arts in portland: music, film, theater, dance, literature + more in 2013-14

The Oregon Symphony

As summer fades into fall, it’s only natural that Portlanders head indoors for a little intellectual stimulation as well as some sensory entertainment. A lot of arts and entertainment programs kick off their yearly schedule in September and October as the calendar starts to fill up with festivals, performances, lectures, screenings and more. From theater and music to lectures and film, Neighborhood Notes has highlighted a few arts and cultural events that we think you should look for in the remainder of 2013 as well as look forward to in the new year.

Music

Oregon Symphony
September-May

Founded in 1896, the Oregon Symphony is one of the oldest in the nation. Featuring more than 70 full-time musicians, the ornate Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall—home to the symphony and called The Schnitz by locals—hosts almost a quarter of a million attendees each symphonic season. Performing a full schedule from September through May, yearly offerings include the requisite classical concertos, spirited holiday standards, and collaborations with modern recording artists as well as Portland indie rockers.

Siren Nation Women’s Music and Arts Festival
November

Siren Nation isn’t tied to a single medium. Rather, the arts organization strives to spotlight original works by women making music, art, film, fashion and more. Hoping “to inspire and empower women of all ages to create their own art” while highlighting the achievements of those already working in the arts, Siren Nation brings female-made works and female-fronted performances to venues across the city each November. The annual event includes a film fest, arts and crafts fair, fashion event, visual art exhibition, and free workshops alongside a weekend of musical performances by local, regional and national talent.

Film

Northwest Film Center (NWFC)

Events Ongoing

An arm of the Portland Art Museum, the educational and curatorial institution offers year-round classes, equipment rental and frequent exhibitions in the form of several notable film festivals. The NWFC’s fall offering each October is the musically themed Reel Music Festival. Celebrating the “interplay between sound and image” for more than 30 years, these films frequently explore music, culture and art through live concert footage, documentaries, music videos, and imaginative obscurities. Filmmakers are often in attendance to introduce films or answer questions after screenings. Other annual cinematic events organized by the NWFC include the regional film showcase at the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival each November, the Portland Jewish Film Festival, and the outdoor, summer series, Top Down: Rooftop Cinema, as well as ongoing programs and exhibits.

Performance Arts

PICA’s Time-Based Art Festival (TBA)
September (Happening Now!)

Each September for more than a decade, a creative cacophony descends upon various venues during the final days of summer as the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s annual TBA Festival brings truly eclectic, experimental and sometimes just odd performers (in dance, music, theater and more) and visual artists. These local and international talents make a canvas of the city for 10 or so days and present a vast chasm of works and sensory experiences at all hours of the day and night.

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Get more highlights of the 2013-14 arts season in Portland, including more music, film, theater, comedy, literature, lectures, and other performance picks, on Neighborhood Notes.

top ten

Inspired to see what my ten most played tracks were in iTunes, I peeped at what my actual listening habits reveal about my taste in music and found there's nothing to be ashamed about. As a disclaimer, I have a tendency of purging older, even nostalgic, tracks and albums over time but much of what's here has lasted the lifetime of this Mac Book (since 2008).

1 -- Baustelle "L." (Montepulciano, Italia) : Followed by "Charlie fa surf" and "Baudelaire" amongst several other Amen-era tracks in my most played. This was the first album I discovered by the band and it appears that I listened to it a lot that year I lived in Italy.

2 -- Deelay Ceelay "No Vex" (Portland, Oregon) : From their debut EP Thank You, which you can download for free here. Their first full-length, Sunset Drumsets, just dropped.

3 -- Sigur Rós "Gobbledigook" (Reykjavík, Iceland) : Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust also came out in 2008 while I was living in Italy and I suppose I was preparing for my first ever Sigur Rós performance that summer at Southside in Germany. Their set was followed by In Rainbows Radiohead. Epic.

4 -- Phoenix "Lisztomania" (Versailles, France) : Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix brought Phoenix back into my consciousness, and everyone else's, with a much-needed resurgence in 2009.

5 -- Metric "Help, I'm Alive" (Toronto, Canada) : I remember stumbling across this early version of the song some six months before Fantasies would be released. Obviously, I couldn't stop listening to it.

6 -- Radiohead "15 Step" (Abingdon, England) : Although I can't remember what I paid (if anything) for In Rainbows, my mp3 of the opening track is well worn.

7 -- Cut Copy "Hearts on Fire" (Melbourne, Australia) : In Ghost Colours was another album from 2008, which was also the year I first saw the band perform.

8 -- Digitalism "Magnets" tied with "Idealistic" (Hamburg, Germany) : After keeping Idealism in heavy rotation, I was duly prepared to see Digitalism at that same Southside festival. And now they've finally got a new one out.

9 -- Mayer Hawthorne "Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin" (Ann Arbor, Michigan) : Couldn't resist this white boy's falsettic soul.

10 -- Rodrigo y Gabriela "Viking Man" (México, D.F., Mexico) : Who also appeared at Southside; my first time seeing them. But not last.

And the immediate runner ups include:

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside "Danger"
Sufjan Stevens' The BQE "Movement IV: Traffic Shock"
Yelle "Je Veux Te Voir [Club-Club Version]"

While Elbow's "Forget Myself," "Grounds For Divorce" and "We're Away" all tied with Foo Fighters' "See You" and Starfucker's "Laadeedaa," "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second" and "Holly" ...followed by more Baustelle (hey, Amen had 17 tracks!), Cut Copy, Digitalism, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton (of Metric), one Hockey cut ("Song Away") and Jónsi… there's a pattern here.

What's in your top ten?

sept 14-20 : free, live music bonanza : arctic monkeys, the helio sequence, deer tick, march fourth marching band, portugal. the man

Issue No. 2 : September 14 – 20, 2009

More free concerts in PDX. Get yours while it's hot.

14 Monday
Bob Shoemaker plays blues at McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, 7 PM. All ages.

Or jazz with Kung Pao Chickens at LaurelThirst Public House, 7 PM. 21 and over.

15 Tuesday
Portugal. The Man live and unconventional at Music Millennium at 6 PM. All ages. Get some free tracks from Portugal. The Man and their current tour mates.

Deer Tick drawls at McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel & Theater at 7 PM. All ages. Try a couple Deer Tick tunes courtesy of Pamplemoose: Easy, Art Isn't Real (City of Sin), and Baltimore Blues No. 1.

El Grito in honor of Mexico's independence is celebrated with live Latin music, food and cervezas in Pioneer Courthouse Square from 11 AM until 10 PM.

16 Wednesday
Deer Tick scores again. This time at McMenamins Kennedy School at 7 PM. All ages.

SexyWaterSpiders, The Blacklights, Nodding Tree Remidies soul, psych-rock, ambient, whatever you want at Someday Lounge, 9 PM. 21 and over.

Now the following 3 shows take some effort on your part. MusicfestNW presents Bandz n the Hood at the Wonder Ballroom. For admission you must get your buns to Jackpot Records starting at 10 AM on the day of the show for a wristband. Or already have a MFNW wristband. BUT SHOWS ARE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, so get there early before the Wonder fills up.

17 Thursday
MFNW Bandz n the Hood : The Helio Sequence and Dr. Dog @ Wonder Ballroom, doors at 4:30 PM and show at 5:30 PM. All ages. Check out a few The Helio Sequence tracks on Sub Pop.

Will West Band plays acoustic roots at McMenamins White Eagle Saloon, 5:30 PM. All ages.

Jon Hecox strums acoustic pop at Camellia Lounge @ TeaZone, 9PM. All ages.

18 Friday
MFNW Bandz n the Hood : Arctic Monkeys and The Like @ Wonder Ballroom, doors at 4:30 PM and show at 5:30 PM. All ages. Download the Monkeys' single "Crying Lightning" here.

Paula Sinclair twangs her acoustic guitar at McMenamins Grand Lodge, 7 PM. All ages.

Elite Band plays R&B and soul at Clyde's Prime Rib, 8:45 PM. All ages.

19 Saturday
MFNW Bandz n the Hood : F***ked Up, The Bronx, and Mariachi El Bronx @ Wonder Ballroom, doors at 3 PM and show at 4 PM. All ages.

Hopworks Urban Brewery brings Biketobeerfest starting at noon until 10 PM. All ages.
March Fourth Marching Band
The Ascetic Junkies
Chronicle
Boy Eats Drum Machine
The Student Loan

And if you're a real bonehead, here's your another chance: Deer Tick at McMenamins Hotel Oregon at 7 PM. All ages.

20 Sunday
McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern brings you Irish Music Sunday with Hanz Araki and Cary Novotny at 6 PM. All ages.

And in Bend, McMenamins Old St. Francis School brings Oktoberfest with Leif James, Those Darn Accordions, and The Sweet Harlots. All day, all ages.

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It is my mission to provide a comprehensive listing of free, local performances in Portland. Please help this compilation grow by contributing your favorite free shows and by spreading this list around.

Knock 'em dead cowgirl.

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Read this article on Examiner.com.

musicfestnw returns to portland sept 16-20 with arctic monkeys, edward sharpe, the get up kids

This weekend sees the triumphant return of MusicfestNW. Nine years running, this year's festival brings over 200 bands to 18 venues around Portland.

From Wednesday, September 16th through Sunday the 20th, local acts will share stages with international stars, up-and-comers and unknowns will play alongside renowned rock legends.

Five day passes for all MFNW shows are still available for $60 at both Jackpot Records locations, Music Millennium, Willamette Week offices, and TicketsWest. Individual tickets are available at some venues or on the day of the show.

It's hard to pick a concert and stick to it with so many phenomenal artists playing concurrently so here are my venue picks for the weekend.

16 Wednesday : Berbati's Pan
Portland Cello Project
Will Sheff of Okkervil River, Damien Jurado, Fences
Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM
Cost : $15 or MFNW wristband
21 and over

17 Thursday : Holocene
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Amazing Baby, The Entrance Band, Local Natives
Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM
Cost : $10 or MFNW wristband
21 and over

18 Friday :
Free Early Show : Wonder Ballroom
Arctic Monkeys and The Like
Arrive early!! Doors at 4:30 PM, show at 5:30 PM
Cost : Free wristband from Jackpot Records (available at 10 AM) or MFNW wristband
All ages

Late Show : Someday Lounge
The Shaky Hands
BOAT, Jared Mees and The Grown Children, Inside Voices, Tanning
Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM
Cost : $8 or MFNW wristband
21 and over

19 Saturday : Roseland Theater
The Get Up Kids
Portugal. The Man, Youth Group, Pretty and Nice
Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM
Cost : $18 on TicketsWest or MFNW wristband
All ages

20 Sunday : Crystal Ballroom
Modest Mouse
Love As Laughter, Mimicking Birds, Morning Teleportation
Arrive early!! Doors at 6 PM, show at 7 PM
Cost : Sold out, entrance with MFNW wristband accepted up to capacity
All ages

A word of advice: If using a MFNW wristband, arrive at the venue early because some shows do fill to capacity and you will be turned away. Or worse, forced to wait in line while everyone else dances their asses off to Girl Talk.

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MusicfestNW 2009
Wednesday, September 16 – Sunday, September 20, 2009
Complete Schedule
Complete Artist Listing
Complete Venue Listing
Cost : $60 Wristband; Individual Tickets Available at Certain Venues or on Show Day
Complete Ticketing Information
Some venues and shows 21 and over

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Read this article on Examiner.com.

edward sharpe + the magnetic zeros bring their enchanting revival to holocene

Edward Sharpe is the second coming. He enters prophetically, bare-chested and shoeless, backed by his disciples: The Magnetic Zeros.

The gang brings their folk-rock revival to Portland's Holocene on Thursday, September 17th as part of MusicfestNW.

Altogether, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros stand 10 strong with tangled locks that shroud painted faces brimming with whimsical grins.

Shows are divine events with crowds singing along to anthems like "Janglin" and "40 Day Dream" that recall a foregone time of folky optimism, also visible in the band's hippie ethic: touring in a revamped school bus with their name emblazoned on the side.

Forming in L.A. in 2005, the band released their debut album Up from Below in July after lead singer Alex Ebert ditched his rock star lifestyle and former band Ima Robot, met fellow vocalist Jade Castrinos, and started something more organic.

Ebert and Castrinos bounce lyrics back and forth on duets like "Home" with its catchy twang that'll make you whistle along feeling warm inside.

Keeping with their peace and love mantra, the album's recording also harks back to another era. It was recorded live with 12 artists playing together on a 24-track tape machine from the 70's creating a raw performance in a familial atmosphere.

So come all ye faithful for $10. Show starts at 9 PM with Local Natives followed by The Entrance Band and Amazing Baby culminating with the la-la-la's of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at the stroke of midnight.

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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros @ 12 PM
Local Natives @ 9 PM
The Entrance Band @ 10 PM
Amazing Baby @ 11 PM
Holocene : 1001 SE Morrison, Portland, Oregon 97214
Cost : $10 or MFNW wristband
21 and over

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Read this article on Examiner.com.

sept 7-13 : free, live music bonanza : yacht, u.s.e, ohmega watts, may ling, little sue, alyse black

Issue No. 1 :
Let's launch my inaugural weekly installment with gusto. Nothing but free shows around PDX.

Picks for the week of September 7–13, 2009.

07 Monday : Labor Day
Community Day & Songwriter's Circle at Music Millennium features Breanna Paletta, Ryan VanDordrecht, and Jack McMahon. All ages.

Soulful, acoustic singer-songwriters play Mississippi Pizza at 9 PM: Alyse Black, Aly Tadros, and Jonathan Brinkley. 21 and over.

08 Tuesday

The Portland Rumble is at Holocene and features digital beats from Hello Electric and United State of Electronica with Dr. Helicopter. Show starts at 8 PM. 21 and over.

Open Bluegrass Jam at McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern at 7 PM. All ages.

09 Wednesday
The LaurelThirst Public House presents rock from Celilo at 6 PM and Piano Throwers at 9 PM. 21 and over.

AAN strums at Berbati's Pan restaurant at 10 PM. 21 and over.

10 Thursday
Yes, we all know PDX loves PBR. But now we know PBR loves PDX. Pabst is showing its reciprocal desire with an All-Star Tribute to 1977 at the Doug Fir. A whole gaggle of bands will be in attendance playing rockin' folksy, americana-esque fare. Show's at 9 PM but the beverages start flowing at 8 PM. Sorry kiddos, 21 and over. Available on tap:
Jim Brunberg
Blue Skies for Black Hearts
The Leaders
Sean Croghan
Rachel Taylor Brown
Dave Camp
The Neat
Ezra Holbrook
The Threads
PDX Punk Rock Collective
Adrian H. & The Wounds

Dance to the darkness at the Fez Ballroom's Shadowplay while DJ Ghoulunatic, DJ Horrid, and DJ Paradox spin starting at 9 PM. 21 and over.

11 Friday
Boogie Bone live at Music Millennium at 6 PM. All ages.

A Tribute to Elliott Smith at McMenamins Edgefield at 7 PM. 21 and over.

East End brings Friday punk with Meercaz, Buzzer, and Impediments at 9 PM. 21 and over.

12 Saturday

Old Town Block Party outside Someday Lounge with music from 3 to 10 PM. All ages.
YACHT
M64 (featuring Ohmega Watts and Ragen Fykes)
May Ling
The Fix DJs (Ohmega Watts, DJ Kez, Rev. Shines, and Dundiggy)
Tony Ozier

Lynn Conover and Little Sue swoon acoustic, folk stylings to the LaurelThirst Public House at 6 PM. 21 and over.

Bluegrass all over town with McMenamins.
The Student Loan @ McMenamins White Eagle Saloon, 4:30 PM. All ages.
Whiskey Puppy @ McMenamins Grand Lodge, 7 PM. All ages.
And blues with Renegade Minstrels @ McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern, 9 PM. 21 and over.

Rotture celebrates 3 years in action with electro-dance beats at 9 PM. 21 and over.
Fleshtone
Fist Fite
Hot Victory
Diamond Liars
DJ Linoleum

13 Sunday
Freak Mountain Ramblers jam at the LaurelThirst Public House at 6 PM. Followed by folk from Billy Kennedy with Tim Acott at 9:30 PM. 21 and over.

McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern brings you Irish Music Sunday with Hanz Araki and Kathryn Claire at 7 PM. All ages.

Rotture continues its birthday dance-a-thon at 7 PM with Rabbits, Blood, and Selector Mancampus. 21 and over.

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Every week I will continue with a listing of free, live music around Portland. If you've got an event to add, shoot me a message or list it in the comments below.

Viva Portlandia.

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Read this article on Examiner.com.

the killers need an opening band

Think you're ready for your big debut? How about performing in an arena chock-full of future fans? You can win the chance to open for The Killers at the Memorial Coliseum on September 24th.

The contest sponsored by 94.7 FM has only two requirements: be a local, Portland band and submit a video of your band performing an original song by September 20th.

Five finalists will be selected by 94.7 FM, and then The Killers will choose their favorite band to open. Size up the competition while reading the official rules and entering at 947.fm.

The Killers are touring nationally in support of their third album "Day & Age," which was released in November 2008 and features the singles "Human" and "A Dustland Fairytale." Listen to these tracks and more on The Killers' MySpace.

Tickets for the Thursday, September 24th performance at the Memorial Coliseum can be purchased through the Rose Quarter ticketing for $32.50 to $37.50. The show begins at 7:30 PM.

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Read this article on Examiner.com.

these are my twisted words

New Radiohead. Free download.

And create your own Twisted Woods art.

baudelaire

old enough

the archduke

FF @ the Crystal Ballroom, PDX on 8 December 2008.

i'm thankful for flying

M83 @ the Doug Fir, PDX on 27 November 2008.

you are beautiful

Metric - Help, I'm Alive
So brilliant. I'm in love.

take me to au

I can't stop listening to this band, Empire Of The Sun. More Aussies making beautiful music. Get a free remix of their single Walking On A Dream here.

See The Presets and Cut Copy for similarly delicious music.

sparkles&fairy dust

And crowns and open water. And flowers and fireworks and feet marching. And polar bears.

Við spilum endalaust.



We play endlessly.

i want my mtv

MTV gets their own online music channel. Good stuff, lots of classic 80s.

sigur font

Sigur Rós gets their own font. Now if only I could understand Icelandic... or better yet Hopelandic.

Because it sounds like Iceland needs some of it right now.

rockin' the myspace

Ben Folds Five reunites to play "The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner"... on MySpace.



MySpace has always been the key to reuniting lost bands. Who else can they peer pressure into a reunion concert with fake friend requests to bolster their shattered egos and loads sex spam to revitalize their withered labidos? My top 3 choices:

1. Hammer... reunited with his parachute pants, gold jewelry, and fly back-up dancers. And disunited with faith and religion.

2. Some ABC-Dexy's Midnight Runners-Fine Young Cannibals-A Flock of Seagulls-Toto-Men At Work combination/super-group. Each could play one hit.

3. Falco, while technically not a reunion AND this would also require resurrection, just take a look below at Exhibit A, seen at Munich's Oktoberfest, to know how alive and well Falco truly is. Notice he's been keeping it real in the shadows of the bumper cars alongside other non-Austrian living and deceased rap/hip-hop/R&B greats like Brandy, Biggie, Puffy, Tupac, and of course Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz. Deja Vu, Uptown baby.

Exhibit A:

i'm trying...

f-f-f-franz

Awesome design, great new Franz Ferdinand music.