Stay safe out there, Portland! As always, get tested and stay home if you feel sick—and get your booster while it's hot. Speaking of omicron, we advise checking directly with venues for the latest updates—including health guidelines, postponements, and cancellations—before heading out.
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FRIDAY
FILM
Jim Jarmusch Festival
Past Event
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The NYC indie-film king with his shock of silver hair has a singular style that favors drifters, disaffected youth, and Tom Waits. Get a taste of his oeuvre during this three-week festival, whose program includes such classics as Night On Earth, Down By Law, Stranger Than Paradise, and Dead Man.
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $6-$15)
Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light
Past Event
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If anyone can deliver a freshly twisted reenvisioning of the 1947 classic Nightmare Alley (based on William Lindsay Gresham's scandalous novel), it's Guillermo del Toro. The circus-set noir stars Bradley Cooper as a manipulative, success-driven carny who partners up with an equally manipulative psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett). Joining the leading duo is Willem Dafoe as a sideshow proprietor called Clem, Rooney Mara as a runaway who awes the crowd as Electrified Girl, and Toni Collette as the phony fortune-teller Madam Zeena. This screening will be in black and white and 35mm
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $10)
The Vanishing
Past Event
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In Dutch filmmaker George Sluizer's thriller, a young man's three-year search for his missing girlfriend draws the attention of her abductor: an outwardly mild-mannered and severely twisted professor.
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $6)
MUSIC
Hungry Hungry Hip Hop
Past Event
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Hungry Hungry Hip-Hop is a monthly showcase dedicated to spotlighting the many flavors and styles in Portland's hip-hop community, including live music, spoken word, and audio/visual art.
(Mississippi Pizza Pub & Atlantis Lounge, Boise, $10)
I Declare War with Bystander
Past Event
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Deathcore fans, pay attention! Seattle-based quartet I Declare War and Portland five-piece Bystander will come together for a night of powerful riffs and crushing death metal grooves.
(Hawthorne Theatre, Hawthorne, $15)
Jerro
Past Event
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Belgium producer Jerro will liven up your weekend with melodic house and downtempo tracks in support of his 2021 album, Coming Home.
(45 East, Central Eastside, $10)
Madgesdiqceg & The Everyday Mystics
Past Event
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MadgesdiqCEG consists of the silky vocals and flow from CEG and the smooth spiritual raps from her counterpart Madgesdiq. With their backing band The Everyday Mystics, they blend hip-hop with classic reggae and jazz sounds for socially conscious tunes that draw comparisons to the Fugees.
(Alberta Street Pub, King, $0-$10)
Soul'd Out Presents: Rodney Ruckus
Past Event
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Jazz drummer and multi-instrumentalist Rodney Ruckus spends his days as a music professor as well as the leader of the band The Ruckus Late Night’s. Ruckus gives a fresh take on jazz with his smooth fusion influence and fearless hip-hop essence.
(Jack London Revue, Downtown, $15)
QUEER
The Queens Keys
Past Event
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Drag queens Nicole Onoscopi and Saint Syndrome bring live singing and piano playing for a campy yet elegant evening filled with classic covers, original songs, comedy, and storytelling.
(The Queen's Head, Old Town-Chinatown, $5)
RuPaul's Drag Race Viewing Party
Past Event
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The 14th season of RuPaul's Drag Race has already seen Lizzo as the guest judge, so we're excited to see what else the producers (and queens) have in store. Sashay your way to the bar for viewing parties every Friday.
(Scandals, West End, free)
VISUAL ART
Smiles of Planet Earth
Past Event
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Meet Portland painter KHEM and check out live painting at the closing reception of the artist's Smiles of Planet Earth show.
(NW 14th & Kearney, Pearl District, free)
SATURDAY
COMMUNITY
Community Resource Fair
Past Event
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Local nonprofits will assist anyone and everyone with signing up for health insurance and/or finding childcare support, employment opportunities and utility assistance programs. Free face masks, hygiene kits, food boxes, and books will also be distributed. Folks are encouraged to drive-through, although walk throughs will also be accepted.
(Jackson Middle School, West Portland Park, free)
FUN
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Past Event
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Relive your childhood as this cinema-themed cafe serves up a morning of new and old cartoon classics with their favorite sugary cereals, coffee, and breakfast sandwiches.
(The 4th Wall, Buckman, free)
FILM
Le Samouraï
Past Event
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Alain Delon plays a contract killer with samurai instincts in this Jean-Pierre Melville classic that the theater describes as a "razor-sharp cocktail of 1940s American gangster cinema and 1960s French pop culture."
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $6)
Purple Rain
Past Event
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Celebrate the life of Prince in Purple Rain—the film that gave Dan Savage his last wet dream. Prince's first film is a love story about a young man who risks it all to become a rock star. About this movie, former Stranger writer Angela Garbes wrote: "Prince made me feel weird, mostly because he reminded me of God. My brothers and I watched silently in our den—enraptured and confused—until my mother walked in at the exact moment Apollonia peeled off her leather jacket to reveal her beautiful bare breasts. The movie was abruptly shut off, though soon after I found a way to watch it and became forever enthralled by Prince's music, body, and movements. Prince was, in fact, a sexy MF. But there was always something transcendent and divine about his eroticism. He taught me sex wasn't filthy. At its best, it's generous and holy."
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $10)
MUSIC
Black Ends, Terrehaunt, and Mariah Houston
Past Event
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For our sister site The Stranger, Dave Segal once wrote: "Led by guitarist/vocalist Nicolle Swims, Seattle trio the Black Ends recently impressed a large crowd while opening for the Black Tones at the latter's album-release party. Further impressiveness arrives with the Black Ends' new Sellout EP. Its four odd rock songs bear a subtle darkness and sense of unease. Swims's guitar seems to be tuned to a cool, strange mode that generates faded twangs and muted chimes while her voice has a downered, Chrissie Hynde-esque nasality that's distinctive. Swims's song structures gently skew in a manner reminiscent of obscure, women-dominated groups such as Quix*o*tic and Oh-OK. I can imagine the Black Ends—who include bassist Ben Swanson and drummer Jonny Modes—signing to a respected label such as K or Kill Rock Stars in the near future."
(Kelly's Olympian, Downtown, $7-$9)
Brad Creel & The Reel Deel, PDX Crime Syndicate, and Rough Diamond
Past Event
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Brad Creel & The Reel Deel keep classic the Americana sound of John Prine and Gram Parsons alive with a genre they call "lava lamp country." Like-minded locals PDX Crime Syndicate and Rough Diamond will round out the bill.
(Alberta Street Pub, King, $10)
Brian Charette with Mctuff
Past Event
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A Grammy-nominated organist out of NYC, Brian Charette will take the stage alongside groovy funk and jazz sounds from Mctuff.
(Goodfoot, Kerns, $15)
Contact Cult, Darkwraith Covenant, and Billy
Past Event
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Expand your mind with a night of local experimental sounds from ambient drone artist Contact Cult, hard-synth sorcerer Darkwraith Covenant, and exploratory noise project Billy.
(No Fun, Buckman, $8)
Fifth Alarm Band
Past Event
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Witness these off-duty Portland firefighters heat things up as the group Fifth Alarm Band, who will cover country, rock, and blues hits. *Fans self*
(Ponderosa Lounge & Grill, North Portland, $15)
Glitter Wizard with R.I.P and Soul Grinder
Past Event
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The Bay Area quintet Glitter Wizard brings their heavy blend of psych-tinged glam-rock to Portland for a night of loud-ass freak-rock. Plus, you can count on like-minded hard rockers R.I.P and Soul Grinder to start the night off with a bang.
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt, $12)
Jinglin Baby 2 Hip Hop Jam (Feat. Sincere God Magnetic)
Past Event
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Join local rapper and producer Sincere God Magnetic, fresh off the release of his Elements EP, for the second annual Jinglin Baby Hip Hop Jam. This local hip-hop celebration will feature special performances by songstress, saxophonist, and composer Evie B, hype MC Scooter Rogers, stylish singer-songwriter Lana Shea, Flow Show hip-hop showcase host Chain Taylor, soulful lyricist Lyric Divine, and underground hip-hop DJ Lady X.
(Hawthorne Hideaway, Buckman, $10)
Piano Queen: Saint Syndrome
Past Event
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Portland's only live-singing piano-playing drag queen Saint Syndrome will bring you an evening filled with classic covers, comedy, and original songs, all with her signature vintage grace and campy elegance.
(Dante's, Old Town-Chinatown, $15)
Trevor Reichman
Past Event
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The singer-songwriter and road warrior Trevor Reichman is back for an intimate evening of environmentally-themed folk tunes that he likes to call "gothic Americana."
(Al's Den, West End, $5)
Vintage Soul with Brian Foxworth
Past Event
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Portland's own Vintage Soul are a talented mix of musicians who come together to make funky blues anthems.
(Mississippi Pizza Pub & Atlantis Lounge, Boise, $10)
Western Edition
Past Event
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Local country-pop band Western Edition will get your boots stomping with their retro-influenced original songs that take cues from the likes of Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Loretta Lynn, and more.
(Alberta Street Pub, King, $5)
PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE
Level Up Dance Party
Past Event
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Level up with host Loopacabra who will take you on a ride dancing, manifesting, and celebrating life. This new party series aims to provide a "time and space for us to feel our full power and party with abandon." DJs Blake Rudolph, Mienne, Loopacabra, and Sheppard b2b A Fox will set the mood with electronic dance bops.
(Holocene, Buckman, $10-$15)
Tribute Night Presents: Four Horsemen
Past Event
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Four Horsemen is a dance party paying tribute to the four biggest contemporary male rappers in the game: J. Cole, Kanye, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. Get down to their greatest hits and remixes all night long with iconic music video projections to set the mood. Choose your fighter for this four-way battle extravaganza.
(Morrison Market, Buckman, $10-$15)
SPORTS & RECREATION
barre3 Happy Valley Pop-Up Class
Past Event
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Schlep over to Happy Valley with your yoga mat (and optional weights) for a free COVID-friendly outdoor barre class. This hour-long workshop will get your blood pumping to start your weekend and comes courtesy of barre3's upcoming Happy Valley location.
(Scouters Mountain Elementary, Happy Valley, free)
VISUAL ART
Possessions, Possessions a solo exhibition by Olivia Faith Harwood
Past Event
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Harwood’s inaugural solo exhibition features a series of paintings that reflect on "the burdens of adolescent dilemmas, shame, and the deconstruction of identity," often leaning on references to the occult and feminist horror tropes.
(Fuller Rosen Gallery, Northwest District, free; opening)
SUNDAY
PERFORMANCE
Drag Show
Past Event
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I mean, the name of this event really cuts straight to the chase. C'mon down to the saloon to see some comedy and drag from some of Portland's finest entertainers.
(Montavilla Saloon, Montavilla, free)
FILM
Monterey Pop
Past Event
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The Monterey International Pop Music Festival kicked off on June 16, 1967, practically inventing the modern-day music festival as we know it with legendary performances from Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Ravi Shankar, Big Brother and the Holding Company (including Janis Joplin), and The Who. NED LANNAMANN
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy, $6)
HOLIDAYS
Lantern Festival Community Celebration
Past Event
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Head to historic Sherwood where the city's Center for the Arts and Cultural Arts Commission have teamed up for a community celebration where you can create a paper lantern, enjoy some festive treats, and admire a lantern display.
(Sherwood Center for the Arts, free)
MUSIC
Possessed by Paul James with Quattlebaum
Past Event
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Konrad Wert, also known by his stage name Possessed By Paul James, is a special education teacher by day and folk singer-songwriter by night. After the release of his 2013 album, There Will Be Nights When I'm Lonely, he gained critical acclaim from outlets such as NPR, MTV, CMT, and The New York Times. Shortly after the success, he had to undergo dual vocal surgeries which forced him to take a break from his music career. Possessed By Paul James will be returning to the stage in support of his first album in seven years, As We Go Wandering, which reflects on his break from music as well as the plights of teachers, students, and parents. He will be joined by fellow banjo slinger Quattlebaum.
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt, $15)
The Shanghai Woolies Dance Band
Past Event
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The Shanghai Woolies will transport you to the early years of jazz with a large repertoire of hot jazz tunes performed with a modern take.
(Alberta Street Pub, King, $15)
Subpar, Mingus Maps, 87 and the Toys, and The Vagilantes
Past Event
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'90s inspired grunge band Subpar will be joined by local punk duo Mingus Maps (no relation to the city commissioner), eccentric indie three-piece 87 and the Toys, and rock trio The Vagilantes.
(No Fun, Buckman, $10)
Sunday Afternoon Jazz
Past Event
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Local bassist and bar patron Laurent Nickel brings a rotating jazz band to Scandals every last Sunday. The long-running series in its eighth season. This weekend, come for brunch and see Mieke Bruggeman on sax, Laura Cunard on keys, and Ron Steen on drums.
(Scandals, West End, free)
MULTI-DAY
PERFORMANCE
USS Improvise: the Next Generation: the Musical
Past Event
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See your favorite Star Trek characters in a new, unscripted light as a group of Portland's nerdiest musical comedians riffs on The Next Generation.
(Funhouse Lounge, Hosford-Abernethy, $14, Friday-Saturday)