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Music Issue 2026

Portland music, and Portland in general, is currently experiencing a renaissance, and all that goes along with periods of accelerated growth and creativity. Enjoy the Mercury‘s first music issue since before the pandemic, because now is the time to lock in with the music around you.
Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Mercury 2026 Music Issue: “All Genres, All Generations, All Genders”

Now is always the time to lock in with the music around you.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Portland music, and Portland in general, is currently experiencing a renaissance, and all that […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

Justin Townes Earle’s Portland Years

The late singer-songwriter’s time in town was pivotal and painful.
Avatar photo by Jonathan Bernstein

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. On November 6, 2016, Justin Townes Earle made an important proclamation: He was moving […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

Get Into the Groove

How Discogs evolved from a Portland vinyl collector’s dream to a worldwide phenomenon.
Avatar photo by Ryan J. Prado

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Like many dot-com era ideas ushered into use just below the radar in the […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Food That Keeps Portland Musicians Playing

We asked six local artists about their favorite places to fill their bellies.
Avatar photo by Katherine Chew Hamilton

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. If music be the food of love, play on. But what’s the food that […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Portland Music Map

An incomplete visual guide to music establishments in Riff City.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Portland is a music town—filled to the brim with venues, gear shops, record shops, […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

After-School Programming Never Sounded So Good

Electronic Music Club takes modern approaches in teaching students music.
Avatar photo by Kendall Porter

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. The “lightbulb” moment behind Electronic Music Club (EMC) started when Erik Carlson, founder of […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Only Summer 2026 Festival Guide You’ll Need

It’s summer in Portland, and you know what that means… music festivals!
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. The most common adjectives tossed around when describing Portland in the summer include incredible, […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

Turn! Turn! Turn! Wants To Be a “Place for Weirdos”

The venue has new owners. Artistic freedom is welcome.
Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. On a recent weekend, the small music venue at the corner of North Williams […]

Posted inDo This, Do That

Do This, Do That: May-June 2026

A selection of the city’s coolest upcoming events.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Lindsay Costello and Mercury Staff

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Carlos Niño & Friends MAY 16 (MUSIC) Carlos Niño came to town on André […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

The Top Five Places in Portland To Avoid Tourists

Panic! Tourist season is here. Where can a Portlander find some peace?
Avatar photo by Riley McCarthy

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Warmer weather means tourists are now descending on our fair city, like raccoons advancing […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

Spin Cycle: Go Your Own Way

Dispatches on three wildly different artists just doing what they gotta do, man.
Avatar photo by Ryan J. Prado

It probably goes without saying that it’s difficult to choose just three albums to feature for each edition of Spin Cycle. Inundated by a flurry of cultural crib sheets, personal recommendations, and last-minute rando diamonds in the rough, whittling down to what ends up in this column can be an internal struggle. And being off […]

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