Beloved Portland-area farmbound music festival Pickathon returns this weekend for four days and nights of good times, live music, and blissed-out evenings under the stars. 2024 marks the third year since the fest’s two-year pandemic hiatus and the 25th year that it’s been in operation. Now past a nail-biting permit renewal this spring—it passed!—this year’s fest looks to be bigger and better than ever.
In February, Pickathon secured a 10-year permit renewal with the city of Happy Valley—an effort that took months of meetings, pages of plans, and a prodigious letter-writing campaign—and gained permission to expand the festival from 5,000 paid attendees to 8,500.
While many Portland music-heads have watched the bucolic event weather trials, there may be no greater threat to the majority outdoor affair than, well, the weather. However, Pickathon underwent an impressive redesign during its pandemic hiatus, returning with new stages and a series of neighborhoods that ushered attendees into shady areas during the hottest parts of the day. That turned out to be perfectly prescient, as the 2022 fest was blanketed with near 100-degree days.
This year’s forecast looks more temperate: The hottest day is the first, Thursday, with temperatures hitting 96 degrees. Things should taper down a bit by the weekend (assuming the definition of “taper” is high 80s, low 90s). In other words, it won’t just be the licks that are scorching this year. Bring your sunscreen!
But what if you don’t wanna listen to hot rock? Never fear, music fans. The Merc has got ya covered with our stand-out picks for this year’s slam-banging jam, and there’s plenty of folk, indie, jazz, and R&B to go around. So what are the best bands at Pickathon 2024? Read on!
Lo Steele
Soulful Portland-based singer-songwriter Lauren “Lo” Steele is Portland music royalty. Steele picked up the musical trade from her mother, acclaimed rhythm and blues vocalist LaRhonda Steele — better known as the “First Lady of Portland Blues.” But her daughter is now slouch either. She’s a graduate of Southern Methodist University’s esteemed drama program and has recently performed in productions at Portland Center Stage and Portland Playhouse. Lately, mother and daughter have taken the art scene by force, performing a set this year as the Steele Family Band at the Waterfront Blues Festival. With a jazz-informed sound that’s all her own, Lo Steele recently released her debut full-length, the highly enjoyable, impressive (and personally relatable) “Happy Girl” on June 30. The eponymous title track is particularly poignant, accurately depicting various unrealistic emotional demands on women, and Black women, in modern society. For her Pickathon sets, we’re hoping to hear Steele demonstrate her gifted gospel vibes on “I Know He Loves Me,” as well as her beautiful boundary setting anthem, “Syrup,” which demands respect. The upbeat and bubbly final track “Hey Hey Hey” is also sure to be a crowd pleaser, and if we’re lucky, maybe Lo will even bless us with an ambitious cover, like Jill Scott’s “Whenever You’re Around,” as Steele recently performed at jazz bar The 1905. (Thurs Aug 2, 5 pm at Cherry Hill stage; Fri 11 am at Windmill stage) JENNI MOORE
Kassa Overall
The phrase “jazz is dead” has been bandied about for decades. But just when you think it might collapse and disappear into a pile of dust, the genre remains not only alive, but vital and important. With a keen respect for the history of the genre, Seattle producer/drummer Kassa Overall has been one of the practitioners helping to usher jazz into the 21st century. His 2023 album, “Animals,” caught the ears of many with its seamless fusion of jazz, hip-hop and psychedelia. Overall’s genre-bending, off-the-rails approach to jazz is going to find the perfect home at Pendarvis Farm. (Thurs Aug 2 8-9 pm at the Paddock stage; Fri Aug 3, 9-10 pm at the Galaxy Barn) MARK LORE
Adi Oasis
Known in the music world as Adi Oasis, French-Caribbean singer-songwriter Adeline Michèle Pétricien makes a captivating, invigorating blend of soul, funk and R&B that is sure to get the Pickathon crowd movin’ and groovin’. For fans of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Adi Oasis is known for sultry love songs like “Whisper My Name” that demonstrate a masterclass in dreamy neo-soul vocals and production. She’ll be playing two sets that will doubtlessly spotlight her sophomore full-length “Lotus Glow,” an album that represents personal and musical growth for the artist. Tracks such as “Sidonie” and “The Water” pay homage to her cultural heritage and mixed identity. The album’s other hits, “Serena,” “Red To Violet (feat. Jamila Woods),” and “Marigold” are gorgeous, empowering anthems for Black women. On “Serena,” she sings her mantra with feeling: “Gonna hit high like Serena/ I decided that I can’t rewind/ Might as well turn it up this time.” (Thurs Aug 2, 9 pm at Galaxy Barn; Fri Aug 3, 11 pm at Cherry Hill) JM
Durand Jones
Whether performing solo or while backed by his band, The Indications, Durand Jones’ catalog fits right in on a ‘70s-era soul playlist. Songs such as “Morning In America,” “Circles,” “Court of Love,” “Long Way Home,” and “Don’t You Know,” from Durand Jones and The Indications’ 2019 album “American Love Call” are steeped directly in a golden, strings-forward, vintage aesthetic. But dig deeper, and you’ll find lyrical messages written for the present cultural and political climate. For fans of Black Pumas, Ben Harper and Silk Sonic, Jones’ dishes out sonic soul sounds that fuse together rock and blues elements. At times reminiscent of Charles Bradley or Marvin Gaye, Jones’ voice is truly a stunner; it’s easy to gravitate toward his warm, velvety and dynamic singing—just listen to his performance of an updated version of Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free.” At his two PIckathon sets, he’ll be focusing on tracks from his debut solo album “Wait Til I Get Over,” which we hope will include “Lord Have Mercy,” “See It Through” and “Long Way Home.” (Thurs Aug 2, 10 pm at Paddock; Fri 7pm at Woods) JM
Pahua
Hailing from Mexico City, Pahua (Paulina Sotomayor) began her musical journey singing in a Mariachi at the age of 6. These days the percussionist/DJ/songwriter bridges tradition and new musical frontiers, which is emblematic of the Pickathon experience. She released her debut EP Ofrenda in 2021, followed by her first full-length, Habita, in 2023. Both records dig deep into Latin American roots and folklore—most notably Mexico, Cuba, Chile and Colombia—and adds gentle electronic textures. And like her influences, Pahua also collaborates with artists from different parts of Latin America, creating what could best be described as otherworldly world music. (Sat Aug 4, 4 pm at Curation; Sat Aug 4, 9 pm at Cherry Hill; Sun Aug 5, 1 am at Galaxy Barn) ML
Rhododendron
It’s only fitting that up-and-comers Rhododendron’s most recent album—2021’s Protozoan Battle Hymns—is named for the war cry of single-celled organisms. The trio of local Portland teens who founded the band have hewed out a singular place in the PDX music scene with wall-of-sound guitars and thunderous bass and drums. Then there’s the overarching, plaintive wail from vocalist Ezra Chong that will leave listeners wondering, “Who hurt you, bro?” While much has been made of Rhododendron’s prog-rock beginnings, and certainly 10-minute anthems like “Last of the Painted Hills” aren’t doing much to dispel the origin story, listeners will also pick up moments metal and synth-inspired symphonies. If you’re a bit past your prim dank basement show days, Pickathon is a great chance to catch these hometown heroes and hear what they’ve been cooking up while playing the scene. SS (Sat Aug 4, 5pm at Galaxy Barn; Sun Aug 5, 1 pm at Windmill)
Ratboys
It’s been a seven-year journey since Chicago-based indie sweethearts Ratboys released their career-making hit, Elvis is in the Freezer. Despite being an ode to the heart-rending childhood ritual of saying goodbye to a childhood pet, singer and guitarist Julia Steiner never stoops to maudlin levels. Instead, Ratboys relishes in the innocence of youth—something that’s warmly evoked by the contrast between Steiner’s lithe pitch and the bombastic roar of the guitar and symbols. An immaculate storyteller, Steiner has developed further narratives in the quartet’s latest release, Happy Birthday, Ratboy. Fans have stayed faithful as Steiner explores more classic memories of misbegotten youth, like graveyard drinking, lovelorn professors, and skipping reading lists. If you missed the chance to hear Ratboys rock out last year at the intimate Mississippi Studios setting, this year’s Pickathon set is a must-do. And while the band is often labeled post-country, we’re thinking you’ll hear plenty of that uptempo city groove on stage this year. (Sat Aug 4, 7pm at Woods; Sun Aug 5 pm at Cherry Hill)
Geese
This Brooklyn band wears its New York roots proudly—bowing to the altars of Byrne and Verlaine. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But that’s only going to get you the ears of heads who will overanalyze every move and every note. By the time Geese released 2023’s 3D Country, the band had expanded their palate, getting downright loose, and seemingly having a blast (they have a song called “2122,” which has got to be a nod to Rush’s 2112). Compositions grew longer, dynamics more interesting, and fucks were no longer given. It’s an exciting bit of evolution, and one that points to an even more thrilling future for this rock outfit. (Sat Aug 4 [technically Aug 5], 1 am at Galaxy Barn; Sun Aug 5, 9 pm at Woods) ML
La Lom
It’s not often you hear the phrase “hotel lobby muzak” thrown around like it’s a compliment in the music biz. But La Lom, who famously got their start as the house band for Los Angeles’ historic Roosevelt Hotel, prove that Afro-Cuban jazz mixed with folkloric Cumbia and Americana stirs up a delightful cocktail. The trio— composed of virtuoso guitarist Zac Sokolow, groovy bassist Jake Faulkner and polyrhythmic percussionist Nicholas Baker—spent the better part of six years perking up weary travelers with their nostalgia-tinged clásico vibe. But this isn’t Old Hollywood. You’ll want to ditch the smoking jacket and prepare for a packed crowd of wavy-gravy gyrations. We’re thinking “baby wearing the world’s biggest headphones” plus “there really isn’t enough room to be hoola-hooping right now but she’s not gonna stop.” If you haven’t randomly tuned into one of La Lom’s tunes while listening to KMHD during a 2 am drive, now’s your chance! SS (Sat Aug 4 [technically Aug 5], 1 am at Cherry Hill; Sun Aug 5 5pm at Woods)
