Who decided to make Saturday, February 28 Portland’s busiest night for music in 2026? Future local legends Pileup are throwing an album party for their new one Leave The Light On at Leaven Community, while present day local legends Forty Feet Tall will be burning it down a few blocks away at Mississippi Studios. Earlier in the day The Cosmic Tones Research Trio play an in-store at Music Millennium and Larry Peace-Love Yes plays a show with Darci Phenix at Grace Memorial Church—both free. And lest we forget Shanea—bassist of Dustbunny—is releasing their solo debut album Animal Instincts at The Six with Like St. Joan and Laska. What the actual fuck?? If timed correctly, I reckon four shows can be caught on this new Portland holiday.
And don’t even get me started on the rest of the week… The Sun Ra Arkestra plays three nights at Hollywood Theatre, Clipping. is back in town, local hardcore legends Dry Socket play Black Water, and Bathysphere Records are releasing the second installment of their Dive series at Shanghai Tunnel—rumor has it Bathysphere will be live-recording the show for future release.
Sheesh.
Wednesday, February 25 to Friday, February 27
The Sun Ra Arkestra
For fans of the planet Saturn, riding spaceways, time as social construct
If you have not seen the Sun Ra Arkestra on one of their Portland sojourns—the city they call their “West Coast home”—it is time, the spaceways are calling. Formed by and around galactic jazz giant Sun Ra, the Arkestra continues putting the stellar in interstellar under the direction of bandleader Marshall Allen. At 101 years old, Allen is the last remaining Arkestra member to have played with Ra before his transition away from this temporal plane in 1993. Though Ra is most often pegged as an Afrofuturist, his and the Arkestra’s music runs the gamut of jazz music, sometimes dipping into pop and show tunes. It’s a privilege to see this music live; a deep well of gratitude to Portland’s Lonely God for facilitating the ceremony. (Hollywood Theatre, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Thursday, February 26
Clipping. / Open Mike Eagle
For fans of Billy Woods, Shabazz Palaces, Partyof2
The clip at which Clipping. leader Daveed Diggs raps is out-of-control fast. Since the release of their 2014 mixtape Midcity, the LA trio has continually pushed the boundaries of political rap deeper and deeper into the realm of harsh noise with the production prowess of William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. Signed to Sub Pop since their studio album debut CLPPNG, it’s been apparent to anyone listening that the elevated consciousness the band is trying to achieve is infectious. Call me a millennial, but a favorite track has to be Clipping’s recent rework of J-Kwon’s 2004 meisterwerk “Tipsy.” (Wonder Ballroom, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Friday, February 27
Dry Socket / Xui / Therapy / Arsenal Mall
For fans of Circe, Gulch, Labrat
There’s been a lot of local Dry Socket shows happening lately, which rules! The Portland band has reached that level of notoriety where they’re not playing so many shows around town anymore, so savor these moments as their Rose City gigs may become fewer and farther between. The reason for this particular show? Dry Socket ride-or-dies Therapy are in town from San Diego. What better reason for a show than the buds pulling up? Not to be confused with Xiu Xiu, Xui are also up from California to destroy what needs to be destroyed. (You.) Enjoy those bands only if you don’t perish during the Arsenal Mall set… good luck! (Black Water, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Saturday, February 28
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio
For fans of Angel Bat Dawid, Moor Mother, Onyx Collective
Did anyone catch Visible Cloaks’ Reflections performance over the weekend? Had you, you would have clocked Cosmic Tones Research Trio multi-instrumentalist Harlan Silverman playing cello with Visible Cloaks. Harlan and the Trio’s sonic exploration of ancestral bonds holds the power of deep nourishment and love, not to mention they’re at the very heart of our city’s spiritual jazz awakening. Gratitude to the mystery! (Music Millennium, 5 pm, FREE, more info here, all ages)
Forty Feet Tall / Jonny’s Day Out / Femme Cell
For fans of Parquet Courts, Viagra Boys, Idles
After catching the boys for the first time NYE at Trouble Bar, Forty Feet Tall’s Clean The Cage album has been on heavy rotation. This Mississippi show catches the four piece mid-tour, just getting back from a California run (including a Zebulon date), and right before taking off for a brutal South By Southwest schedule. The horn-inflected chaotic-good of Jonny’s Day Out does us right in the middle slot, with the inimitable Femme Cell pulling up to open the gig. After seeing Femme Cell play Nonbinary Girlfriend’s album release show a couple weeks ago, Portland musician Matt Vuksinich exclaimed without hesitation, “Femme Cell’s my new favorite band.” (Mississippi Studios, 8:30 pm, more info here, 21+)
Larry Peace Love Yes / Darci Phenix
For fans of Michael Hurley, Half Shadow, Mountain Man
A better world is possible. A better world is possible in our lifetimes. A better world is possible right now! This has been proven beyond the pale of any doubt on Larry Peace-Love Yes’ nourishing 2025 album Everyone On This Planet Is Family. If you believe then let’s get going. If you don’t, let Larry’s music change your heart. Don’t forget about Darci Phenix (as if anyone ever could) and her exquisite album Sable from last year as well. This is a small showcase of Portland’s best folk music in the here and now, dig it. (Grace Memorial Church, 2 pm, FREE, more info here, all ages)
Related: Read Mercury writer Ben Salmon’s review of Darci Phenix’s Sable.
Like St. Joan / Laska / Shanea
For fans of Tracy Chapman, Pale Violet, Big Joanie
The absolute popstar Like St. Joan and the Laska sisters are incredible facets of Portland’s DIY and indie music scenes, but have you fallen in love with Shanea yet? Bass player to the gods in Dustbunny, Shanea’s got a solo discography stretching back to 2020, this evening at The Six acting as a release show for the latest entry in their catalog. Their new album Animal Instincts continues Shanea’s deep introspection, with sonics ranging from somber dream-pop to wall-of-sound indie. There’s even some moody plucking on the album, don’t sleep on this musical polyglot… or else! (The Six, 9 pm, more info here, 21+)
Pileup / As Above / Swinging
For fans of Diiv, Helen, Slowdive
The second of two album releases on Saturday, February 28 is that of Pileup, a real contender to wear the crown of Portland’s best shoegaze band. Their new album Leave The Light On crushes the air out of you by sheer force of towering distortion and reverb. If Kevin Shields was a 20-something in 2026 Portland, he’d be dying to join Pileup. If you caught their set opening for Dustbunny in January, you know you’re in for a treat. Middle spot undeniables As Above don’t yet have a full-length, but you better believe we’re pulling up for this set and that one when the day comes. Opening the release party are Swinging, purveyors of fine noise-folk. (Leaven Community Center, 7:30 pm, more info here, all ages)
Related: Read Mercury staff-writer Lindsay Costello’s review of Swinging’s 2025 debut album My Bed Is a Boat.
Sunday, March 1
Bathysphere Records: Dive 2: Sonoluminescence
For fans of Derek Hunter Wilson, Visible Cloaks, Grouper
Having met while working in the Portland music industry, the heads behind LA-based Bathysphere Records still have deep ties to PDX music scenes. In the second installment of their Dive Series, Dive 2: Sonoluminescence, Bathysphere is releasing a suite of songs by Portland collaborators Brass Clouds, Fog Net, and Volcanic Pinnacles. The tracks were recorded in a single afternoon of improvisational exploration, perfectly imbuing the recordings with the natural aspects present in the names of the three bands: the mystical luminance of clouds, the eerie mystery of fog, and the dynamism of volcanic happenings. There are only 24 copies of the album available—yes, you read that correctly—for presale on Bandcamp. And actually, I’m getting one… so there’s only 23! Hopefully there will be a couple at the Shanghai Tunnel release party. (Shanghai Tunnel, 8 pm, more info here, 21+)
Tuesday, March 3 to Wednesday, March 4
Tortoise / Spacemoth
For fans of Ui, Jeff Parker, The Durutti Column
Playing two nights at Aladdin supporting the late-2025 release of their Touch album are Chicago’s Tortoise. Not not jazz, and not not krautrock, Tortoise have been delivering and defining cool since the early-’90s. Is this what the Grateful Dead would sound like if they were good? Hard to say, but Tortoise are real good and real hard to define with any certainty. Replacing SML as the opener, Spacemoth pulls up sounding like she sat between Broadcast and The Fiery Furnaces in Stereolab’s class. (Aladdin Theater, 8 pm, more info here, all ages)
Also very worth it…
Garrett Foster Brown / Patrick Barber at Dream House – Feb 25, more info here
Abronia / Jackie O Motherfucker at Mississippi Studios – Feb 26, more info here
Rum.Gold at Polaris Hall – Feb 26, more info here
Zyanna at Keys Lounge – Feb 26, more info here
Bed Bug Guru / Conspire / Horse Bag / House of Warmth at High Limit Room – Feb 27, more info here
Felix Martin (Hot Chip) DJ set at The Get Down – Feb 27, more info here
Grizz Cll / Glori / Blood Rave at The Coffin – Feb 27, more info here
HAAi at Holocene – Feb 27, more info here
Spoon Benders / Ogre / Unspeakable Carnage at Polaris Hall – Feb 27, more info here
Cold Cave / Buzz Kull / Rosa Anschutz at Roseland Theater – Feb 28, more info here
Cumbia House Party ft. DJ Flor Violenta, Sebrujo, DJ Mala at Dream House – Feb 28, more info here
Lily Breshears / Stevie Schmidt / A Lot of Water / The Bread at Wyrd Hut – Feb 28, more info here
Myriads / Vista House / Songs for Snowplow Drivers at Bunk Bar – Feb 28, more info here
Zyanna at The Downbeat – Feb 28, more info here
Carny Cumm / Bottom Blade / Happy Death Men / Festering Estate at High Limit Room – March 1, more info here
Gorilla Biscuits / Ignite at Hawthorne Theatre – March 1, more info here
Silver Horse at Dante’s – March 1, more info here
Bloodshot Bill / Tomorrow’s Goners / Amy Beth & The Creeps at Turn! Turn! Turn! – March 4, more info here (This should absolutely be in the featured section of MMP, go to this show!)
New Music Portland:
The Big Box Set, Portland’s favorite public access TV-style variety show, is back with a new episode. On this, their 19th outing, BBS invite local punks (egg or chain I can’t remember) Cherry Cheeks to play their hand-built set. This episode’s theme is wrestling. Celebrity Death Match ain’t got nothing on Big Box Set!
Portland’s own DJ Dissolve was featured on NYC’s The Lot Radio last week. A resident DJ at Process, Dissolve did just that on his Lot show: He dissolved the borders between tech, disco, acid, and more. Peep his set here and catch him at Process next on March 7.
Family Worship Center, probably a cult, are back with a new music video for “Malibu by Midnight”—a shimmering disco departure from the Family’s usual yee-haw funk. Does this mean we can expect more soon? A source close to the Family says yes. Stay tuned in, stay turned on, keep droppin’ out.
The Afro arts and music collective Be Present Art Group, helmed by Roman Norfleet, has released a five-song EP titled Unreleased. I’m grateful for this nourishing morsel to get us through until the Group’s next full length.
To celebrate 15 years of championing underground music, Portland’s Universal Broadcast Network has released Vol. 1, their first-ever compilation of pan-American hardware music. The comp goes hard from the jump; it’s music you want to hear in a sweaty basement venue after midnight. Hey Shanghai Tunnel, hey UBN, let’s get this poppin’!
Portland Music News:
Two big Portland music announcements dropped this last week. PDX Live is back at The Square this summer with a genre-disregarding lineup including Vince Staples, Ani DiFranco, Tomahawk, Japanese Breakfast, Acid Bath, Modest Mouse, The Breeders, and more. Check out our picks for the series and try not to get whiplash.
Sadly, Roger Eno has dropped from the 2026 PDX Jazz lineup. Why? We don’t know this. But fret not, the festival still features heaps of good music including appearances by Mavis Staples, Jeff Parker, SML, Shirley Nanette, Dreckig, Charlie Brown III, and more. Our picks for the fest are unchanged, except you Rog.
Waterfront Blues Festival also announced their initial lineup for 2026 this week. Portland legends Ural Thomas and Toody Cole are coming, as are Tank and the Bangas and Hailu Mergia. Don’t forget Lo Steele and the Steele Family Band, Orquestra Pacífico Tropical, and Jenny Don’t & the Spurs! Full lineup and festival details here. Pro-tip: The festival is FREE for those with EBT/SNAP cards, as well as blues fans 12 and under.
