Well, has it finally happened? Are we in the season where concerts and events are slowing down, allowing us to chill and take some time to ourselves? Yes and no! There is still so much happening around town right now that tough decisions still need to be made between one show and another, and between seeing a show at all and hanging out in your warm home with your warm cat. 

Regardless of your personal choices, Mercury Music Picks is here to help, shedding light on only the crème de la crème of Portland shows both touring and local. Stay cozy with Scottish bagpipes, why don’t ya. Stay heated with queer industrial rave, if you please. Give happy-sad indie-folk a whirl! It’s all happening in Portland this week, and don’t you forget it :)

Wednesday, November 12

Brìghde Chaimbeul / Marisa Anderson

For fans of Laura Cannell, Joanna Newsom, Mary Lattimore

Much like in the United States, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional crafts and music in Gaelic countries. Born on Scotland's Isle of Skye, Brìghde Chaimbeul is a native Gaelic speaker, playing both the Great Highland bagpipe, and is a part of repopularizing the Scottish smallpipes. Not considered the most soothing of instruments—likely due to its association with the British monarchy—the Scottish bagpipes have within their lofty satchels the capability of producing beautiful, hypnotic drones. Those drones, when coupled with the Gaelic chanting and singing of Chaimbeul, conjure ancient journeys through misty mountain passages and roaring turf fires. The unrivaled enchantment of Marisa Anderson’s guitar opens the evening to the delight and curiosity of all. (Holocene, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)

Thursday, November 13

Cyberplasm / Arsenal Mall / Retirement / Piggy Bank

For fans of GLOSS, whatsdysmorphia, Cheex

Originally hailing from Olympia, Cyberplasm is now partially based in NYC, making their Portland appearances that much more special. The band of radical queers world-builds post-apocalyptic, post-gender landscapes that are dystopic, yes, because collapse has just happened, but the world is still evolving, humans are still evolving. Hard-tech noise brutality will be the ruler of the day in the end, and Cyberplasm our champion. The rest of the lineup—Arsenal Mall, Retirement, and Piggy Bank—do us a favor by relieving our ear drums of life. Arsenal Mall are the fast lughead punk we deserve, Retirement dropped a shredder new album this year with Attention Economy, as did new-punks-on-the-block Piggy Bank with Pattern Recognition. (World Famous Kenton Club, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)

Saturday, November 15

Dustin Wong / Julius Smack / Jason Urick / Carly Barton b2b Omari Jazz

For fans of Lucy Liyou, Final Fantasy, Black Decelerant 

Let us take a moment to appreciate Moment, the decentralized music series that has been pulling an incredible lineup of experimental composers to Portland for well over a year now. Exceptionally well curated, this Moment brings some of the most gorgeous ambient artists together in a space most often used for club and rave nights. LA’s Dustin Wong builds sparse sonic landscapes not of this world, nor are they completely alien. Also hailing from LALA is Julius Smack, his music playfully sober, building on repetitive mallet work à la Steve Reich. The eerie boops and loops of Jason Urick open the night, with Portland’s Carly Barton and Omari Jazz going back to back on the decks as an appetizer. (Process, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)

Monday, November 17 

Julie Doiron / Bad Posture Club

For fans of Mount Eerie, Grouper, My Gay Banjo

Though Canadian indie-folk singer-songwriter Julie Doiron hails from the small east coast province of New Brunswick, her music has always felt deeply in community with the music of the Pacific Northwest. Softly in touch with herself and the world around her, Doiron’s music is the correct soundtrack for any number of autumnal walks: heading to the bar to meet friends, heading home from a good date, heading home from a bad date—any situation in which you find yourself thinking about past lives and loves, that’s the Julie Doiron headspace. Anacortes, Washington queer-folk duo Bad Posture Club sit up straight in the opening slot. (Showdown Saloon, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)

Also very worth it…

Sorrows / Godot / St. Sophie / Ominyx at The Six - Nov 11, more info here

Nuclear Daisies at Show Bar - Nov 12, more info here

Friends Friends / Pool Boys / Easy Bruiser at Showdown Saloon - Nov 13, more info here

Raekwon / Mobb Deep at Crystal Ballroom - Nov 13, more info here

Blesst Chest / Talking Contest / DJ Bankrübber at Spare Room - Nov 14, more info here

Ural Thomas & The Pain / Johnny Franco & His Real Brother Dom at Mississippi Studios - Nov 15, more info here 

Amulet / Miss Luxury / God Boat / GF Simulator / Kira Kira / Tulip Factory at High Water Mark - Nov 15, more info here

Nour Harkati / Old Unconscious at Village Ballroom - Nov 16, more info here

Boris / Cloakroom at Revolution Hall - Nov 16, more info here

Portland Music News: 

Mercury Music Picks took a couple weeks off because there's been so much happening in Portland music. With that, check out the below stories that've dropped in the last weeks.

Portugal. The Man released their new album Shish last Friday. 

Monqui and AEG broke ground on their new Lloyd Center concert venue. 

Holy Sons dropped their second full-length album of 2025.

Rockhound expedition guide Alison Jean Cole shares the deeply serene ambient country she listens to while exploring Oregon wilderness. 

Portland band Guitar released their new album We're Heading to the Lake.