Music❯Folk

Every Tuesday, something pretty special happens at Tomorrow's Verse Taproom. Musicians pull up a chair, listeners grab a pint, and for a couple of hours the room turns into the kind of community space that's getting harder and harder to find. No stage, no spotlight, no barriers—just people sharing songs, stories, and a love of live music.

Whether you play, listen, or just enjoy being around good people, Bluegrass and Brews is a place to connect. Discover your new favorite musician, catch up with neighbors, and support a group of local pickers who keep traditional music alive, one tune at a time.

Pull up a chair. Order a pint. Stay awhile. The music's better when the room (or courtyard) is full.

Apple Jam at Portland Schilling Cider House is a monthly event held on the third Saturday of each month to bring people together to play music and sing as a community. All talent and skill levels are welcome. Bring your own instrument or lend your voice to an evening of Irish pub sing-along to Folk/Country/Americana led by a house band. Acoustic only.

Pivot Studio at The Village Ballroom square dance & open old time jam, $15 single ticket/ $30 family ticket, all ages, single dancers and first-timers welcome and encouraged! Nov 13 (Fri): 6-7 pm - old time jam in the lounge 7-9 pm - square dance with Caroline Oakley calling & Old Time High More dances to come - Jan 22 (Fri): Feb 19 (Fri): Mar 12 (Fri): Thanks to Bubbaville for co-producing this event with Pivot PDX.

Portland Country Dance Community (PCDC) sponsors a contra slow jam on the 1st and 3rd Mondays from 7-9 PM in the community room at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211. The events are free and open to all acoustic musicians, whether you play by dots or by ear. The contra jam plays tunes from the Portland Collection and the waltz books edited by Bill Matthiesen. If you don’t have the books, we’re happy to share. Come make music with us!! Questions: Email Kathy Story, PCDC President at board-chair(*at*)portlandcountrydance.org

Uilleann piper Preston Howard Wilde leads an Irish piping session - it’s a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, all ages, 2-4 pm. Mar 16 - pre-empted by St. Patrick‘s Day Celebration. Irish piping tunes can be heard on Mar 17 (Mon) from 11 am to 1 pm.

Welcome to Kalama on a String! This group is dedicated to keeping our community connected through the love of live bluegrass and acoustic jams in Kalama, WA. Whether you’re a musician or a fan, stay updated on local gatherings, share event details, and celebrate the music that brings us together! Mountain Timber Market will have tables and chairs set up on the east side, lower level, for community seating.

Musicians will need to bring their own chair to set up and be sure not to block any retailers’ entrances or walkways. Cars may pull up on the curb in the south parking lot for loading and unloading only. Please move your vehicle once finished to keep the area clear.

Please be mindful of the retail merchants, as we will be guests in the Market.

Bring your favorite tunes, and we are looking forward to seeing y’all.

Seattle Song Circle continues its tradition of a virtual circle, now marking the sixth online year. Held every Sunday. For more info, go to: https://www.seafolklore.org/about-sfs/seattle-song-circle/.

Artichoke Community Music song circle led by the Soldier Songs and Voices Team. We welcome all veterans and current military to bring your acoustic instruments and share a song or two, covers and/or originals. Song books will be available. Soldier Songs and Voices provides free songwriting workshops and guitar and voice instruction to veterans of all eras. We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that telling it in song is a path to a happier and healthier life. Loaner guitars are available. If you are interested in joining the workshops, email us. Bring a song to play or story to tell and bring a friend! Audience is open to all. (No tech or cafe services available.) Hosted by: Carl Solomon (Singer Songwriter) along with Artichoke Music and Soldier Songs& Voices PDX. FREE (Donations are always welcome and will help to fund this ongoing series.)

This in home song circle is at the home of Kathleen and David Ingerson 2825 SE Ash St. Portland, OR 97214 two blocks south of East Burnside and 28th Ave. Potluck dinner at 6 pm Come and share food and socialize Singing outside (weather permitting) 7 pm (The forecast predicts cool temperatures, so we might well be inside) Continuing inside after mosquitoes, dark, rain, etc. BYOB alcohol is fine (we are not a church!)cool We‘ll continue singing until the last song is sung!

Open bluegrass jam at Tomorrow‘s Verse Taproom and Bottle Shop. Come join the jam every Tuesday with host Rich Landar. All levels of pickers are welcome to join in on the fun. Don‘t play? Come listen! This will be a traditional style bluegrass circle, where people can join in as much as they‘d like.

About a month ago, we lost our beloved fellow musician Jere Hudson. Jere was a true light in every gathering, and he will be sorely missed. We are planning a jam in his honor, where we will play some of his favorite tunes. Cajun, old-time, bluegrass, folk, Irish: anything goes. All are welcome. Also please note that we need to buy any alcohol at the venue.

Learn foundational techniques in County Clare-style Irish set dancing, accompanied by traditional music. Step-by-step instruction is followed by called dances and social dancing, with opportunities to build coordination, musicality, and confidence for participating in a ceili. The dances draw on the County Clare tradition and are performed to reels, jigs, and hornpipes. The final class includes a field trip to a community dance with live music. All levels are welcome, and no partner is required.

Join us every Thursday from 7–10 PM at The Hostel Cafe for our weekly Old Time Jam, a welcoming gathering for musicians who love traditional Appalachian tunes, fiddle music, and acoustic string-band sessions. All skill levels are invited to play, listen, and connect with our lively local folk music community.

Come join our open Irish session at Garage Door. Sessions will be hosted by Mikela Valenzuela, an avid Celtic fiddler and local teacher. Come ready with your favorite tune to suggest or just listen and learn along with us. The session is at an intermediate level but very welcoming to beginners as well. Sláinte!

Join the jam! Bring your guitar, fiddle, mandolin or banjo to our weekly bluegrass jam circle. Players with intermediate skills and above are invited to this Tuesday tradition. New faces welcome!

Led by Joe Offer, new Zoom link posted every week, just before doors open: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=168014&messages=37.

Sessions are led by Marina Dodgson (fiddle) and Maurice Condie (guitar). These are open access sessions, so there’s no need to book in advance, you’re welcome to just turn up and join in! We believe great things happen when we play tunes together! People connect with each other and make friends, and we keep our music traditions alive by sharing tunes and passing them on. What’s more, playing tunes can make you feel happy, and if you do it often enough, you’ll notice that you are getting better at playing your instrument too! It turns out that you don’t even have to be in the same place…great things still happen when we play music together, online from the comfort of your own home. Phoenix Folk Ltd exists to promote participation and performance in folk and acoustic music, song and dance across the North East of England. We aim to be a friendly face of folk music, to help keep alive the great traditions of folk music and to encourage talent and personal musical development. Everyone is muted, which means that you hear your own instrument, completing a trio with our fiddle and guitar. You can play the tune, or try some harmony!

Keilimei Solo & Duo

Keilimei is a vocalist, songwriter and performer born and raised in Hawaii. She grew a love for timeless romantic melodies after spending 10 years in France and learning the language. She captivates audiences around the world with her enchanting dreamy vocals and playful banter. Having toured extensively around France with the French Duo Synapson and performing at various apres-ski resorts in the French Alps, she is well versed in various genres, from Bossanova to Deep House. Her solo acts include ambient vocals and an amalgamation of R&B, Folk and French songs accompanied by her mini electric guitar.

n Duo with Tracy Kim, expect Jazz standards, Cheeky Banter, and Romantic songs in English & French.

Spotify: Keilimei

Instagram: @portlandjazz @keilimei

Calling all aficianados of jug band music - acoustic instruments only. Portland Jug Band Jam at the Oakshire Beer Hall every 2nd Monday - outside in the tent. Featured artists will bring some different songs and arrangements to the jam. Oakshire is now open till 10 pm and serves pizza, salads and snacks. Outside food is still welcome. There‘s also a food cart on site and a couple more nearby. Keep up to date on the jam by going to the Facebook link above to join the group and get on the email list to get all the info on the jams.

Every Thursday Join in the Bluegrass Jam Session or just enjoy the tunes!!

Starts at 6PM

Tony Becker of San Jose, California and Mark Wallis of Gloucester, England host this Transatlantic session for all interested parties on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM UK time. For American visitors, please note we are now all on standard ‘winter‘ time, so that is 12:00 PM Pacific in the USA. Open to all who play traditional Irish music and It has the obvious limitations of Zoom in that only one musician can play at a time. But we go round the ‘room’ and take it in turns - no pressure though and the baton can be passed if you just want to listen. We just play for a couple of hours. On a good day we have a variety of instruments from pipes to Melodeon, banjo to fiddle and it can be a good way to pick up tunes. It is very friendly and we welcome everyone. The only criterion is we try to stick to Irish traditional.

Westside Open intermediate level Irish music session every Tuesday in Tigard, free, under 21 OK all hours. Many tunes are listed at https://trailjams.org. Lots of space, good food, free soft drinks, discount on beer. This is a craft brewery, so there are LOTS of beers to choose from.

The Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers‘ Association (OOTFA) is a nonprofit organization with representation across the nation. As our motto states, the organization is dedicated to the perpetuation and promotion of oldtime music. Oldtime music is loosely defined as that played on traditional instruments dating from the first half of the 20th century. Many of the tunes we play date from the 18th century and even earlier.

The PDX Quebec Jam Session is an inclusive learner-friendly place in the Portland area to share and learn the energizing and joyful traditional dance music of Quebec and Acadia, . If you play or are interested in learning this kind of music, this session is for you! Step-dancers are welcome. This jam takes place at a public venue. If you’d like to receive invitations for this event, (or host an event), use the dedicated email address to get on the notification list. Contact: pdxqjam(*at*)gmail.com. This jam is for folks who already play their instrument, and want to learn or share Quebec tunes. All acoustic melody and bass instruments, (violin, guitar, accordion, piano, bouzouki, flute, etc.), and experience levels are welcome. Tunes are usually played several times through (unlike the Irish or Cape Breton sessions where tunes are only played 2-3 times), so that folks can get their fingers around new tunes and really enjoy playing the ones they know. Schedule: Fifth Mondays of the month: (June 29, August 31, November 30, 2026), from 7 to 9 pm. McMenamins Kennedy School - Community Room 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland Oregon. (Parking available). Some sheet music and performance links for basic and common session tunes, may be provided, where possible, via the mailing list. This is to establish and build upon a repertoire of common Quebec session tunes for participants. Other resources: The Portland Collection, Vols. I, II, and III, has many Quebec tunes 1000 Airs du Quebec… tune book Online performances

Seisiún na nÓg is our monthly youth session lead by our Youth Officer Niamh Branigan. Youth are welcome to sit in to listen and chat with young musicians about learning Irish music; or bring their instrument and strike up an Irish tune they might be learning currently.

Bring the family and settle in with dinner & a beverage for some foot-tapping fun with a group of musicians playing traditional Irish tunes all evening. The next Three Mugs session is this Saturday, Sep 12 from 6-9 pm. Thanks to Stephen Arnold, we‘re now on a regular schedule of the 2nd Sat of each month. Your participation will help keep it going!

New location beginning July 19: Portland FolkMusic Society West Side Song Circle. Help us ring the rafters and raise the roof! You bring it, we’ll sing it, 2-4:30 pm, on the third Sunday of each month. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Calvin Hall 3228 SW Sunset Blvd, Portland 97229 (Corner of SW Sunset Blvd and Dosch Rd.) Calvin Hall is on the lower level of the church. Please park in the St. Andrews parking lot, across Dosch Rd from the church. Cross Dosch Rd. to the lower level of the church and enter to the left of the gym. Turn left down the first hallway. Calvin Hall (South) is the first door on your right. If you have any problems finding the song circle, call or text 503-863-7698. Bring your friends. Everyone welcome! Questions? Email stevemullinax57*(at)*gmail.com. RSVP would be appreciated.

This is an open access session, so there’s no need to book in advance, you’re welcome to just turn up. At our weekly singaround, you can perform a song to the rest of the group, just as you would in a regular folk club, or you can just join and listen to some live music. Tunes and poems are welcome too. When it’s your turn to perform, everyone else is muted on Zoom so that everyone can hear you. Phoenix Folk Ltd exists to promote participation and performance in folk and acoustic music, song and dance across the North East of England. We aim to be a friendly face of folk music, to help keep alive the great traditions of folk music and to encourage talent and personal musical development. If you’d like us to record your performance so that you have a copy to keep, then we’re very happy to do so. We’re always willing to offer advice to help you to get the best sound quality when performing online, so do get in touch if you have any questions.

We open up a "room" on Zoom at 6 pm Pacific Time every Saturday evening. We start singing at 6:30 pm and we keep it going until the last person leaves. Feel free to come in anytime, and stay as long as you like. We run it kind of like a physical song circle. Everyone who wants to can sing once, and then we’ll do another round, and just keep going around as long as you like. Of course, it is totally fine to just listen and some people do. For more information, go to the heading ‘Song Circles‘ on this drop down menu. 2026 VSC Themes Mar 21: Natural or man-made disasters Apr 18: Toss it! Catch! May 16: Variations on ‘This Land Is Your Land‘ Jun 20: Animals acting like people - songs where animals talk, wear clothes, get married, tell the future, give warnings, etc. Jul 18: Mountains Aug 15: Neither plant nor animal: songs about minerals Sep 19: Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties Oct 17: Leaves Leave Leaf Nov 21: Songs new to everyone‘s ears Dec 19: Miracles

Colorado songwriter Emily Scott Robinson beckons to those who are lost, lonely, or learning the hard way with American Siren, her first album for Oh Boy Records. With hints of bluegrass, country, and folk, the eloquent collection shares her gift for storytelling through her pristine soprano and the perspective of her unconventional path into music.

“I think that the thread running through the album is those things that call to us, and how we can't resist that call,” she says. “It’s about the siren songs that come up through our lives.”

Though not fully autobiographical, American Siren gracefully blends imagined characters with the meaningful people she’s encountered on her journey. Showcasing her ability as a storyteller, “If Trouble Comes a Lookin’” invents a scene where a vulnerable priest and an unhappy wife meet in an Arkansas hotel bar. “Hometown Hero” is an emotional tribute to her cousin, a veteran lost to suicide. “Lost Woman’s Prayer” stems from the words of a sage friend she met while traveling abroad, while “Every Day in Faith” is a personal testament to seeing things through.

JOSEPH is the Oregon-bred sister trio of Natalie, Allie, and Meegan Closner, known for
their powerful harmonies, emotionally honest songwriting, and genre-blurring blend of
indie pop, folk, and rock. Since releasing their breakout debut I’m Alone, No
You’re Not in 2016—which featured their hit single “White Flag” and landed them
on The Tonight Show, TODAY, and the Billboard charts—the band has steadily built a
devoted following through gripping live performances, national tours, and appearances
at major festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, and Bonnaroo.

Over the years, JOSEPH has released a string of critically acclaimed records
including Good Luck, Kid (2019) and The Sun (2023), praised for their rich vocal
arrangements andsoul-baring lyricism. Their most recent release Closer to Happy (2026)
marks their boldest and most personal work to date. Co-produced with Luke Niccoli (Carly
Rae Jepsen, Miya Folick), the project explores themes of grief, self-trust, and radical selfacceptance.
Whether through triumphant anthems like “I Believe In Myself” or gut-punch
ballads like “Bye and Bye,” JOSEPH continues to turn lived experience into songs that
resonate far beyond the surface.

Hi, I’m Dan. I’m a whiskey & beer drinking, fishing & hunting loving, motorcycle riding, quality food eating, hippie sympathizing, hobby farm running, people loving, husband & father who lives in Minneapolis and shares a life with my amazing wife and two adorable sons named Oak and Alder.

I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, MI, and moved to Minneapolis when I was 18 to study music, and I stayed because I’m one of those crazy people that enjoys the snow and cold weather.

Songwriting, and performing those songs for people, is both my trade and my passion. When I’m not in my studio writing and cutting records, or on the road playing shows, I’m usually playing in the woods with our boys, tending to our backyard chickens, eating fresh veggies from my wife’s huge garden, making syrup from our maple grove, or doing one of my many outdoor hobbies.

Now here are a few things about my music career that I should probably share in a music bio:

• In September 2014 Budweiser released their "Friends Are Waiting" commercial campaign featuring me singing my song When You Come Home and it premiered during both The World Series & The Super Bowl.

• In February, 2018, I released my album 25 Years and the title track is now inching toward 1 million listens. • In October, 2018, Miller Lite featured my newest single “So Good” in one of their commercials that played for months during NFL games on ESPN & more

• In March, 2019, my song “You Feel Like Home” was featured in Explore Minnesota Tourism’s newest ad campaign.

• In 2022 I released my album Troubadour Family Man. It’s my debut self-produced record and I couldn’t be more proud of it.

• Over the years I’ve had the honor of sharing the stage with some really cool artists & bands including The Civil Wars, Andy Grammer, Eric Hutchinson, Matt Nathanson, NeedtoBreathe, Augustana, Tyrone Wells, O.A.R., Haley Reinhart, Jon McLaughlin, Will Hoge, Drew Holcomb, Sister Hazel, and more.

Portland Country Dance Community (PCDC) sponsors an English country dancing (ECD) slow jam on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 7-9 PM in the community room at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211. The events are free and open to all acoustic musicians, whether you play by dots or by ear. The contra jam plays tunes from the Portland Collection and the waltz books edited by Bill Matthiesen. If you don’t have the books, we’re happy to share. Come make music with us!! Questions: Email Kathy Story, PCDC President at board-chair(*at*)portlandcountrydance.org

Come join our open Irish session at Garage Door. Sessions will be hosted by Mikela Valenzuela, an avid Celtic fiddler and local teacher. Come ready with your favorite tune to suggest or just listen and learn along with us. The session is at an intermediate level but very welcoming to beginners as well. Sláinte!

Eight-time Grammy-winner Beck has traveled light years from his emergence as a reluctant generational spokesperson when “Loser” exploded from a rejected 1992 demo into a ubiquitous 1994 smash. In the decades since, Beck's singular career has seen him utilize all manners and eras of music, blurring boundaries and blazing a path into the future while simultaneously foraging through the past.

Surfacing just as the mainstream and alternative rock intersected, no small thanks to his 1994 debut Mellow Gold, Beck quickly confounded expectations with subsequent releases including the lo-fi folk of One Foot in the Grave. But the album that first cemented Beck’s place in the pantheon was 1996’s multi-platinum Best Alternative Grammy winner Odelay. Odelay remains a key cultural touchstone from the indelible hooks of "Devil's Haircut” and “The New Pollution" to the irresistible call and response of the Grammy-winning "Where It's At.”

From the world-tripping atmospherics of 1998's Mutations (Beck's second album to win the Best Alternative Grammy) and the fluorescent funk of 1999's Midnite Vultures through the somber reflections of 2002's Sea Change, 2005's platinum tour de force Guero, 2006's sprawling The Information, 2008's acclaimed Danger Mouse-produced Modern Guilt, no Beck record would ever sound like its predecessor.

That pattern would be upended in sublime sonic fashion with the 2014 release of Morning Phase. A companion piece of sorts to his 2002 masterpiece Sea Change, Morning Phase conjured the staggering downtempo impact of that record through the lens of an infectious optimism. The chorus of critical acclaim for Morning Phase was instant and unanimous, as Beck rolled into 2015 taking the Album of the Year top honor at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as the prize for Best Rock Album. Morning Phase also won in the Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) category.

True to his chameleonic nature, Beck followed up Morning Phase’s subdued beauty with Colors, an intoxicating rainbow of auditory tricks and treats that went on to win Best Alternative Music Album (Beck’s third) and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (the second Beck album to do so) at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019. That same year, Beck would offer a first glimpse into his 14th studio album Hyperspace with the stunning surprise single “Saw Lightning”—written and produced by Beck and Pharrell Williams, who would be credited as co-writer and co-producer on seven of Hyperspace’s 11 tracks.

Beck has spent much of the last few years dazzling live audiences with a grab bag of engaging performances ranging from a handful of freeform one-off shows, to 2023’s massive Summer Odyssey tour with co-headliners Phoenix. Summer Odyssey played to packed houses from the Kia Forum in L.A. to Madison Square Garden and beyond, and was followed by a historic full concert performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra—which inspired a series of orchestral performances at the likes of New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall. The past few years have seen Beck embark on limited runs of orchestral dates featuring musicians who played on milestones including Mutations, Sea Change and Morning Phase accompanied by native orchestras in each city, delivering uniformly unforgettable evenings of unique symphonic arrangements of classics and deep cuts from his towering catalog and beyond.

Jake Shimabukuro is a world-renowned ukulele virtuoso whose groundbreaking artistry has redefined the instrument for the 21st century. Hailed as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele,” Shimabukuro has captivated audiences across the globe with his masterful technique, innovative spirit, and deeply expressive performances that seamlessly blend elements of jazz, rock, classical, blues, folk, and traditional Hawaiian music.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Jake began playing the ukulele at age four, quickly developing a unique style that pushed the instrument far beyond its traditional boundaries. He first gained international recognition after his jaw-dropping rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral, introducing millions to the ukulele’s untapped potential.

Over the course of his career, Shimabukuro has released numerous acclaimed albums, collaborated with an array of legendary artists—including Bette Midler, Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Ziggy Marley, and Mick Fleetwood—and performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center. His most recent projects showcase both his dazzling technical command and his growing focus on emotional storytelling through music.

Beyond the stage, Jake is a passionate advocate for music education and community outreach, frequently performing at schools and benefit concerts to inspire the next generation of musicians. Whether playing an intimate solo show or headlining with a full band, Shimabukuro continues to prove that the ukulele is an instrument of infinite possibilities—one that speaks a universal language of joy, connection, and hope.

Dwight Yoakam is a legendary artist whose influence has reshaped the landscape of country music and beyond. With over 25 million albums sold worldwide, he is a 21-time Grammy nominee and multiple Grammy Award winner. His catalog includes 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum releases, with five topping the Billboard Country Albums chart and 14 landing in the Top 10. Nearly 40 of his singles have charted on the Billboard charts, including 14 Top 10 hits. A recipient of the Americana Music Association’s Artist of the Year award and BMI Country Music’s President’s Award, the highest honors bestowed by each organization, Yoakam was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.

His latest release, Brighter Days (Via Records/Thirty Tigers), marks his first new album in nine years. Released in November 2024, the album was written and recorded over a three-year period and features twelve brand-new songs written or co-written by Yoakam. It also includes three seemingly disparate covers: “Keep On the Sunny Side” by the Carter Family, “Bound Away” by Cake, and “Time Between” by Chris Hillman of The Byrds, artfully woven into the same body of work in the unmistakable style that could only be Dwight Yoakam.

A passionate curator of musical heritage, Yoakam launched his SiriusXM channel, Dwight Yoakam and The Bakersfield Beat: Where Country Went Mod, in 2018, spotlighting the Bakersfield sound and its far-reaching influence. The channel celebrates the Bakersfield sound and those whom it has inspired. Guests have included Post Malone, Lukas Nelson, Beck, Chris Hillman, Jakob Dylan, and Jackie DeShannon.

Music is more than just an aural language – it is a multitude of communication modes and literacies. Sight Reading features world-renowned songwriters translating between dialects in real time: the written language of music (usually expressed on staff), oral / aural traditions and “playing by ear” come together to work with Oregon Symphony musicians as they perform newly-created arrangements of songs by musicians who write their music in a variety of ways.

Jimmie Herrod

Jimmie Herrod is a singer, songwriter, and performer celebrated for his radiant tone and emotional depth. Hailed by The Seattle Times as “a voice like a beacon of hope,” Herrod brings striking expressivity to performances across stage and screen.

He rose to international prominence as a finalist on America’s Got Talent, where he earned the coveted Golden Buzzer from Sofía Vergara. He later returned to compete on AGT: All-Stars, further expanding his global audience.

Since 2017, Herrod has toured extensively with Pink Martini, performing throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He is also a frequent guest with major orchestras across the United States and has collaborated with artists including Renée Fleming, Lalah Hathaway, Brian Blade, and Vince Mendoza.

Equally at home across genres, Herrod is known for performances that combine technical precision with warmth, clarity, and a powerful sense of connection.

Katherine Paul

This land runs through Katherine Paul’s blood. And it called to her. In dreams she saw the river, her ancestors, and her home.When the land calls, you listen. And KP found herself far from her ancestral lands during a time of collective trauma, when the world was wounded and in need of healing. In 2020 she made the journey from Portland back to the Skagit River, back to the cedar trees that stand tall and shrouded in fog, back to the tide flats and the mountains, back to Swinomish.

It is a powerful thing to return to our ancestral lands and often times the journey is not easy. Like the salmon through the currents, like the tide as it crawls to shore this is a story of return. It is the call and response. It is the outstretched arms of the people who came before, welcoming her home.The Land, The Water, The Sky is a celebration of lineage and strength. Even in its deepest moments of loneliness and grief, of frustration over a world wrought with colonial violence and pain, the songs remind us that if we slow down, if we listen to the waves and the wind through the trees, we will remember to breathe.

There is a throughline of story in every song, a remembrance of knowledge and teachings, a gratitude of wisdom passed down and carried. There is a reimagining of Sedna who was offered to the sea, and a beautiful rumination on sacrifice and humanity, and what it means to hold the stories that work to teach us something.

Chord progressions born out of moments of sadness and solitude transform into the islands that sit blue along the horizon. The Salish Sea curves along her homelands, and when the singer is close to this water she is reminded of her grandmother, how she looked out at these same islands, and she’s held by spirit and memory.

The Land, The Water, The Sky rises and falls, in darkness and in light, but even in its most melancholy moments it is never despairing. That is the beauty of returning home. When you stand on ancestral lands it is impossible to be alone. You feel the arms and hands that hold you up, unwilling to let you fall into sorrow or abandonment. In her songs Katherine Paul has channeled that feeling of being held. In every note she has written a love letter to indigenous strength and healing.

There is a joy present here, a fierce blissfulness that comes with walking the trails along the river, feeling the sand and the stones beneath her feet. It is the pride and the certainty that comes with knowing her ancestors walked along the same land, dipped their hands into the water, and ran their fingertips along the same bark of cedar trees.

This is a story of hope, as it details the joy of returning. Katherine Paul’s journey home wasn’t made alone, and the songs are crowded with loved ones and relatives, like a really good party. And as the songs walk us through the land it is important we hover over the images and the beauty, the moments that mark this album as site specific. The power of this land is woven throughout, telling the story of narrow waterways, brushstrokes, salmon stinta, and above all healing. Let it take you. Move through the story and see the land through her eyes, because it is a gift, awelcomedsʔabadəb.

**The word “gift” in Lushootseed, the language of the Coast Salish people“

Nick Jaina

Nick Jaina is a Portland-based musician and writer whose work bridges music, literature, and performance. Originally from Sacramento, he has lived and worked in Portland, New York, and New Orleans, shaping a multidisciplinary creative career.

Jaina is the author of the memoir Get It While You Can, a finalist for the Oregon Book Award and now in its third printing. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, McSweeney’s, and Oregon Humanities.

As a musician, he has released numerous albums under his own name, including 2025’s The Monster Mash, blending literary sensibility with adventurous songwriting. His work often crosses artistic boundaries, reflecting a deep engagement with narrative and form.

He co-founded and served as music director for the New York-based ballet company Satellite, collaborating with dancers from Juilliard School and New York City Ballet, with performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Jaina has also composed scores for films and documentaries including All Sorts, Cement Suitcase, and Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire.

45th Parallel Universe is a collective of musicians dedicated to celebrating great chamber music through intimate, imaginative performances. Comprised primarily of musicians from the Oregon Symphony, the ensemble brings exceptional artistry and a spirit of collaboration to every project.

Since 2009, 45th Parallel has blurred boundaries between old and new, classical and contemporary, bluegrass and jazz, fiddle and folk. Their programming reflects Portland’s vibrant creative community, drawing together diverse audiences through unexpected and thoughtfully curated musical experiences.

Known for its “360-degree” approach to programming, the ensemble seamlessly weaves Bach and Beethoven alongside adventurous repertoire and cross-genre collaborations. These projects often feature artists from a wide range of traditions, embracing the richness and diversity of the region.

At its core, 45th Parallel Universe believes in music as a powerful and shared human experience—one that is both timeless and ever-evolving.

Enjoy A Voice of Her Own / Una Voz Propia, an evening of music, storytelling, and film celebrating the cultures, stories, and extraordinary talents that immigrants bring to the state and communities—and standing with them when they need support the most.

The evening will feature live music and storytelling by Gemanereida Barragán-Cruz—Mariachi Singer and Storyteller, and culminate in the world premiere of a new 15-minute documentary about her extraordinary artistic journey and the power of her voice.

More than a film screening, this is an evening to gather in community, experience music and stories live, and celebrate Gemanereida and the many ways immigrant artists enrich the cultural life of our community.

Sessions are led by Marina Dodgson (fiddle) and Maurice Condie (guitar). These are open access sessions, so there’s no need to book in advance, you’re welcome to just turn up and join in! We believe great things happen when we play tunes together! People connect with each other and make friends, and we keep our music traditions alive by sharing tunes and passing them on. What’s more, playing tunes can make you feel happy, and if you do it often enough, you’ll notice that you are getting better at playing your instrument too! It turns out that you don’t even have to be in the same place…great things still happen when we play music together, online from the comfort of your own home. Phoenix Folk Ltd exists to promote participation and performance in folk and acoustic music, song and dance across the North East of England. We aim to be a friendly face of folk music, to help keep alive the great traditions of folk music and to encourage talent and personal musical development.

Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother’s ukulele. “Uncle Howard,” Smither says, “showed me that if you knew three chords, you could play a lot of the songs you heard on the radio. And if you knew four chords, you could pretty much rule the world.” With that bit of knowledge under his belt, he was hooked. “I’d loved acoustic music – specifically the blues – ever since I first heard Lightnin’ Hopkins’ Blues In My Bottle album. I couldn’t believe the sound Hopkins got. At first I thought it was two guys playing guitar. My style, to a degree, came out of trying to imitate that sound I heard.”

Mikis Theodorakis, one of Greece's most treasured and prolific composers, was widely known for film scores, such as the iconic "Zorba the Greek". This concert pays tribute to Theodorakis prolific body of work, including some of his lesser-known pieces and compositions that highlight Theodorakis' role as a symbol of resistance.

Whether your taste runs to folk or classical music, this concert has something for you. The Kombos Collective (including artists from San Francisco, Washington, DC and local Portland artists) will perform a range of Theodorakis' most beloved songs — pieces as historically significant as they are musically beautiful. This includes "Ballad of Mauthausen," set to the poetry of Holocaust survivor Iakovos Kambanellis, and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful songs ever written about the Holocaust. In addition to live music, attendees will learn about the enduring cultural significance of Theodorakis' music.

This program is organized by the Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Greece and Greek Americans in the Pacific Northwest.

As the trailblazers of progressive Irish dance, Trinity Irish Dance Company has spent 35 years redefining the art form through the vision of Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard. This family-friendly program, featuring live music from the company’s own folk-rock band, draws from new and classic Trinity repertoire. Highlights will include the Portland/Northwest premieres of “Pasture Bedtime, Bleating Hearts,” a whimsical work by Portland’s own Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton of BodyVox; “Séseacht,” choreographed by renowned tap dancer Michelle Dorrance in collaboration with the company; and “The Sash,” choreographed by Mark Howard, Chelsea Hoy, and Stephanie Martinez. Trinity has sold out stages across Europe, Asia, and North America—a tradition kept restlessly alive through their distinct artistry.

Georgia Parker is a singer-songwriter from Kent, England, now based in Los Angeles. She released her debut album, Same Time Tomorrow, in August 2024, establishing herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary folk and indie music. Her sophomore album, Pumpkin (March 20, 2026), is largely self-produced and further defines her richly textured, sonically delicate sound.

Rooted in indie folk, chamber pop, and indie rock, Pumpkin explores the limits of emotional self-protection. Beneath that guarded exterior, the songs return to an inner child still longing for safety, tenderness, and rest - a theme distilled, somewhat wryly, in the album's title and final track, "Pumpkin," a term of endearment that gestures toward softness rather than defense. Haunting, cinematic, and deeply reflective, Parker crafts immersive, emotionally resonant songs that balance vulnerability with sharp, intelligent lyricism.

Station to Station: A Roadtrip Through Modern Creativity, Directed by Doug Aitken. 62min. Not Rated.

The Station to Station feature film is made-up of 62 one-minute films including conversations, performances and unrepeatable moments from the journey, bringing together an amazing cross- section of people and places, from icons of culture to a hitchhiker found on a desert road. With each changing minute the film explores creativity through a different artist, musician, place or perspective, ultimately revealing a larger sense of modern expression transcending the individual voices.

Station to Station is a journey through our evolving creative culture.

Featuring: Beck / Jackson Browne / Thurston Moore / Patti Smith / Ed Ruscha / Doug Aitken / Giorgio Moroder / Mavis Staples / Cat Power / Lawrence Weiner / William Eggleston / Mark Bradford / No Age / Urs Fischer / Olafur Eliasson / Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti / Dan Deacon / Christian Jankowski / Ernesto Neto / Thomas Demand / Sasha Frere-Jones / Cold Cave / Stephen Shore / Suicide / Lucky Dragons / Eleanor Friedberger / Gary Indiana / Paolo Soleri / Scott Dadich / The Congos / Savages / Aaron Koblin / Sun Araw / Liz Glynn / Yoshimio Trio / Theesatisfaction / White Mystery / Sam Falls / Black Monks Of Mississippi / Cornbread Harris / Bloodbirds / The Conquerors / Destruction Unit

We do not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, and films exhibited don’t necessarily reflect the views of PAM CUT or the Portland Art Museum. In addition to the synopses, trailers, and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on sites like Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com.

“Here’s to life” Fans around the world can be found singing the chorus of the Roger Clyne-penned fan favorite “Mekong” and toasting their glasses in unison to celebrate life through rock-n-roll. But the inspiration for the song dates back to the time Roger went to Taipei, Taiwan, as a college student to teach English during the day and busk with his guitar at night for money.

Today, as Clyne prepares to release his 11th studio album, he continues to transform his life experiences, inspirations, observations and his own muses into timeless music. And whether he’s wearing his Converse high tops, boots or sandals, Clyne’s blend of punk rock, americana, indie-pop and mariachi influences have made him, drummer PH Naffah, guitarist Jim Dalton and bassist Nick Scropos — collectively known as Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers.