in our humble opinions, are the best music happenings in town that we believe are worth your time, coin, and attention. Go to as many of these as humanly possible or be forever bummed, you’ve been warned. ☠️ 

Friday, March 14

Wyrd War presents S/He is Still Her/e: the Official Genesis P-orridge Documentary

For fans of Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, pandrogeny

We lost one of the realest ones when, in March 2020, Genesis P-Orridge died of leukemia at the age of 70. P-Orridge was central in the development of noise music, trans rights, and occultism from the late ’60s through today. Artists like Arca, Sophie, and Anohni owe much of the artistic freedom and exposure they enjoy(ed) directly to P-Orridge. Though we no longer have he/r with us on this plane, P-Orridge's presence is still felt through he/r music and gems like the documentary, S/He is Still Her/e—a video archive and diary taking a hard look at the last year of he/r life before succumbing to leukemia. Deep gratitude to the folks at Wyrd War for facilitating the Oregon debut of the documentary. (Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, Fri March 14, 7:30 pm, $10+, tickets here, all ages)

Saturday, March 15

Help / Machine Country / Haunted Horses

For fans of the Jesus Lizard, Botch, Cerce

The band Help come out swinging, hard, in every iteration of their existence: their recorded material, their live shows, their touring schedules, and on and on. And guess what, they’re from Portland! Give their album, Courage, a spin—it’s one of Portland’s best releases from 2024, IMO. Also, just because I think it’s hilarious, here’s their Instagram handle: @helpifuckingneedit. Machine Country just released Industrial Offering earlier this month and it rips! It’s absolutely a contender for best PDX releases of 2025. Opening the night is another Portland band, Haunted Horses, who also just released a heavy-hitting split record with Cali band, Facet. Damn, we are blessed to live in a place with such vibrant music scenes. (Swan Dive, 727 SE Grand, Sat March 15, 8 pm, $15, tickets here, 21+) 

Keddies Resort / Von Mono / Rango / Lightly

For fans of Black Lips, Bleed, Slowdive 

Fun, danceable punk truly abounds in the topography of Portland music. Keddies Resort has been rockin’ around town for a few years now, continually getting tighter, harder, and more fun with every show. Formed in McMinnville, Von Mono perfectly distills the sound of post-grunge ’90s alternative with the earnestness of all the waves of emo and just the right amount of psychedelic noodling. Hot on the tail of their new Loudscarynoises album, Rango bring the shoegaze mellow to this bill, not unlike the perfect amount of Ketamine dissociation. Opening the bill is “the world’s only three-piece shoegaze band,” Lightly. Also of note, Bridge City Sessions doesn’t host a ton of concerts anymore, so this show’ll have that "five year high school reunion" vibe where everyone is hot, still young, and have learned how to party the right way. (Bridge City Sessions, 1440 SE Powell, Sat March 15, 8 pm, $10 at the door, all ages)

Sunday, March 16

White Gourd / MSHR / Trigger Object / Kelli Frances Corrado 

For fans of Genesis P-Orridge, Nurse With Wound, Keiji Haino

This is a summit of experimental electronics in its truest form: sacred and divine music for those looking to explore inner pathways and celestial unknowns. Look beyond what you see in front of you to the infinite possibilities of being available to us all. Heady yet approachable—music from everyone, for everyone. Not a whole lot can be researched about these artists online and what can be found is piecemeal. What is certain is that time will cease and minds will be expanded. Grab an Orange Julius on your way to Virtua, inside Lloyd Center. (Virtua Gallery, 2201 Lloyd Center (inside Lloyd Center Mall), Sun March 16, 6 pm, $15 at the door, all ages)

Buddy Wynkoop / Telehealth / Queen Rodeo

For fans of Parquet Courts, Cold Meat, Dustbunny

Portland's own Buddy Wynkoop is releasing their debut album, Better Than Botox, and you’re invited to the party! The BW boys crush the angular, disjointed post-punk that is, yes, infectiously danceable. It’s big time when a stellar hometown band drops their debut long player—expect me front-row-center for this one. Seattle’s Telehealth is a band we should all experience in our lifetimes and, though Sub Pop is pretty hit or miss these days, they nailed it when they released two Telehealth tracks via their lauded Singles Club series a couple years ago. Kicking off the night are PDX dream poppers, Queen Rodeo who, rumor has it, are also releasing a new album this year. Can you even believe it?? (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave, Sun March 16, 7:30 pm, $15, tickets here, 21+)

Wednesday, March 19

Chihei Hatakeyama / Wild Card / {arsonist}

For fans of Hiroshi Yoshimura, Stars of the Lid, Ann Annie

The blissed-out electronic processing of guitars, vibraphones, piano, and more are the music-making neural pathways preferred by Tokyo-based musician and engineer, Chichei Hatakeyama. His new album, Lucid Dreams, is imbued with naturalistic soundscapes perfect for Portland’s collective awakening from winter, transitioning into spring. A Portland ambient super group of sorts, Wild Card build naturalistic worlds, drawing inspiration from the Cascadian bioregion many of us call home. The mysterious {arsonist} sets the tone for the evening, which, if it’s not abundantly clear, is ambient exceptionalism. The bringing together of these minds is all thanks to Megalith. (Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Wed March 19, 8 pm, $20, tickets here, 21+)

Also very worth it…

Poppy / Kumo 99 at Crystal Ballroom - March 13, tickets here 

Heart / Squeeze at Moda Center - March 14, tickets here

Hickey Machine at Process - March 14, tickets here

Russian Circles / Pelican at Revolution Hall - March 15, SOLD OUT

Cold Cave / Kontravoid / Buzz Kull at Wonder Ballroom - March 15, tickets here

Betty Three Year Anniversary ft. Uffie at 1002 SE 8th - March 15, tickets here

Portland Music News:

Forthcoming Kenton venue, The Off Beat, have just announced their first show (maybe not the first show to happen in the venue but it's the first show to have been announced)! The hardcore hullabaloo was booked by 777 Booking and will feature Haywire, Death Before Dishonor, the Truth, Spurr, and Aggro—going down June 25, tickets here. Stayed tuned, we'll be bringing you more news on The Off Beat along with the minds behind the new venue, Friends of Noise. 

The Seattle math rock band, Minus The Bear announced today that they will be going on tour this fall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their seminal album, Menos El Oso, and will be stopping at Portland's Roseland Theater on October 4. Presale goes live tomorrow, March 12, at 10 am PST.

Not exactly music news per se, but music-adjacent: the Portland Zine Symposium announced its 2025 dates yesterday. The symposium will be taking place November 8-9 this year in PSU's Smith Ballroom.Â