Performing Arts❯Open Mics

Rando is a singer/songwriter who plays acoustic folk music around Portland, OR. They moved here in 2021 after 10 years of busking through the south and midwest with their dog, Bandit. Community and love are at the center of their ethos, and their lyrics are a vulnerable exposition of their heart.

Join us every Monday from 6:30–10 PM at The Hostel Cafe for our weekly Open Mic Night, a cozy, community-focused space where local and traveling musicians share original songs, covers, and acoustic sets. Enjoy live music, good vibes, and cafe drinks while discovering new talent and supporting our featured performers. If you're looking for open mic music events in Portland or a friendly spot to play, The Hostel Cafe is the place to be every Monday night. This is a free event, but we encourage you to tip our featured performers!

@the_lowlow_show presents: Sunday Songwriter Revival ❤️‍🔥 . Sunday, June 5th at 7 pm PST @thewaypost presents four fantastic artists! . We’re doing this round style which is one of my favs. All the artists will take turns sharing a song at a time & the story behind it 📖 ....

The name Cantrip is an Old Scots word meaning a charm, magic spell or piece of mischief and it aptly describes the unexpected twists and turns in their musical arrangements, likewise the compelling potency of their musicianship. Swirling border pipes, raging fiddle, thunderous guitar and three rich voices blend to create a sound energetic enough to tear the roof off. Echoes can be heard of trad music from the 1960s and 70s, but the years have slowly infested their music with the sounds of funk, metal, bluegrass, swing, and even klezmer.

Originally formed as a quartet, Cantrip sprung from a local session in Edinburgh nearly twenty years ago. Their driving music immediately caught the attention of the masses, and they were quickly signed to the Foot Stompin' label. With their first album "Silver" (2001) in hand, Cantrip made its way across the water to the United States, where they were received with roars and shouts (of enjoyment). After years of significant touring, the band parted ways with Foot Stompin' and began producing albums on their own. Two albums later ("Boneshaker" in 2005 and "Piping the Fish" in 2008), Cantrip had cemented itself as a perennial figure. After a period of hiatus in which children were born and continents were left for new ones, Cantrip redefined its sound. Trimming itself to a trio, the band tightened its arrangements while expanding its influence. New inspirations began creeping into the sound, complementing the traditional foundation of the band. This more mature sound debuted on their recent release "The Crossing" (2016), to high acclaim. In 2018, the band gathered 50 of its closest friends and fans and returned to its roots, re-recording Silver in a live format (Cantrip Live), re-arranged and with a more youthful sound than the original. The process inspired a new approach for the band, which they implemented for their upcoming fifth studio album. In late 2019, they spent a week in their original home of Edinburgh creating and recording new music. All of the tracks on this album were captured live in one take by engineer and longtime friend of the band Reuben Taylor. This seminal album, slated to be released in Fall 2020, shows a new and darker side of the group while preserving the elements that audiences have come to know and love. After 20 years of touring, Cantrip has found a character like no other. Since 2023, the band is back to being a quartet, featuring Dan Houghton, Jon Bews, Eric McDonald, and now Alasdair White (Battlefield Band).

Join us for a Songwriter’s Showcase Open Mic in Old 97 at the Kalama Harbor Lodge, where the focus is on original music and real connection. Casey O’Neill of the band “Drifter” will be hosting the night, dialing in the sound, and playing original music throughout the event. Settle in for an evening of stripped-down performances and fresh voices. Come early, grab a drink, and experience a night of music that feels personal, unexpected, and one-of-a-kind. Doors and sign-ups are at 5pm, show starts at 6pm. Food and beverages available for purchase.

5pm doors, 6-9:30pm

Free

All ages welcome

Portland Songwriters and Atlantis Lounge Presents: Songwriters Open Mic. Join other songwriters in and around Portland for a monthly event to showcase your original music, meet other songwriters, music makers, and creatives, and build community.

Meet us at Atlantis Lounge located inside Mississippi Pizza every second Monday of the month!

This open mic is played “In The Round”. We host three songwriters on stage at a time. Each writer plays 2 songs each. We’ll do our best to prioritize writers who are not selected to play a round this month to play the next month. We typically have time for 5 rounds each month (15 total performers). Performers are drawn at random.

House guitar and piano available.

Doors/list opens: 6:30 | Music: 7:00
$5-$10 donation | All ages until 8pm.

Portland Songwriters Guild open mic.

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

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.

Open Mic with Jeff Keddie (@jeffkeddiemusic) is held on the third Thursday of each month. This event has gathered a dedicated and supportive lineup of songwriters and small groups who play every month. The show is live on KXRW, Vancouver’s local independent radio station. Sign-ups start at 5:30pm

Sign up online beginning Tuesday of every week.

Jump into Artichoke Music’s Songwriters Circle hosted by Kelly Brightwell and Woody Moran, held every 3rd Sunday of the month from 2 pm - 4 pm in the venue, free (donations support Artichoke). Bring your Instrument (piano available) and original songs, or even the occasional cover, to share with others. This is also a great opportunity to listen and gain insight from other songwriters as they play their original songs. This is not a jam. What happens when you pair a gravel-voiced groove master with a sensitive Americana-infused soul? When you mix the detailed observations of a world traveler with storytelling that brings emotional landscapes to life? You get the award-winning songwriting team of Brightwell & Moran.

Acoustic Village Open Mic w/ Richard Colombo live at The Artichoke, $5 (plus $2.62 service fee) cover at the door (doors open at 6:30 pm). No one is turned away for lack of funds. Join the Acoustic Village Open Mic! Share your talent and connect with music lovers for a cozy night of acoustic magic. Hosted by the fabulous Richard Colombo Come on down to Artichoke Music and join us for one of Portland’s most welcoming Open Mics — in the best listening room in town! Expect a heartfelt evening of community, music, poetry, and stories. Play an original song, a favorite cover, or share a poem — all are welcome! Please keep performances to 5 minutes so everyone has a chance to shine. Sign up by writing your name on a slip of paper next to the basket on the bar. Come share your voice, listen, and connect with the Artichoke family. Hope to see you there!

Portland Songwriters and Show Bar Present: Songwriters Open Mic. Join other songwriters in and around Portland for a monthly event to showcase your original music, meet other songwriters, music makers, and creatives, and build community.

Performers are drawn at random. We take names from 6:30 to 7:00 or until full.

This open mic is played “In The Round”. We host three songwriters on stage at a time. Each writer plays 2 songs each. All writers who are not selected to play the round will be prioritized to play the next month. We typically have time for 4 rounds each month (12 total performers)

Please bring your own instrument.

$5-$10 Suggested Donation | 21+

Portland Songwriters Guild open mic at Show Bar.

Super supportive weekly open mic hosted by Johnny Franco! Check out the Facebook group, song prompts weekly for those wanting to create something unique to share! Sign-up at 8 pm, music from 9 – 11:30 pm, free.

Join us for "A Blending of Artichoke Music Communities", a monthly song circle open to all, hosted by Soliders Songs and Voices PDX. Presented by Soliders Songs and Voices Portland Chapter and Artichoke Community Music Please Join us for, "Coffee & a Song, A Community Song Circle". Bring a song, A poem or a work in progress, or come to listen. We will gather in the main venue, which is ADA Accessible, please only bring Guide Dogs into the venue. Save a seat by registering online here. This is a FREE event and welcome to all. Donations and Volunteer work are always appreciated to help support the work Soliders Songs and Voices PDX and Artichoke Community Music are doing to build community. Coffee will be provided by Soldiers Songs and Voices PDX. Sponsored by Solider Songs & Voices PDX and Artichoke Community Music https://www.ssvpdx.org/ www.ArtichokeMusic.org

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Join us every Monday from 6:30–10 pm at The Hostel Cafe for our weekly Open Mic Night, a cozy, community-focused space where local and traveling musicians share original songs, covers, and acoustic sets. Enjoy live music, good vibes, and cafe drinks while discovering new talent and supporting our featured performers. If you‘re looking for open mic music events in Portland or a friendly spot to play, The Hostel Cafe is the place to be every Monday night. This is a free event, but we encourage you to tip our featured performers! 10/19 (Sat): Ross Island Ramblers featuring Richard Melling (lead guitar and songwriter), Karen McCracken (guitar and clawhammer banjo), the hot fiddle of Olivia Horgan, melodic mandolin of Rollie Champe and the rock-solid bass of Michelle Traver.

Portland Songwriters and Atlantis Lounge: Songwriters Open Mic. Join other songwriters in and around Portland for a monthly event to showcase your original music, meet other songwriters, music makers, and creatives, and build community.

Performers are drawn at random. We take names from 6:30 to 7:00 or until full. This open mic is played “In The Round”. We host three songwriters on stage at a time. Each writer plays 2 songs each.

All writers who are not selected to play the round will be prioritized to play the next month.

We typically have time for 5 rounds each month (15 total performers).

We provide a house keyboard. Please bring your own guitar or instrument.

**Atlantis Lounge is All Ages until 9:00 PM, at that time any minors will be asked to leave the space. Thanks for your understanding!

In an era of excess and endless distraction, the New York-based singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy rejects the noise in favor of something far more essential. Glaspy has assembled a selection of songs that span from fictional vignettes to unguarded self-revelation to empathetic observation of the troubled world around her. Produced by Joe Henry (the three-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/producer known for his work with luminaries like Aimee Mann and Joan Baez), I Am Both ultimately stands as a striking new statement from one of the modern music canon’s most formidable songwriters.

Jake Xerxes Fussell is a North Carolina-based musician and thoughtful interpreter of folk songs, drawing on nineteenth- and twentieth-century vernacular music and archival field recordings. He has released five studio albums, including his latest, When I’m Called, produced by James Elkington and featuring a range of guest musicians. Fussell and Elkington also collaborated on the soundtrack for the film Rebuilding. Dougie Poole is also featured.

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.

Nick Dumas leads on mandolin and vocals, bringing the soulful foundation he learned from his dobro-playing grandfather in Washington State, now living in Wisconsin. Nick is a former member of Grammy-nominated Special Consensus and a three-time IBMA award winner. Nick has performed across the globe and recently released his solo album "Details" on Nashville's Skyline Records. Nick now has three new singles released on Skyline Records from a soon-to-come project, all of which have made it to #1 on the bluegrass airplay charts. When not touring with the trio or his own band, "Nick Dumas and Branchline," Nick teaches mandolin lessons at home and with The Fiddler's Farm Band in WI. He also co-founded the well-known Northwest bands "Northern Departure" and "North Country Bluegrass".

Chris Luquette showcases his virtuosic guitar work alongside vocals, drawing from his 11 years with the celebrated Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. This multi-instrumentalist has shared stages with Jerry Douglas, Emmylou Harris, and The Steep Canyon Rangers, earning multiple IBMA awards and a Grammy nomination along the way. Originally from Seattle's vibrant music scene and now based in New York City, Chris brings an eclectic musical palette that spans from traditional bluegrass to world music influences. Chris is a co-founder of Northern Departure along with Nick.

Andrew Knapp anchors the trio with his exceptional bass playing and rich vocals. He is one of the premier bassists to come out of the Pacific Northwest. Andrew can also be seen with Seattle-based bluegrass band The Warren G. Hardings, as well as Nick Dumas and Branchline. As a classically trained jazz bassist, he has performed with nationally recognized artists such as Kenny Garrett and Terence Blanchard, toured Europe and Brazil, and played on ships for Carnival Cruise Lines. Also, a graduate of the Whitworth University Jazz program. He is one of the best in the business.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Tallest Man on Earth is known for animated, expressive performances and songwriting that critics have compared to Bob Dylan. Influenced by Dylan and early American folk artists, Kristian Matsson describes his music as shaped by what feels natural to him. His 2023 album, “Henry St.,” was his first recorded with a band and brings together a range of musical ideas and sounds.

With Andrea von Kampen. All Ages

Dovetail Cellars, 404 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, hosts an Open Mic Night with Jeff Keddie from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. This event has gathered a dedicated and supportive lineup of songwriters and small groups who play every month. The show is live on KXRW, Vancouver’s local independent radio station. Sign-ups start at 5:30 p.m.

“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.

Part of the Portland Book Festival, ‘Sight Reading - Musical Dialects’ features world-renowned songwriters performing newly created arrangements alongside musicians from 45th Parallel Universe. Night one features Jimmie Herrod, Black Belt Eagle Scout, and Nick Jaina.

Some artists need to be experienced in person. Eivør is one of them.

Originally from the Faroe Islands, Eivør brings her extraordinary voice and full band to the Wonder Ballroom on November 18th —a rare chance to encounter an artist whose music feels both deeply intimate and otherworldly.

Dark atmospheric rock, pulsing electronics and primal vocals meet in a live show that moves from a whisper to overwhelming power. Having opened for Heilung as their special guest on numerous tours, she now brings her own world to Portland.

Known for her unmistakable voice on The Last Kingdom and God of War soundtracks, Eivør is celebrating her new album TUNGL, released 16 October on Nuclear Blast.

“Gave even the mighty Chelsea Wolfe a run for her money” — Kerrang!, ArcTanGent live review, 2026

For fans of Chelsea Wolfe, Wardruna and Heilung.

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 and soul-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 self-acceptance. 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.

Afie Jurvanen does not spend too much time in cities these days. For nearly two decades, Jurvanen was a fixture of the Toronto scene, both as a valued multi-instrumentalist and producer for friends like Feist, The Weather Station, and Kathleen Edwards and as the architect of one of his country’s most celebrated artists, Bahamas. Jurvanen came of age across Bahamas’ first six albums, the restlessness of jumpy early hits like Pink Strat and Barchords slowly shifting into the generous domesticity of 2023’s Bootcut. But Jurvanen has long been drawn to open spaces, to a quieter life. In 2009, the year of his aforementioned debut, he began visiting Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Ocean. Over the next decade, his trips became more consistent, then more frequent, and then longer, until, in 2019, Jurvanen and his family of four finally made the move—nearly 2,000 kilometers northeast, to Nova Scotia. They live a lifestyle, Jurvanen half-jokes, that is “close to Mennonite.” The kids are homeschooled. No one has an iPad. Text messages can feel like miracles.

For a long time, Jurvanen didn’t know what to do with My Second Last Album. After cutting a legitimate country record in the city where the genre lives, was it a too-weird left turn to put out a loose-limbed indie-pop set cut in a shed? He thought about slicing it into singles or splicing it as a bonus onto some sort of future Bahamas compendium, maybe even shelving it altogether. But then he put the record back on after not hearing it for several months and had the simplest and most profound realization possible: He loved these songs, the way they sat together, the story they told about who he was at that moment—a married father content to live in the country alongside the very ocean where he surfs, a musician who often goes to his buddy’s house to casually make some music. It became My Second Last Album, one of Bahamas’ truly indispensable works.

Dallahan Returns for a special Community Celtic Concert

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Artist: Dallahan https://www.dallahanmusic.com/
Tickets and additional information at https://www.tickettomato.com/event/10185/

Forged in Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene, but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America, Dallahan takes their listeners on a journey. Traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, they create their unique brand of World-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity. Having performed in over 20 countries, they have become a veteran touring outfit, and with each album, they continue to evolve their sound, as is evident on their upcoming fourth studio album, ‘Speak of the Devil’, which is set for release in early 2023.

Houndmouth is an American rock band from New Albany, In 2026, the band returns with Lordy, a stripped-back, emotionally direct record that marks a new chapter for frontman Matt Myers. After a period of creative stagnation shaped by major life changes, Myers reconnected with his songwriting through raw, unfiltered expression, largely writing alone for the first time. The result is an intimate, roots-driven album focused on rebuilding, acceptance, and forward motion. Supported by producer Brad Cook and a close-knit group of collaborators, the band continues its evolution while retaining the melodic instincts and Americana foundation that first defined its sound.

Montreal-born, Nashville-based Allison Russell is a Grammy, Juno, Americana, SOCAN, and Folk Award–winning artist and Polaris Prize–shortlisted singer-songwriter, producer, author, actor, and human rights advocate.

Her acclaimed solo debut Outside Child (2021) was followed by The Returner (2023), released via Concord/Fantasy. Prior to her solo work, she co-founded and toured internationally with Po’Girl, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters, and remains an active collaborator with OND and a member of Joni Mitchell’s Joni Jam.

In 2024, Russell joined Hozier’s Unreal Unearth tour across the U.S. and Europe, with their duet “Wildflower & Barley” earning her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. Her Rainbow Coalition ensemble and All Returners tour continued through 2025 across Australia and North America. She also co-wrote “Human Mind” with Hozier for Mavis Staples.

Russell has received eight Grammy nominations and one win, alongside multiple honors including Americana Award nominations and Album of the Year, a Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, International Folk Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Awards, and UK Americana Awards. She was also named Billboard Women in Music Canada’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year and shortlisted for the Polaris Prize.

She made her Broadway debut as Persephone in Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown in November 2024 and has since completed a second run in the role. Offstage, Russell is a powerful advocate and organizer, curating the historic Once and Future Sounds set at Newport Folk Festival and co-founding Love Rising, which has raised over $550,000 in support of LGBTQIA+ communities.

Her forthcoming memoir will be published by Little, Brown, and her third album is slated for release in 2026.

JT and the Mudbugs are getting together for three Sunday afternoons at Leisure Public House as they prepare to record a new batch of songs later this year. These aren’t quite concerts, and they aren’t quite rehearsals. They’re a chance to hear the band try out new songs, experiment with arrangements of old favorites, and discover which songs have the magic to make the next record.

And the audience gets a say.

Come listen, respond, and help JT and the Mudbugs decide which five or six songs should make the recording.

The core band features JT on guitar and vocals, Frankie Hernandez on drums, Ray Man on bass, and Andy Emmert on fiddle, with a different special guest joining the band each Sunday.

November 8: special guest TBA
November 15: featuring Pacific Northwest mandolin legend Spud Siegel
November 22: special guest TBA

Suggested cover: $10. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Come be part of the process and help make the record.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Portland. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Dolly Parton at Castaway Portland under the gentle glow of candlelight. This is a tribute concert experience. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the artist, their estate, or official representatives.

Tentative Program:

• Jolene
• 9 to 5
• Islands in the Stream (with Kenny Rogers)
• I Will Always Love You
• Here You Come Again
• Coat of Many Colors
• Wildflowers (with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris)
• Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That
• Two Doors Down
• My Tennessee Mountain Home
• Love Is Like a Butterfly
• Dumb Blonde
• Light of a Clear Blue Morning
• Just Because I’m a Woman
• Potential New Boyfriend

Performed by the Listeso String Quartet

An evening of wine, live music, and vineyard magic awaits.
Come dance, sip award-winning pours, and enjoy chef-crafted bites in a gorgeous vineyard setting.

Free admission, just bring your friends and your good vibes!

The second night of 'Sight Reading - Musical Dialects' at the Portland Book Festival features world-renowned songwriters Anna Tivel, Willy Vlautin, and Wonderly collaborating in real time. Performers are accompanied by new arrangements from 45th Parallel Universe.