With a quarter million miles under her belt and counting, North Carolina native Emily Scott Robinson travels the dusty highways of America's wild country, capturing the stories of the people she meets and expertly crafting them into songs. Robinson received critical acclaim for her debut album Traveling Mercies-- Rolling Stone named it one of the “40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2019.”
In 2021, Robinson signed with Oh Boy records, the label founded by the legendary John Prine, and released her follow-up album American Siren. It made numerous “Best of 2021” lists including NPR, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and No Depression. In 2022, Robinson released a collaboration for theater called Built on Bones, a song cycle written for the Witches of Shakespeare's Macbeth, featuring artists Alisa Amador and Violet Bell.
“Colorado singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson mixes folk and country with gorgeous, clear-eyed examinations of faith, hope and regret.” --NPR.
“Country-folk songs about America in all its pain and glory with the literate, Southern gothic sensibility of Flannery O’Connor.” -- Rolling Stone.
With masterful strokes, she takes her Fender Rhodes, guides it through an echo pedal, giving birth to extra layers of atmosphere & rhythm . Lush layers of French horn infuse her music with an otherworldly aura, while throwback drum grooves ground each beat with that good nostalgia - to top it all off Megan sprinkles in spacey-racey pedal steel guitar for an extra touch of cosmic beauty.
But she doesn't stop there. Megan is currently engrossed in releasing her highly anticipated second album - "Cabin Fever" at the beautiful Old Church in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Delving deeper into uncharted realms of musical invention, pushing boundaries and dancing under any disco ball she can find (or bring to the venue). Let’s Boogie!
"When music journalists say things like 'this artist is a fixture in Seattle music,' there's probably no one right now who fits that title better than Nakayama." - KEXP
Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tomo Nakayama is an artist whose melodic, complex and emotionally compelling music has been praised by NPR, New York Times, and The Stranger. After two critically acclaimed indie-folk albums "Fog on the Lens" and "Pieces of Sky" (named "Best Folk Act" by Seattle Weekly), he surprised his fans by releasing the synthpop album "Melonday" (on Seattle label Porchlight Records). Co-produced by Yuuki Matthews (The Shins, Teardrops, Sufjan Stevens) and mastered by Dave Cooley (M83, Paramore, Tame Impala), "Melonday" was named one of the Top Albums of 2020 by Seattle Times, KEXP, and Seattle Met Magazine, and debuted at #1 on KEXP's NW Charts. He has toured across the US and Japan, sharing the stage with Built to Spill, Thao, Daði Freyr, Fleet Foxes, Michael Hurley, Sons of Kemet, Ben Gibbard, Damien Jurado, Wye Oak, and Cornelius. He has collaborated with Dave Matthews, Sera Cahoone, Jherek Bischoff, and Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate). He also composed music and appeared as an actor in the Lynn Shelton film "Touchy Feely" with Elliot Page and Rosemarie DeWitt.
Mauro -
Mauro Samaniego is one of the most influential artists in the Ecuadorian scene of the last decade. He is mainly recognized for being the leader of Da Pawn and Tripulación de Osos, two precursor bands of the Ecuadorian indie rock scene.
Samaniego is an exceptionally skilled guitarist who became a singer over the years. This fact outlines his work with wide dynamics and unexpected musical structures. Between folk, rock, electronic sounds and even orchestral movements, he manages to completely separate himself from the classic mold of the “Latin American singer-songwriter."
All Ages | $20 Advance, $25 Day-Of | TICKETS
Big Top, the new-old Lucky Hound Music release from veteran singer-songwriter Michael Fracasso, is the opposite of what’s commonly referred to as a “grower.” Expertly produced by his fellow Austinite Charlie Sexton, who is probably picking guitar alongside Bob Dylan as you read this, Fracasso’s sweetly affecting voice and masterful songcraft have never sounded so vibrant. To say it another way, Big Top features 10 hook-filled gems that simply demand repeat listens.
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– NO DEPRESSION
“BettySoo may well have the most gorgeous voice in Texas …if not in all contemporary folk – its purity and strength can be downright devastating.” – ACOUSTIC GUITAR
“Beautiful, heart-wrenching songwriting that is also edgy and unwavering.” – KUT, Austin
“Exceptionally well written and arranged songs with a confidence that speaks volumes.” – AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Featuring Mic Crenshaw, Shabaaz & Homie Tom - Moderated by Julianne R. Johnson
Admission is free | Donations are appreciated | RSVP
All Ages | Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
There were also personal ordeals – ghosts from her past to be exorcised, demons in her closet that pushed her to challenging brinks. As the toll of these situations weighed on her, Evensen did what she always did: she sat at her piano, stretched her fingers and began to play.
“It’s always been like that,” smiles the artist. “I remember [as a child] walking to the piano and being able to let something out by playing the keys. It became a therapist and a best friend to me – I always felt better after I played.”
All Ages | Advance $30, PDX Jazz Member $25, VIP $70, Student $20 | TICKETS
Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
GRAMMY® nominated vocal supergroup, säje, releases the second single from their highly anticipated debut album. “(You Are) The Oracle”, featuring vocal virtuoso, Michael Mayo. Music Video and artwork from multidimensional artist Phil Beaudreau.
(Release Date April 14th)
säje is: Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage
Featuring: Michael Mayo, voice; Dawn Clement, piano; Ben Williams, bass; Christian Euman, drums
Music and Lyrics by säje. Vocal Arrangement by Amanda Taylor and Erin Bentlage with Johnaye Kendrick/Sara Gazarek. Produced by säje; rhythm section recorded by Pete Min at Lucy’s Meat Market; vocals recorded and edited by Amanda Taylor and Erin Bentlage. Michael Mayo recorded and edited by Michael Mayo. Audio mixed and mastered by Rich Breen. Music video and album art by Phil Beaudreau
“säje is blazing a new trail for female composers and performers in the jazz world.”
— Micah Hendler, Forbes
“…[säje is] taking the vocal jazz ensemble into the 21st century.”
— Abe Beeson, KNKX/NPR
“…transcendent music.”
— DownBeat Magazine
While it may come as a surprise to hear that the newly formed vocal super group, säje (rhymes with beige), received a GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals” for their first original composition “Desert Song”, a John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Award for their second composition “Wisteria”, and a Jazz Journalists Association Award nomination for “Best Vocal Group”, those in the know continue to eagerly await the debut album from this transcendent and genre defining group.
It is through their four previously released singles, ardent social media/patreon following, and multiple self produced music videos that this all female compositional/vocal collective has demonstrated their devotion to thoughtful, sophisticated original compositions and heartfelt covers, garnering critical acclaim and fostering a widespread and passionate fanbase.
In their first debut album single (“As This Moment Slips Away” September 13th, 2022) from their self produced debut album, listeners got a sneak peek into the sounds and energy that they can expect from the record itself. In collaboration with three time GRAMMY® winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, the single positioned säje as an empowered, genre defining, and socially conscious powerhouse ensemble. surpassing any expectations of what one might typically associate with a vocal collective.
With their second single, there is more to hear than just lush harmonies, powerhouse vocals, complex contrapuntal lines, and symbiosis with their band. There is a deep relationship with the value systems found in purposeful artistic collaborations, an authenticity and connection to shape, texture, interaction, and storytelling. There is a real mastery of craft, not least of which can be heard in the mind blowing improvisations from featured guest vocalist Michael Mayo. With “(You Are) The Oracle” we see that säje is a group to be watched – and that their newest single is only a mouth watering snapshot of what’s to come.
All Ages | $25 | TICKETS
Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
If you must put him in a box, make sure it’s a big box! Undefinable by genre, crossing over and through folk, rock, singer-songwriter, and kids music, Dan Bern is a captivating live performer with a loyal, multi-generational following. He has written thousands of songs, released dozens of albums, and played shows across North America and Europe–from coffee shops to Carnegie Hall, and he most recently opened for The Who.
Dan’s songs have appeared in numerous films (“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” “Get Him to the Greek” “The Bubble” “Zero Effect”) and TV shows (Amazon Prime’s award-winning kids program “The Stinky & Dirty Show”).
A rare, and true renaissance artist, Dan is the author of several books, is a prolific painter, has his own podcast, and internet radio station. During Covid, his online “Hunkered in the Bunker” shows developed their own passionate community of followers. His topical sports songs are regularly featured on “The Tony Kornheiser Show.”
LIVE opening and closing performances by the hit-makers themselves, The Kingsmen! And 75 live musical acts in between performed by some of Portland's finest, including The Unipiper, Johnny Franco, little hexes, SoRIAH, Mammoth In Space and many, many more… LET'S GO!
Once it starts, it doesn't stop. It's one live performance after another for 24 hours! WHOA, Baby! It's gonna be Wall-to-Wall LOUIE. All LOUIE, All the time. All styles. All genres -- from acapella to Zydeco!
With a surprise in-person guest appearance before the marathon begins.
Live Streaming the entire 24 hours with surprise guests before 11pm on Saturday, October 7.
Don't Miss This Historic Event ('cause it'll never happen again)!!
You GOTTA GO!
