Holiday parties are every night of the week these days, y’all nogged out yet? Personally, I fuck with the holiday season. The friends and family in town, the food, the parties, the gift-giving and affection-showing, and the general merriment of the season lend themselves to a pretty good time. Smoke some pot and walk down Peacock Lane! Eat mushrooms and stroll through The Grotto! Drop some acid and freak out the squares at IDK, Nordstrom, and have a friend (preferably also on acid) film it! However you celebrate this most magical of seasons, I hope you find some deep joy within yourself and your communities.Â
Speaking of communities—wow, killer transition—I just got back from Seattle and jurying the submissions for HUMP! Film Festival 2026, and Oregon came in VERY clutch. Many Portland submissions, and a single submission coming from Redmond. Well done, you absolute freaks! It was much fun watching heaps of amateur porn (my go-to in moments of personal need) for 9+ hours and getting paid. If you’ve ever considered submitting to HUMP!—do it! You’ll be in silly, sexy, funny, smart, FUCKING QUEER, company. Though submissions for 2026 are closed, 2027 submissions are open for all you freak-deaky kinksters out there! You could win ca$h prizes on top of the portion of ticket sales HUMP! shares with the filmmakers….
Wednesday, December 17
Sorry / Avice Caro
For fans of Mary Jane Dunphy, Everything But The Girl, Melody’s Echo Chamber
Dropping their buttery-smooth album Cosplay earlier this year, the North London huns Sorry lay their hearts down on the tracks, halting the incessant chug of soulless indie-pop that has been dominating the underground-lite these last years. Firmly situated in, but playing with the edges of the vast indie genre, Sorry put the mid dudes of the world on blast through a self assured understanding of desire, lust, and pop songwriting. Sorry, not sorry. Fellow Londoner Avice Caro opens the two-band bill, her psych-pop melodies perfectly accenting that of the headliners'. (Mississippi Studios, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Thursday, December 18
Yves Tumor / Nation / Omari Jazz
For fans of Lotic, serpentwithfeet, FKA twigs
Since debuting as Yves Tumor in 2015, the chameleonic artist has released it all: soul, R&B, noise, experimental club, ambient, pop-punk, etc. And now, with the release of lead single “Berghain”—a track also featuring Björk—on RosalĂa’s new album, anthemic opera. The most recent time I saw Yves Tumor was years ago at Funkhaus Berlin, where Tumor threw an absolute temper tantrum because the team running sound wouldn’t turn the levels up (people were leaving at this point because it was too loud). Despite what it may sound like, the show was wildly entertaining until the very end. This a recommendation to attend Tumor’s DJ set after all, especially with Portland’s Omari Jazz in tow. (The Den, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)
Friday, December 19
Matt Dorrien & Friends’ Wintertide WassailÂ
For fans of Christmas magic, holiday cheer, getting a little tipsy at the concert while your kids run around making friends
In the deepest, darkest depths of despair during the COVID-19 pandemic, I truly believe Portland’s Matt Dorrien saved lives by dropping his four-song holiday EP, My Christmas Plea, in December 2020. Since then, it's been a staple every year between the last weekend of November and December 25th. With its three original songs, and a delightfully understated cover of “White Christmas,” Dorrien world-builds the magical Christmas seasons of our childhoods. Matt, if you’re reading this, please, please, please record a Christmas LP and press it to vinyl! This is Dorrien’s inaugural Wintertide Wassail, featuring friends from his label Mama Bird, as well as other cheery Portland artists, including Isabeau Waia'u Walker, Alela Diane, Nick Delffs, and more. This is an all ages affair, bring the kiddos out and introduce them to good holiday music early! (Polaris Hall, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Saturday, December 20
DJ Slugo / Tony Lok / Más o Menos / Daniela KarinaÂ
For fans of DJ Screw, DJ Manny, DJ AssaultÂ
As one of the originators of ghetto house and juke, Chicago’s DJ Slugo employs minimal, repetitive beats—filling dance floors world-wide for decades. Not for the easily offended, no humor-having cucks, Slugo lays some pretty nasty bars over his beats including, “Finished with my clit and I’m finished with your dick / We’ll flip the script baby and Imma ride on that shit,” and “Ride in my truck / Bitch you gonna fuck.” The all-Portland opening crew is guaranteed to come correct, setting the dial to hard rave. (Process, 10 pm, more info here, 21+)
Also very worth it…
Centrifugal Force Machine / At the Heart of the World / Doomed Romantics at Star Bar - Dec 18, more info here
Yob / Hell at Revolution Hall - Dec 19, more info here
Fletcher / Amulets at Deep Waters - Dec 19, more info here
Zookraut / Buddy Wynkoop / Black Shelton & The American Dream at Kenton Club - Dec 20, more info here
Four Dead Seasons / All Quiet / Trial of Eurydice / Emulsion at The Off Beat - Dec 20, more info here
Hewn / Karoshi / Stoneyard / Yudai at High Limit Room - Dec 20, more info here
