KPSU 15 Year Anniversary Fest @ Pioneer Square/No.Fest in St. Johns – both Saturday
Hot on the heels of the announcement of the PDX Pop Now Festival’s lineup comes these two equally impressive all-day, all-ages music and arts events going on this Saturday. In the heart of downtown Portland, at Pioneer Courthouse Square, you’ll find the KPSU Fest. This 12-hour event features an outstanding lineup of local talent including Jared Mees’ hyperbolic, anthemic rock (playing at 2:30pm) dramatic pop of Sophe Lux (4pm), and the warped psych stylings of Nurses (7:30pm). Happening at the same time across town is the No.Fest, which takes over the heart of the St. Johns business district with no less than 8 stages of events going on. This includes a stage of nothing but noise acts, including Plankton Wat and Pulse Emitter, performing at Legong Gelato, as well as a stage for young rock bands to play at Pattie’s Home Plate Café. The good news for those of you bouncing between the two events is that you won’t have to miss much of the action of the No.Fest as KBOO will be broadcasting the main stage events live.
Offkey – Saturday @ Wieden + Kennedy (224 NW 13th Ave)
One of Portland’s most well known local businesses is hosting a fine fundraiser in the form of a karaoke contest, with the proceeds going to support our local YWCA chapter. The contest will be judged by the likes of City Commissioner Amanda Fritz and our very own Dave Allen, among others. Here’s hoping they have “I Found That Essence Rare” in the songbook…
Novi_sad – Monday @ Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th Ave)
This Greek experimental musician creates amazingly plush blankets of sound, taking field recordings from everything from fully operational bottling plants to the vibrations between two bridges and building gorgeous ambient drones from them. Prepare yourself to get lost within these waves of sound.
Sir Richard Bishop & His Freak of Araby Ensemble – Tuesday @ Doug Fir Lounge (830 E Burnside)
Shape shifting guitarist Bishop (pictured) spends the majority of his latest album continues his long exploration of his roots, putting together a new album and a band that delves beautifully into the Middle Eastern/Northern African music he absorbed growing up. The album could easily be the most accessible work he has done to date, skirting that treacherous border that leads into “world music” territory, but managing to rein it in with odd Morricone-like turns and touches of avant garde weirdness to keep him honest.