Although Oregon’s statewide mask mandate has been lifted, venues may have their own health guidelines in place. We advise directly checking the specific protocols for an event before heading out.
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MONDAY
LIVE MUSIC
An Evening with Peter Hook & The Light
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Back in 2019, Stranger music critic Dave Segal wrote: "Peter Hook is going to milk his legendary legacy with Joy Division and New Order for as long as he wants, and nobody can stop him—not even former bandmates Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert, and Stephen Morris, who are not thrilled with their former bassist’s activities. Nevertheless, with his son Jack Bates on bass, Hook has made a solid living re-creating, in the flesh and in their entirety, albums by Joy Division and New Order. Warning: Hook's singing makes Sumner's sounds like Ian Curtis'." On this tour, the band is spotlighting the beloved Joy Division albums Unknown Pleasures and Closer along with an opening set of New Order tunes.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)
Kim Gordon
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The punk icon and eternal kool thing (best known for her time in Sonic Youth) will stop by Portland on tour, presumably playing songs off her 2019 solo debut, No Home Record. Gordon also released the collaborative album, At Issue, earlier this year with experimental guitarist Loren Connors. Experimental project Sea Moss will provide local support.
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)
READINGS & TALKS
Wendy Red Star in Conversation With Will Matsuda
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Apsáalooke/Crow artist Wendy Red Star will celebrate the release of Delegation, the first comprehensive monograph of her work, at this talk. Red Star's complex body of work merges collage, photography, and installation through a feminist, Indigenous perspective, drawing from a wide range of cultural references to think critically about Indigenous representation. She'll be joined in conversation by writer and photographer Will Matsuda.
(Powell's City of Books, Pearl District)
SHOPPING
Boozy Book Fair
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This grown-up take on the classic book fairs of our childhoods conjures neon erasers, holographic bookmarks, and one of these bad boys. Your parents probably won't give you any cash for this one, but that's okay—you'll find sweet selections from Maggie Mae's Kids Bookshop on site, plus libations if you need to drown away your nostalgia.
(Migration Brewing, Gresham)
TUESDAY
LIVE MUSIC
The Gaslight Anthem
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Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem have announced their reunion after a four year hiatus, which will include their sixth studio album and a world tour. The North American leg of their tour kicks off in Portland with support from Tigers Jaw!
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)
READINGS & TALKS
Science Pub Portland: What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health
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Anne Biklé and David R. Montgomery, co-authors of What Your Food Ate: How to Heal Our Land and Reclaim Our Health, host this edition of Science Pub. They'll share insights on regenerative farming and ways to resolve the issues embedded in conventional agricultural practices—gardeners, farmers, and chefs will dig their work, but even if you're just a human who eats food every day, you'll definitely learn a thing or two.
(OMSI), Central Eastside)
WEDNESDAY
ACTIVISM & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Consider This: Black Political Power in Oregon
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Facilitated by journalist Bruce Poinsette, this hybrid conversation on Black political power in Oregon includes Joy Alise Davis, executive director of Black-led and Black-serving political nonprofit Imagine Black, alongside Keith Jenkins, director and political strategist for Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists, and Community Coalition, and Marcus LeGrand, vice-chair of Bend-La Pine Schools and Afrocentric program coordinator at Central Oregon Community College.
(Alberta Rose Theatre, Concordia)
FILM
Church of Film: Black Waves: Experimental Cinema in Yugoslavia
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Starting in the '60s, Yugoslavia's filmmaking youth created darkly humorous, incisive films inspired by the French New Wave that were fringed with critiques of authority. This compilation screening includes experimental flicks from the start of the Yugoslav Black Wave through the death of authoritarian former President Josip Broz Tito.
(Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy)
Space: 1999/UFO Double Feature
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This tribute to British producer Gerry Anderson includes episodes from schlocky '60s psychedelic series UFO followed by Space: 1999, a more serious sci-fi show that purportedly inspired Ridley Scott's Alien. Heightening the groovy nostalgia, the screening will include breaks with real ads from the '60s and '70s.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District)
LIVE MUSIC
Celebrating Billy Joel: America's Piano Man
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This world-renowned Billy Joel tribute group will bring the energy and authenticity seen in their PBS special to the stage, jamming beloved hits such as "New York State of Mind," "Uptown Girl," "Piano Man," and more.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)
Cigarettes After Sex
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Yes, the band name Cigarettes After Sex is cringy, but their music is so beautiful that it doesn't really matter. The trio effortlessly revives the floaty dream pop of Mazzy Star, Cocteau Twins, and Julee Cruise in an accessible fashion that has garnered an impressive list of famous fans including Kylie Jenner, David Lynch, Lana Del Rey, and Françoise Hardy.
(Crystal Ballroom, West End)
Flume: Palaces Tour
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Sydney-based electronic musician/producer Harley Streten, AKA Flume, will ignite the dancefloor with bops from his latest album, Palaces, which features vocal performances from Caroline Polachek, Kučka, Emma Louise, Damon Albarn (of Blur), and others. The party will get started with sets from house wizard Kareem Ali and Portland-based producer Quiet Bison.
(Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend)
Gorillaz
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British alt-rock band Gorillaz, known for their (literally) animated live performances and early aughts staples like "Feel Good Inc." will hit the road on their North American tour just after the release of their new single "Cracker Island," which features psych-funk heavy Thundercat. They will be joined by hip-hop duo Earthgang.
(Moda Center, Lloyd District)
Jackson Browne
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It's understandable to be indignant that soft rocker Jackson Browne's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (He's in; Mott the Hoople isn't. I know!) But let me list the achievements of Mr. Browne, apart from the fact that his hair has not appeared to change a single strand since the cover of his 1972 debut album. 1) He dated Nico when he was 18 years old. That's right, 18 years old. She was 10 years older than him. 2) The terrific guitar solo—performed by Jesse Edwin Davis—on "Doctor, My Eyes." 3) Um... hmm. Oh! That one song on Running on Empty... no, not that one; that one's awful. I mean the one called "Shaky Town." That one's pretty all right. 4) Okay. That's all I got. Honestly, the Nico thing is probably 95 percent of why he's in the Hall of Fame. He also wrote "These Days" for her, which is not a bad song at all—Don Henley did a recording of it with Portland's own Blind Pilot, weirdly. Oh, one more! 5) "Somebody's Baby" from the Fast Times soundtrack. That song is a totally legit jam, no foolin'. NED LANNAMANN
(Edgefield, Troutdale)
READINGS & TALKS
Incite: Queer Writers Read – September
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This curated bi-monthly reading series centers queer writers, with a fresh theme for each event. For September, hosts Vinnie Kinsella and Jennifer Perrine will welcome editor and writer Wendy Wagner, Cave Canem fellow and professor Christopher Rose, and author Lydia Rogue to share their work on the theme of "speculate."
(Literary Arts, Southwest Portland)
THURSDAY
LIVE MUSIC
Billy Cobham's Crosswinds Project
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Billy Cobham may be [78], but the jazz-fusion drummer who kept mind-boggling time for Mahavishnu Orchestra and Miles Davis during the latter’s most turbulent period of innovation (circa Bitches Brew, A Tribute to Jack Johnson and Get Up with It) is still going strong. Cobham’s Crosswinds Project focuses on the 1974 LP Crosswinds, a much mellower record than his phenomenal solo debut, Spectrum; for example, the Souls of Mischief sampled the ultra-chill “Heather” for their classic “93 ’Til Infinity.” But “The Pleasant Pheasant” rolls out action-packed, Latinate funk (which Eric B. & Rakim sampled for “Juice [Know the Ledge]”), and much of the album occupies a rarefied space where virtuosity intersects with dramatic dynamics and sophisticated emotion. STRANGER WRITER DAVE SEGAL
(Winningstad Theatre, South Park Blocks)
Kamaiyah: Kreative Kontrol Tour
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Oakland rapper Kamaiyah brings her “Kreative Kontrol Tour” to Portland on Thursday September 15, and we're excited to see her perform live versions of tracks from her 2022 EP, Divine Time, as well as excellent deeper cuts like “Niggas.” PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Hawthorne Theatre, Hawthorne District)
Lera Lynn
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Georgia-based singer-songwriter Lera Lynn, known for her sullen Americana tunes that soundtracked season two of HBO's True Detective, will stop by promoting her latest output, Something More Than Love. The album explores themes of "renewal, interconnectedness, surrender, and sacrifice" through retro synths, orchestral flourishes, and deep breathy vocals.
(Polaris Hall, Humboldt)
Oteil & Friends
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As a member of The Allman Brothers Band and co-founder of Dead & Company, legendary bassist Oteil has shared the stage with greats like The Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton, Santana, Taj Mahal, and more throughout his three-decade-long career. Anticipate hearing a range of Grateful Dead adjacent tunes played by him and his expert musician friends.
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)
PJ Morton: Watch The Sun
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On his new album, Watch The Sun, Grammy Award-winning soul artist PJ Morton banded with legends such as Stevie Wonder, Nas, Chronixx, Jill Scott, and more for a multi-generational take on R&B grooves. He will support the album alongside singer, songwriter, and DJ Arie.
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)
Sade & Badu Dance Night! ft. DJs Deena Bee & Timothy Bee
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Celebrate two of the smoothest voices ever to exist with this Sade and Erykah Badu-themed party that will have you dancing "On & On" all night. Expert DJs Deena Bee and Timothy Bee will honor the two neo-soul queens with a mix of classic hits, remixes, and related artists.
(Holocene, Buckman)
Shawn Mullins
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Grammy-nominated folk-rock and country singer Shawn Mullins, best known for his hit 1998 single, "Lullaby," brings his radio-friendly tunes back to Portland for an all-ages performance.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)
Stella Donnelly
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Mercury writer Ben Salmon wrote in 2019: "Australian singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly broke through to a bigger audience in 2017 on the strength of her Thrush Metal EP, a collection of plainspoken stories set to pretty folk music and wrapped up in some lovely lo-fi intimacy. Now she’s back and ready to conquer the rest of the world with her new album Beware of the Dogs, which ditches DIY hiss in favor of lush production—a move that highlights Donnelly’s considerable melodic gifts and, in turn, her blistering lyrics about all the different ways shitty dudes are shitty." Now she's on tour supporting her sophomore album, Flood, which she described as the product of "months of risky experimentation, hard months of introspection, and a lot of transition."
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)
Yung Bae: Groove Continental The Tour
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Portland-based producer Yung Bae brings an array of future funk, vaporwave, and disco grooves out for a hometown show alongside kindred artists Macross 82-99 and Vantage.
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)
PERFORMANCE
TBA:22 Knowledge of Wounds THEY CAN NEVER BURN THE STARS
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This collaboration between video artist DB Amorin and sound artist Chloe Alexandra Thompson is billed as “engaging sub-bass tones to high-pitched sirens whose interactions entangle the spatial experience of listening with the expanded field of embodied proprioception.” That’s a lot to unpack, so if you’re short on time, here’s the simple version: This multimedia performance will involve sound you can literally feel—immersive visuals to take you out of your head and plant you firmly in your physical, sensory experience. They Can Never Burn the Stars is part of the ongoing Indigenous-led curatorial series Knowledge of Wounds. MARTHA DAGHLIAN
(PICA, Eliot)
READINGS & TALKS
Slamlandia
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Join host and "professional daydreamer" Julia Gaskill for this free monthly open mic of poetry, which aims to cultivate a safe space for sharing work and building community.
(Literary Arts, Southwest Portland)
FRIDAY
COMEDY
Special Event: Brad Williams
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Once described by Robin Williams (no relation) as "Prozac with a head," comedy mainstay Brad Williams got his start by hopping on stage during a Carlos Mencia set to drop a few of his own jokes. He'll bring more deadpan reflections on relationships, sex, and living with a disability to Portland for this performance.
(Helium Comedy Club, Hosford-Abernethy)
FILM
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert
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The Oregon Symphony will take on George Lucas’ epic space opera with a performance of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, providing the audience with a chance to relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a giant screen amid John Williams’ unforgettable score.
(Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, South Park Blocks)
FOOD & DRINK
OMSI After Dark: BrewFest
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Curious about the science behind those Oregon-made beers you love so much? OMSI's After Dark event will include science demos, food and drink vendors, trivia, DJ tunes, planetarium shows, and, of course, plenty of beer-drinking.
(OMSI, Central Eastside)
LIVE MUSIC
B.o.B: Better Than Drugs Tour
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You probably know rapper B.o.B for his string of early 2010s earworms such as "Airplanes" featuring Paramore's Hayley Williams, "Nothin' on You" featuring Bruno Mars, and "Price Tag" featuring Jessie J. He will head out on his first US tour in eight years, supporting his latest album, Better Than Drugs.
(Star Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)
Korn with Evanescence
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Pioneering nü-metal crew Korn will return to the Pacific Northwest with some fresh material from their new album, Requiem (don't worry, we bet they'll still play "Freak on a Leash"). They will be joined by goth rock heavies Evanescence, whose 2003 hit "Bring Me To Life" recently reached number one on iTunes.
(RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater, Ridgefield)
Marina Herlop
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Fresh off of a feature in Pitchfork, experimental artist Marina Herlop will light up the stage in support of her new album, Pripkat, which employs classical piano, experimental electronics, whimsical field recordings, and stirring vocals for a delightfully disorderly symphony that has drawn comparisons to Björk.
(The Old Church, Downtown)
Pavement
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Indie rock's favorite cynics Pavement are back on the road for the first time in twelve years with a new gang of fans, thanks to the obscure B-side "Harness Your Hopes" mysteriously rising in Spotify streams (the song, by the way, includes the eerily resonant lyric "the freaks have stormed the White House," despite being recorded 25 years ago). NYC art-rock band Guerilla Toss will support.
(Edgefield, Troutdale)
Pink Martini with China Forbes and Storm Large
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Portland's "little orchestra" Pink Martini features over a dozen musicians who perform a multilingual repertoire that's exotic yet familiar, seamlessly switching between jazz, classical, pop, and global music sounds. The band has a certain je ne sais quoi that puts everyone in a good mood—they don't just perform a show, they know how to throw a party. This set of performances will feature lead vocalists China Forbes and Storm Large.
(Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton)
Portland Columbia Symphony: Tchaikovsky & Brahms
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The Portland Columbia Symphony will kick off its new season with a performance led by pianist Miki Sawada, playing Brahms "Symphony No. 3" and Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1."
(First United Methodist Church, Goose Hollow)
PERFORMANCE
You're Wrong About Live
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Host Sarah Marshall brings her incisive hit podcast You're Wrong About on the road to continue challenging audience beliefs and illuminating forgotten history. (How much do you really know about the Tonya Harding scandal?) You're Wrong About tackles everything from the Enron collapse to serial killers, and was named the 2022 Podcast of the Year at the I Heart Radio Podcast Awards.
(Mission Theater, Northwest Portland)
VISUAL ART
fore x four
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The current exhibition, fore x four, showcases work by recognized artists like Etel Adnan, Lonnie Holley, and Bill Traylor, and was pulled from the Miller Meigs collection that was curated in conversation with Diedrick Brackens, D’Angelo Lovell Williams, and Ashley Stull Meyers. ASHLEY GIFFORD
(lumber room, Pearl District)
SATURDAY
COMEDY
Claudia Oshry: Not Like Other Girls
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Claudia Oshry, multi-talented millennial, creator of hit Instagram account @GirlWithNoJob, and self-proclaimed "thirst monster," will head to Portland with more sly snark on stage, hopefully while wearing pajamas.
(Aladdin Theater, Brooklyn)
FOOD & DRINK
Farm to Plate Brewer’s Series Dinners
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It doesn't get much fresher than eating a meal on the very farm where the ingredients were grown. Topaz Farm's resident "farm-to-plate" chefs Christian and Janelle Ephrem will craft three multi-course, farm-to-plate dinners this summer, each featuring five specially selected beer pairings from a different local brewer: Fort George Brewing, Migration Brewing, and Foreland Beer. Guests will get to dine al fresco below the farm's historic oak tree (or under a tent, depending on weather).
(Topaz Farm, Sauvie Island)
Oregon Angel Food 2022 Grand Finale & Marketplace
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Local food and beverage innovators will pitch their ideas á la Shark Tank to investors on a main stage for a shot at being selected for angel investment. Plus, craft food and beverage entrepreneurs will sling their wares at a marketplace. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Oregon Entrepreneurs Network.
(The Redd on Salmon, Buckman)
LIVE MUSIC
Bino Rideaux: Sorry For The Wait 2 Tour
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Los Angeles-based rapper Bino Rideaux will swing through town supporting his new R&B-infused album, SORRY 4 THA WAIT II, which features hip-hop heavyweights like Ty Dolla $ign and Roddy Ricch.
(Hawthorne Theatre, Hawthorne District)
Boris
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Japanese metal band Boris plays more than just metal, with droning doomscapes, psychedelic rave-ups, and spacey experimental compositions all sitting side by side. It's a patchwork of heavy music—both brutal and blissful—that never lets its artiness get in the way of rocking out. NED LANNAMANN
(Revolution Hall, Buckman)
Interpol + Spoon: Lights, Camera, Factions Tour
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Post-punk revivalists Interpol and Spoon are joining forces for an evening of rock straight out of the mid-2000s. Interpol will support their new album, The Other Side of Make-Believe, which was written via email correspondence over the course of the pandemic. Spoon will also flaunt some new material from their album, Lucifer on the Sofa. Brooklyn-based electro-pop band Water From Your Eyes will get the night started.
(Pioneer Courthouse Square, Downtown)
Kehlani: Blue Water Road Trip
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Long ago in 2017, Mercury writer Jenni Moore wrote of Kehlani: "The first time I saw the Oakland-raised artist was at Bumbershoot 2015, and I’ll never forget it. When they took the stage with those sultry dance moves alongside their adorable DJ Noodles, the crowd went batshit. It was plain to see that Kehlani had already built themself a cult following of sneaker-loving, tattoo-sporting, badass young women who knew the words to every uplifting, confident song. I was shook by how beautifully they sang live—their voice was strong and chillingly soulful." This time around, Kehlani will support their recently released album, Blue Water Road Trip, which examines themes such as spirituality, sexuality, and love. Trap superstar Rico Nasty and viral singer-songwriter Destin Conrad will join.
(Theater of the Clouds, Lloyd District)
of Montreal
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Of Montreal, led by indie pop prince Kevin Barnes, will bring their experimental psychedelic pop and glam rock tunes back to Portland to perform tracks from their experimental new album, Freewave Lucifer Fck.
(Wonder Ballroom, Eliot)
Queer Opera
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Less a concert and more an experience, Queer Opera returns with a dozen singers joining voices to put an LGBTQ spin on classic scenes from Romeo and Juliet, La Bohème, Manon, and more. In addition, the ensemble will perform their first full-length arrangement of Rosśa Crean's The Times Are Nightfalls, reworked to explore themes of rape culture, grief, and queerness.
(Lincoln Hall, Southwest Portland)
Sabaton: The Tour to End All Tours
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Swedish power metal crew Sabaton cite their 2012 album, Carolus Rex, as the "most successful Swedish heavy metal album ever." We don't know if that's true or not, but their conviction has to count for something, right? They will come through town for two consecutive nights on their ambitiously named Tour to End All Tours tour alongside Dutch metalheads Epica.
(Roseland Theater, Old Town-Chinatown)
Tinariwen with Garcia Peoples
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A collective of Tuareg singers, songwriters, and musicians hailing from the Sahara Desert, Tinariwen plays music that is often categorized as "desert blues." The group comes together in different configurations for live performances and in the studio, and has been called "music's true rebels" by NPR.
(Mississippi Studios, Boise)
PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE
TBA:22 UwU & Friends
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After absorbing so much art, you're going to be full of inspiration, wonder, and energy—and that means it’s time to dance! UwU Collective's massive crew of Portland-based QTBIPOC DJs and multimedia artists promise a night of underground music and fun (check out their show on XRAY for a taste of what they’re all about). UwU aims to create futuristic queer utopias through partying, which sounds like a pretty magnificent way to close out TBA 2022, if you ask me. MARTHA DAGHLIAN
(PICA, Eliot)
READINGS & TALKS
Hanif Abdurraqib, Kaveh Akbar, and Leslie Jamison
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Organized by The Alano Club of Portland's Artists in Recovery series and Literary Arts, this free event centers mental health, creativity, community-building, and substance abuse recovery. Attendees will hear readings from novelist and educator Leslie Jamison, lauded poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, and Iranian American Pushcart Prize winner and poet Kaveh Akbar, followed by conversation.
(Literary Arts, Southwest Portland)
SHOPPING
My People's Market 10
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My People's Market winds down from the summer heat with BIPOC businesses, creatives, and culinary masters taking center stage. The Saturday celebration includes free rides on TriMet's brand-new FX2-Division line, plus performances by taiko ensemble Unit Souzou, Mariachi Una Voz, and Bridge City Revival. Visitors can peruse 120 different vendor booths, The Numberz will broadcast live on site, and there'll be plenty of multicultural dishes to try, like sweet antojitos from Maruka Loka, Kenyan delights from Spice of Africa, and Hawaiian shaved ice from Da Shave Ice Shack.
(OMSI, Central Eastside)
VISUAL ART
A Black Art Ecology of Portland and AUX/MUTE + Museum Free Day
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In celebration of APEX: Sharita Towne & A Black Art Ecology of Portland
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and The Numberz FM's AUX/MUTE Gallery
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, this edition of Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day includes programming with the artists involved in both exhibitions, plus ice cream, live music, and a Black Art Ecology of Portland risograph poster giveaway. While you're there, check out other recently installed exhibitions like Black Lives Matter-focused Perspectives
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and Making a Mark: Contemporary Drawings
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.
(Portland Art Museum, Southwest Park Blocks)
SUNDAY
LIVE MUSIC
Flogging Molly & The Interrupters
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Punk stalwarts Flogging Molly with their infusion of traditional Irish music, and The Interrupters with their ska punk sensibilities, will team up for this co-headlining tour. Expect hits like "Drunken Lullabies" and "She's Kerosene" to follow opening sets from psychobilly trio Tiger Army and reggae punk outfit The Skints.
(Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend)
READINGS & TALKS
Buddy Wakefield: The Next Best West Tour
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Buddy Wakefield is a multi-talented dude—the world champion spoken word artist, actor, and writer has performed his poetry everywhere from the San Quentin State Penitentiary to Zimbabwe’s Shoko Festival. After quitting his day gig over 20 years ago, Wakefield set out to "live for a living," and hasn't stopped since. He'll head to Holocene for another raw, humorous, and insightful performance.
(Holocene, Buckman)
MULTI-DAY
COMEDY
CoHo Clown Festival 2022
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Whether you're a literal clown or a simple clown appreciator, you'll want to honk your horn and slap on a gigantic pair of shoes for this fringe festival of all things clownery. CoHo Clown Festival includes an absurdist mix of physical comedy, workshops, and movement performances, building community between artists and audiences with a wide range of jolly performances.
(CoHo Productions, Slabtown, Friday-Sunday)
Jackie Kashian
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Dry, geeky Portland fave Jackie Kashian stays busy, appearing on 2 Dope Queens, hosting two podcasts, and even voice acting on an episode of Bob's Burgers. She'll make time to drop by Portland, hopefully with more insight on the rapture.
(Siren Theater, Old Town-Chinatown, Friday-Saturday)
COMMUNITY
Horizons Northwest
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Research on the healing potential of psilocybin is becoming broader and more well-respected, Goop staffers are popping mushrooms on Netflix, and scientists are spouting ideas that Indigenous peoples have understood for generations. Whether you're ready to hop aboard the trip train or you've been microdosing for years, you're bound to learn something interesting at this four-day conference, where research leaders will come together to explore the many dimensions of psychedelics.
(Portland Art Museum, South Park Blocks, Thursday-Sunday)
FALL
Spirit of Halloweentown
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You'll find it impossible not to get into the spooky spirit at St. Helens' annual tribute to Halloween. Leaning into the fact that the movies Halloweentown and Twilight were partially filmed there (Halloweentown cast members, plus Ashley Greene and Peter Facinelli of Twilight fame, will make appearances this year), the city transforms into a themed attraction complete with a giant pumpkin, circus performers, a haunted house, and more.
(St. Helens, Saturday-Sunday)
FESTIVALS
El Grito
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Head to El Grito for folkloric and Aztec dance performances, mariachi and salsa tunes, traditional food offerings from Latinx businesses, educational booths, health screenings, and more. The holiday is important to Oregon's Hispanic community, held each year in commemoration of Mexico's independence from Spain.
(Rose Quarter Commons, Lloyd District, Thursday-Friday)
Mount Angel Oktoberfest
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For four days out of the year, the town of Mount Angel essentially transforms itself into Little Germany, full of lederhosen, tuba music, sausages, and an absolutely astounding amount of beer of all kinds and varieties, to be drank out of all sorts of steins, mugs, cups and boots. Plus there's other attractions, including wiener dog races, a car show, races, dancing, live music, and much more.
(Mount Angel, Thursday-Sunday)
Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival 2022
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Deemed “the best contemporary summer festival in the country” by The New York Times, PICA's Time-Based Art Festival is your yearly reminder to question everything. Buckle in for ten days of experimental art, temporal performances, and interactive lectures from local and far-flung artists who'll challenge your preconceived notions of art. (There are always some pretty cool dance parties, too.) This year, the festival will introduce new Night School programming, modeled after alternative education methods and late-night learning and led by artist-educators Pepper Pepper, Zach Blas, Nana Adusei-Poku, and Kite.
(PICA, Eliot, Monday-Sunday)
FILM
Blue Velvet
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David Lynch's jazzy '86 dreamscape stars screen beauties Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLachlan in a strange investigation that all starts with the discovery of a severed ear. Blue Velvet will be screened in a fresh 4K restoration.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, Monday-Thursday)
DOC-O-RAMA
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PAM/CUT will screen five bold documentaries for this series, centering stories of radical change told through personal growth, social justice, and more. DOC-O-RAMA kicks off with Workhorse Queen, which follows drag diva Mrs. Kasha Davis on her journey from Scranton telemarketer to RuPaul's Drag Race season seven star. We're stoked for Moonage Daydream, a neon-tinged Bowie doc, and Wildness, which spotlights an LA gay bar's connection to the Latinx immigrant community.
(Whitsell Auditorium, South Park Blocks, Friday-Saturday)
Return to Wonderland
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Despite being a theater, Portland Playhouse—the community-focused nonprofit in Portland’s King neighborhood—elevates short films from time to time. Back in 2020, they held a virtual film festival called Wonderland that showcased four local shorts from different artists. Now, they’re following that up with a new installment, Return to Wonderland, which will screen collections of shorts from four new filmmakers. PORTLAND MERCURY WRITER CHASE HUTCHINSON
(Every day, through Sep 25, Portland Playhouse, King, $5 - $50)
FOOD & DRINK
The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience
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Xico's getting curiouser and curiouser in this boozy 90-minute journey down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. The Alice, an "immersive cocktail experience," combines riddle-filled theatrical performance with interactive elements—you'll gulp down magical cocktails, devour an “Eat Me” cookie, and more on your trip through the looking glass.
(Xico, Richmond, Wednesday-Sunday)
ilani Wine & Food Fest
Past Event
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This food and drink festival will feature a roster of big-name chefs, including Travel Channel star Andrew Zimmern and famed Food Network chef Rocco DiSpirito, as well as Maneet Chauhan, Antonia Lofaso, Kardea Brown, Lamar Moore, Christian Petroni, Aaron May, Tracey Bloom, Tregaye Fraser, Monti Carlo, Deanna Colon, Chris Scott, and Tyler Anderson. The lineup of events includes a wine pairing dinner with Michael Jordan’s Steak House, a celebrity chef "dine-around," a grand tasting, a "Vintage Elite Cru," a bourbon and cigar tasting, and a bloody Mary and bubbles brunch.
(ilani Casino Resort, Ridgefield, Thursday-Sunday)
LIVE MUSIC
The Shins: Oh, Inverted World - The 21st Birthday Tour
Past Event
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Portland-based indie rock royals The Shins will take you on a nostalgia trip as they honor the 21st anniversary of their debut album, Oh, Inverted World. Get your heart ready to hear their tearjerker breakthrough hit "New Slang," which has been featured in everything from a McDonald's commercial to The Sopranos to most memorably, the Garden State soundtrack.
(Pioneer Courthouse Square, Downtown, Thursday-Friday)
PERFORMANCE
Diamonds and Frogs: A Play in Movement
Past Event
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Speculative Drama's first in-person production in two years is a delightful mash-up of fairy tales, silent films, Appalachian folk stories, and Baba Yaga lore. Diamonds and Frogs ponders witches, curses, and blessings, staged in an intimate, ultra-contemporary format with rich soundscapes and a focus on immersion. (Tickets are standing room only with "improvised seating.")
(The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven, Buckman, Thursday-Saturday)
The Hombres
Past Event
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Lured in by the titillating view from their construction site, a trio of Latino workers head to a yoga studio, and their macho mentality is put to the test by a gay instructor. Fans of male bonding and New Jersey will dig The Hombres, a hilarious, yet nuanced play by Tony Meneses.
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District, Wednesday-Sunday)
HOME/LAND
Past Event
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A collaboration between Portland’s Hand2Mouth Theatre, France's Begat Theater, and NYC’s WaxFactory, this live performance installation thinks critically about some of the most pressing issues of our time. In response to rampant economic instability, displacement, and forced migration, HOME/LAND assigns audiences a unit within a government-run shelter village, inviting them to travel through the immersive installation while considering their own relationship to home and safety.
(Zidell Barge Building, South Waterfront, Monday-Sunday)
Lumen Odyssey
Past Event
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*CANCELED*
If the gargantuan mother-daughter quagmire in Everything Everywhere All at Once resonated with you, check out Lumen Odyssey, which interprets the difficulties of family dynamics through a metaphysical sci-fi adventure. Penned and directed by Jerry Mouawad, the play follows a galactically ego-driven matriarch and her down-to-earth daughter on a journey of cosmic conflict and reflection.
(Imago Theatre, Buckman, Thursday-Saturday)
Shroom Show: A Foraging Tour
Past Event
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Mycology nerds, we know you're out there. You're probably identifying Boletus edulis right this second. Well, take a breather to check this out—inspired by fungal ecology, Shroom Show: A Foraging Tour blends educational elements with opera, treasure hunting, and more for an organic take on the hero's journey. The show will take place at Tryon Life Community Farm, with ADA-accessible performances also planned at Back Door Theater. Wear your boots, dress for the weather, and bring a basket for the farm performance.
(Tryon Life Community Farm, Forest Highlands, Thursday-Sunday)
tick, tick … BOOM!
Past Event
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Fans of Rent will love this hilarious rock musical, a semi-autobiographical tale of playwright Jonathan Larson's struggle to make his mark in the theater industry. (Larson went on to shake the world with Rent, for which he won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize, so get ready to feel inspired.)
(Portland Center Stage, Pearl District, Wednesday-Sunday)
SHOPPING
Portland Zine Symposium
Past Event
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Bring a tote bag for this celebration of Portland's unique DIY spirit—you'll wanna fill it with self-published and handmade goodies from small letterpress shops, independent magazines, cartoonists, and more. The Portland Zine Symposium is a great way to get to know local zinesters, but if you can't pop by the free event, remote programming will take place online throughout the weekend.
(Portland State University, Southwest Portland, Saturday-Sunday)
SPORTS & RECREATION
MLK Dream Run
Past Event
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The theme of this year's two-day event is "environmental justice." Build community and enjoy music from Andy Stokes, The Brothers in Black, and The Soul Sisters on Saturday during the run up to the race. On Sunday, the main event features 5K, 10K, and 15K races, plus music, prizes, the SoulFul Marketplace vendor village, and more at the finish line.
(PCC Cascade Campus, Humboldt, Saturday-Sunday)
VISUAL ART
Laura Berger: Chrysalis
Past Event
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Laura Berger's dreamy minimalism feels subtly spiritual, and that's no mistake—the painter started her practice as a therapeutic exploration of existence and human connection. Viewing her radiant color choices as "combined energies," Berger develops open-ended narratives that reference the fluid nature of memory in Chrysalis.
(Stephanie Chefas Projects, Central Eastside, Thursday-Saturday)
Straight from the Studio: Tanner Lind: Riff
Past Event
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Tanner Lind’s abstract paintings appear through October 2. The show, titled Riff, works within the context of a three-part group exhibition called Straight from the Studio, which explores the inspirations and experimentations in one’s studio. A recent graduate MFA in Visual Studies at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Lind’s artistic practice memorializes change and creates a unique and varied lexicon of repeated brushstrokes, lines, and patterns. ASHLEY GIFFORD
(Nationale, Buckman, Thursday-Sunday)