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Friday, Sept 27
Portland Fresh Hops Festival
Itâs hop-harvesting season, and that means literal tons of fresh hops are making their way to your beer. The annual Fresh Hops Beer Festival will feature more than 50 fresh hop beers made by Oregon brewers, and theyâre only available during this magical season (at other times of year, beerâs made with preserved or dried hops). You live in one of the only parts of the world that can get fresh-hop beer (they canât travel very far), so donât miss out! (Sept 27-28, Fri 5 pm, Sat noon, Oaks Amusement Park, free to attend, $20 tasting package) NED LANNAMANN
Pod Save America
The timing on this couldn't be any better. Less than a week after official proceedings to Impeach The Motherfucker have begun, the game-changing progressive political podcast hosted by former Barack Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, Dan Pfeiffer, and Jon Lovett makes its way to the Keller Auditorium stage for a special live taping. (Fri Sept 27, 8 pm, Keller Auditorium, $39.50-95)
Portland EcoFilm Festival
While the concept of climate change was raised as far back as 1896, scientists' concerns didn't start burgeoning until the late 1960s. That's when the warnings began, each year growing increasingly dire. Most decided not to listen. They decided to keep having cars and hamburgers and kids, figuring that someone else would fix it. Nobody did, so now we've got two crummy options: Do nothing and die, or do what we can to make an oncoming catastrophe just a bit less catastrophic. The popular conversation about climate has felt different the past year or so, in large part thanks to the work of the Sunrise Project, Extinction Rebellion, Greta Thunberg, and even the climate plans of 2020's most forward-thinking presidential candidates. It's still not enoughâbut thankfully, things like the annual Portland EcoFilm Festival keep reminding people why and how they should fight. Now in its sixth year, the fest offers a weekend of features and shorts that show us what we're working toward, how we're doing it, and what we need to do better. (Fri-Sun Sept 27-29, Hollywood Theater, click here to read our festival preview, and click here for titles and showtimes) ERIK HENRIKSEN
Pam Ann Returns
Pam Ann promises "a jolly fucking holiday" in Pam Ann Returns, a one-woman show touring North America with an abundance of cheeky musical numbers, inappropriate comedy, and somehow she even manages to rope Mary Poppinsâor rather, Mary Poppersâ into the mix. (Fri Sept 27, 7 pm, Winningstad Theatre, $52-106)
Anderson Cooper
Renowned journalist and CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper returns to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall share his stories and offer up an intimate look at what its like to have a front row seat to history as it unfolds. (Fri Sept 27, 8 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 62.55-104.55)
Rituals of Mine, The Seshen, Frankie Simone
The sudden, unexpected death of a parent and close friend is enough to throw anyoneâs life into turmoil. Such was the case for Terra Lopez, who had been recording dark pop music with her project Sister Crayon for years before her father committed suicide in 2015, and one of her best friends died in a boating accident in early 2016. At that point, Lopez completely reassessed her music. âI feel like that name [Sister Crayon] needs to be put to rest along with them,â she told the Sacramento Bee. With a new vision and a new major label record deal at her side, she reinvented her sound, renamed her band Rituals of Mine, and started writing her most honest and personal songs yet. You can hear her new approach on the new EP Sleeper Hold, which features Lopezâs cathartic lyrics set to a gentle collision of slo-mo R&B, icy electronic beats, and cool trip-hop vibes. (Fri Sept 27, 8 pm, Polaris Hall, $13-15) BEN SALMON
Blue Velvet
Cult films donât get much cultierâor, paradoxically, appeal to a wider audienceâthan the David Lynch masterpiece Blue Velvet. In this ass-clenching exploration of the filthy underbelly of Reagan-era suburbia, a Hardy Boy-esque Kyle MacLachlan discovers a severed ear and tumbles headlong into a mystery that turns darker and uglier by the second. An emotionally broken femme fatale, a gas-huffing sexual sadist/crime boss (never order a Heineken in front of this man, by the way), freakish dandy Dean Stockwell, icky visuals of bugs and the robins that eat them, and a sweet-as-pie Laura Dern as the embodiment of true love make this flick just as fun as when it first blew your mind way back in 1986. Good times! (Fri Sept 27, 9:40 pm, Academy Theater, $3-4) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
M. Ward
Beloved local folk, blues, and Americana singer/songwriter M. Ward links up with an array of special guests to perform his acclaimed 2005 album, Transistor Radio, as part of the Doug Fir's 15th-anniversary celebration. (Fri Sept 27, 9 pm, Doug Fir, $34.50-37.50)
Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, At The Gates, Grand Magus
There will likely be no metal shows for the rest of 2019 that are as stacked as this one. With all these heavy hitters on one bill, what matters most is the opener, Swedenâs Grand Magus. (Amon Amarth and Arch Enemy tour fairly regularly in the US, and At the Gates has been to Portland several times since their reinvigoration.) Grand Magus has been churning out records since 2001, and it took record number nine, this yearâs Wolf God, to finally get them over to North America. Wolf God bulges with triumphant, mid-tempo heavy metal fit for anyone clutching a shield and wielding an axe. If youâve got a battalion of bloodthirsty warriors preparing to mount a battlefield, Grand Magus could certainly inspire them. Letâs just hope North America eats it up so they keep coming back. (Fri Sept 27, 7 pm, Roseland, $37.50-55, all ages) ARIS HUNTER WALES
Hatchie, Orchin, Small Million
Sugar & Spice, the flawless debut EP from dream-pop purveyor HatchieâAKA Brisbane, Australiaâs Harriette Pilbeamâis a gorgeous, gossamer thing, filled with weightless stardust melodies and cozy-blanket hooks that make each track utterly irresistible. (Fri Sept 27, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $13-15) NED LANNAMANN
PIGSquad: Summer Slow Jams Showcase
The Portland Indie Game Squad throws a showcase spotlighting games made during this year's Summer Slow Jams series, which tasked developers with creating arcade games, 3-button, 3-color games, and edutainment games. Come out and sample the fruits of their labor and get to know the makers and creators contributing to this vibrant local scene. (Fri Sept 27, 7 pm, Vacasa, free, all ages)
Butches & Mental Health
Butch is Not a Dirty Word is a print magazine, and the only kind in the world dedicated exclusively to Butch-identifying folks. Celebrate the publication of their sixth issue at this commemorative live storytelling event featuring performers from Portland, Seattle, and Australia. (Fri Sept 27, 7 pm & 9:30 pm, Mississippi Pizza Pub & Atlantis Lounge, $15-20) EMILLY PRADO
Oregon Burlesque Festival
The art of the peel is carefully practiced here in Portland, and for two nights at the Alberta Rose Theatre, every aspect of it will be celebrated, from the legends of burlesque's past to the stars of its present. (Fri-Sat Sept 27-28, 8 pm, Alberta Rose Theatre, $25-68)
Queen Chief, Dream Wulf
If you are a fan of ripping, and riffs, and ripping riffs, Queen Chief are hear to tear the Bunk Bar up, with help from Dream Wulf and a super secret special guest. (Fri Sept 27, 9 pm, Bunk Bar, $10)
Saturday, Sept 28
Vampire Weekend, Soccer Mommy
If youâve got an edible, Iâve got a lot to say about Father of the Bride, the latest record by Vampire Weekend. I started listening to this band in design school for their consistent versatility: You can draw to it, talk over it, or you can take it and the rhymes by singer/guitarist Ezra Koenig pretty seriously. With the departure of the groupâs synth player and all-around genius Rostam Batmanglij in 2016, fans stepped into the new record cautiously, and Father of the Bride waited patiently. The longer you listen to it, the more the flavor changes. At first, I was all about â2021â with its borrowed Haruomi Hosono sample. Then I was kicking it hard with the sporty little âBambina,â and predicting that everyone this summer would get married to the jaunty, modernly sentimental âRich Man.â As I go, I see more and more in this record, and I appreciate the thought and skill that went into making these disparate songs. (Sat Sept 28, 6:30 pm, Edgefield, $59.50, all ages) SUZETTE SMITH
The Portland Mercury's Chili Jamboree!
Itâs time for Portland chefs to break out their spices and stock pots and throw down at the Landmark to see who gets to take home the highly coveted Chili Belt. This yearâs jam features a brand-new vegetarian cook-off on Saturday, with traditional meat offerings getting the spotlight on Sunday. Thereâs also beer, cocktails, and live country and honky-tonk from Countryside Ride and the Jackson County Kills, so slap on a bib and some dancing boots, and get ready to party at the most delicious event of the year. (Sat-Sun Sept 28-29, noon, Landmark Saloon, $20) CHIPP TERWILLIGER
POP Cats
A convention for people who love cats. It's no more complicated than that. Have you ever spent an hour scrolling through the 'gram hearting pics and vids of cute kitties? This is your jam, including interactive events, unique art pieces, vendors, and more. (Sept 28-29, Sat 10 am, Sun 11 am, Oregon Convention Center, $15-40, all ages)
Widmer Brothers Brewing Oktoberfest 2019
To celebrate the 15th straight year of throwing one of the city's best Oktoberfest shindigs, Widmer Brothers are bringing the whole shebang back home to their brewery, transforming it into a celebration not just of the season, but of beer itself, with their regular roster of delicious beers as well as a bunch of special small-batch beers only available at the fest. You'll also be treated to live music, along with an array of games, activities, and food from local carts. (Sat Sept 28, 1 pm, Widmer Brothers Brewing, all ages)
Shura, Quinn Christopherson
English singer/songwriter Shura made a splash in 2016 with her debut album Nothingâs Real, a punchy and pristinely produced bunch of modern pop and R&B that delivered one memorable melody after another. Now, she's back with sophomore effort forevher, which finds her extolling the virtues of her (seemingly very happy) relationship while digging deeper into a funky, disco-flavored sound. Shuraâs strength, relative to some of her peers, is her ability to make airy, futuristic pop music that doesnât feel like itâs going to float up and out of your head right after it fades out. Her songs feel weighty, substantive, and here to stay. (Sat Sept 28, 9 pm, Doug Fir, $20-22) BEN SALMON
Summer Cannibals, Dreamdecay, Moon Shy
Certain Summer Cannibals songs remind me a lot of the Breedersâ â90s albums Pod and Last Splash, with their addictively smooth hooks and powerful female vocals. But to date this Portland band too much would be to do them a disservice, as their latest album, Canât Tell Me No, plays like a power anthem for the #metoo movement (but, like, one you can dance to). Consider the opening lyrics of the albumâs eponymous single: âThe fog is lifted, the coast is clear/ I'm jumping higher without you here/Drag me down, you're a weight on my back/There's no saving, just had to get the fuck out.â It takes skill to be that specific, and that universal, at the same time. (Sat Sept 28, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $15) BLAIR STENVICK
The No Sleep Podcast
The award-winning anthology podcast series of original horror stories returns to Portland for a stop on the "Live for Halloween" Tour, with tales from Join David Cummings, Jessica McEvoy, David Ault, and Nichole Goodnight and a live score performed by Brandon Boone. (Sat Sept 28, 8 pm, Polaris Hall, $25-30, all ages)
Angels & Airwaves, The New Regime, Charming Liars
Tom DeLongeâs life and work have become punchlines about aliens and enunciation, respectively, but the erstwhile heart of Blink-182 deserves more than a memeâs backhanded affection. Sure, his work with Angels and Airwaves can be turgid and corny, but thatâs sorta just what happens when a pop-punk kid falls in love with U2 and the Cure. Weâve all been there. DeLonge is still there, and thatâs okay, because no matter where he is, heâll have his tender and wounded wonder of a voice, which channels adolescent anguish better than just about any other singer in rock music. (Sat Sept 28, 8 pm, Roseland, $38-53) CHRIS STAMM
Oysters & Apples Festival
The beloved local bar and restaurant is looking to raise money to put a down payment on the house where their business is located. To raise funds, they're throwing the first annual Oysters & Apples Festival, with apples and tastings from Kiyokawa Family Farms, oysters from Hama Hama, homemade apple pie, refreshing drinks, and music from Three for Silver, Chuck Westmoreland, Max Troublefield, Fronjentress, and DJ Venus in Spurs. (Sat Sept 28, noon, The Liberty Glass)
The Prids, Shadowlands, The National Honor Society
The Prids might be one of Portlandâs longest-running bands, having overcome a number of setbacks throughout their two-decade tenure that wouldâve had lesser groups calling it a day. That tenacity carries into the bandâs music, as they continue to defy trends in a city and music scene that continues to change. The Prids occupy a corner of music where heartbreak and sadness exist under the hue of sunlight breaking through gray clouds. (Sat Sept 28, 8:30 pm, Bunk Bar, $10) MARK LORE
Dave Mason & Steve Cropper: Rock & Soul Revue
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarists Dave Mason and Steve Cropper bring the "Rock & Soul Revue" through Revolution Hall for the Portland stop on a North American tour. Sat Sept 28, 8 pm, Revolution Hall, $55)
Dirtwire
A mix of Americana, blues, and "electro-acoustic swamptronica" with this Oakland-hailing trio headed up by multi-instrumentalist David Satori (Beats Antique) and Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila, Stallamara). (Sat Sept 28, 9 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $20-25)
Becky with the Good Jokes!
Becky Braunstein's all-star comedy extravaganza returns to the Funhouse Stage as exuberant as ever, and she has to be if she's going to make "THE SUPER SMASH SEPTEMBER SHOW" live up to it's all-caps name, with sets from Corina Lucas, Dylan Jenkins, Lance Edward, and musical guest Elisa Rega. (Sat Sept 28, 10 pm, Funhouse Lounge, $8-12)
The Jim Pepper Native Arts Festival
For the seventh straight year Parkrose High hosts this all-star showcase presented by the Jim Pepper Native Arts Council, for Native American performers, foods, arts, and crafts, benefitting music education, and features a combination of tradition and contemporary style, including Native flute, powwow drum and singers, Native hip-hop, the Gary Ogan Band, the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, and the Flying Eagle Band. (Sat Sept 28, 11 am, Parkrose High School, free, all ages)
Sunday, Sept 29
Cornelius, Sugar Candy Mountain
The collage pop of Japanese maestro Cornelius makes for stunningly immersive studio albums, but that exploratory MO makes for an exciting, bouncy live show, too, with surprising digressions into found sound and atonal harmony. Most of the time, however, youâll be grooving to Corneliusâ live bandâs super-tight rhythmic interplay and call-and-response arrangements. Tonight, theyâll perform the entirety of Corneliusâ 2002 masterwork, Point. (Sun Sept 29, 8 pm, Revolution Hall, $20-24, all ages) NED LANNAMANN
Huun Huur Tu, Carmen Rizzo
Thereâs no primer that can prepare you for a performance by Huun Huur Tuâs. The Tuvan folk quartet has been cultivating its rich musical reach to include not only the hypnotic timbre of throat singing, but also a dazzling rhythmic approach that includes Western instruments like guitar, and native Tuvan instrumentation in the form of igil, khomus, doshpuluur, and dĂźnggĂźr that contributes to their singular aural imprint. The group has undergone many lineup changes over the years and has released nine albums (six of which are live recordings, if thatâs any indication of how powerful they are on stage), in addition to countless collaborative releases. Just go and thank us later. (Sun Sept 29, 8 pm, Alberta Rose Theatre, $25) RYAN J. PRADO
The Fur Coats, Elly Swope
Portland's Fur Coats bring their soulful blend of psych-tinged pop music to Rontoms' Sunday Sessions, with local multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Elly Swope rounding out the bill with her own shape-shifting blend of indie rock and pop. (Sun Sept 29, 8 pm, Rontoms, free)
Cat Hoch
Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cat Hoch brings her blend of psych-tinged dream-pop to Music Millennium for a free in-store performance. (Sun Sept 29, 5 pm, Music Millennium, free, all ages)
Mahalia, Jvck James
British songwriter/singer/actress Mahalia Burkmar (better known as Mahalia) recorded her first single at age 13, and at 21 just released Love and Compromiseâwhich is being called a âdebut album" even though her 11-track project, Diary of Me, came out in 2016. But letâs not haggle, shall we? Thereâs some real talent here. Mahaliaâs soothing voice pings and pops thanks to her Caribbean inflections and hip hop/jazz sensibilities, producing the kind of R&B-influenced pop thatâs built for romantic interludes and bobbing your head while speeding through the city on a sultry summer night. Pay special attention to her banger âSimmer" with Nigerian Afro-fusion singer Burna Boy; itâs a sexy journey that documents the heat of a burgeoning relationship and the impossibility of trying to cool it down. Mahaliaâs career could easily take a similar trajectory, so get in on this now. (Sun Sept 29, 9 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, $18.50-22.50, all ages) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Control Yourself
JoAnn Schinderle's much-missed stand-up showcase-turned-podcast returns to its own stomping grounds at the Alberta Street Pub for a special reunion taping, with a stacked line-up featuring performances from Shain Brendan, Derek Sheen, Jake Silberman, Tory Ward, Dylan Carlino, and Dianna Potter. (Sun Sept 29, 8:30 pm, Alberta Street Pub, $10)
Cigarettes After Sex
Greg Gonzalezâs project Cigarettes After Sex dates back to 2008, but his dark, dreamy slowcore only recently picked up steam with increasing YouTube clicks and likes. That eventually led the now four-piece to release their self-titled debut LP in 2017. Its lyrics are rife with lovelorn infatuation and melancholy that sounds even more engaging when set to the lethargic tempo of the group's beats. Cigarettes After Sex bring a sexiness to the madness of love; itâs addictive music, no matter your current romantic situation. (Sun Sept 29, 8:30 pm, Crystal Ballroom, $25-28, all ages) CERVANTE POPE
Lagwagon, Face to Face, MakeWar
A pair of SoCal skate-punk vets and Fat Wreck Chords labelmates link up for a co-headline tour that stops off at the Wonder Ballroom tonight. (Sun Sept 29, 7:30 pm, Wonder Ballroom, $29.50-35, all ages)
Tender Table
Join Tender Table, a storytelling platform for women, trans, and non-binary BIPOC, for the latest iteration of their event series. As always, attendees can expect tear-jerkinâ stories and perfectly paired Costco-sized snacks. Performers include Margaret Alba, Lito Garcia, and Bemnia Lathan. (Sun Sept 29, 3 pm, People's Food Co-Op, $5-15) EMILLY PRADO
The Bloody Mary Festival
Now in its third year, this spicy festival has hit up all the finest brunches in Portland to determine who has the best bloodys, and they're serving 'em up at the Redd, with food, live music, and more as well. Participants for 2019 include Pok Pok, Ya Hala, Pine Street Biscuits, La Luna Cafe, Cadillac Cafe, Tap & Table, and more. (Sun Sept 29, 10:30 pm, The Redd on Salmon, $45-55)
Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
