A New Country Music Festival, Modernized Mozart and 3 Other Things To Do and See In Portland, Thursday, July 20

Plus, the 20th anniversary of Third Eye Blind's debut album.

(Cory Weaver)

XEB
Former Third Eye Blind members (minus singer Stephan Jenkins) are reuniting to perform their debut album for its 20th anniversary—at a dirty punk dive, no less. Expect drunken singalongs to hits like "Jumper" and "Semi-Charmed Life" and pensive reflection on "Motorcycle Drive By" and "God of Wine." Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St., 503-226-0430, ashstreetsaloon.com. 7 pm. $17. 21+.

(courtesy of Gerle Haggard Band)

Sundown Country Festival
If Pickathon is too rock'n'roll, and the String Summit too crunchy, McMenamin's inaugural Sundown Festival should be just right for the boot-scootin' set. The lineup features more than a dozen country and country-adjacent acts, including rising singer-songwriter Brandy Clark and an all-woman Merle Haggard tribute act appropriately named Gerle Haggard. Grand Lodge, 3505 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove, 503-992-9533. July 20-23. Free. See mcmenamins.com/sundown-grand-ol-country-festival for complete schedule.

Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte opens with a man dressed as a monkey lounging on a red velvet couch. The immediate absurdism is wholly emblematic of director Christopher Mattaliano's adaptation of Lorenzo Da Ponte's 18th-century libretto, composed by Mozart. The plot is equally ridiculous. An older gentleman named Don Alfonso (Daniel Mobbs) overhears Ferrando (Aaron Short) and Guglielmo (Ryan Thorn) gushing over their girlfriends Fiordiligi and Dorabella (Antonia Tamer and Kate Farrar). Alfonso attempts to prove to the men that their partners aren't faithful by having the men dress up in obscene outfits, pick up aliases and attempt to seduce the women. What's most striking about Così seamless inclusion of two time periods: the classic opera, with all Così's characters draped in historical garb, mixed with modern, playfully surreal twists. Characters eat Voodoo Doughnuts, and the set's background–a gigantic projector screen–showcases pixelated close-ups of half-open mouths. Yet it's the show's actresses who are awarded the juiciest solos and comedic twists. For an 18th-century opera with a misogynistic AF title, Portland Opera's Così fan tutte elevates its female performers with its colorful, surrealist tweaks. Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, portlandopera.org. 7:30 pm Saturday through July 29. 7:30 pm Thursday, July 20 and July 29. $35-$110.

Bianca Marais
It's been 26 years since apartheid was abolished in South Africa, and less than a decade since the last thinly veiled sci-fi critique made its way to theaters. Looking at you, District 9. Johannesburg native Bianca Marais' new novel Hum If You Don't Know The Words follows a white girl and a Xhosa woman whose paths cross in the aftermath of the Soweto uprising in 1976. So, a little less crazy. But more grounded and potentially powerful? You bet. Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 212-782-9714, 7:30 p.m. Free.

(courtesy of Facebook)

Austra
Austra believes in utopia. At least, that's the theme of the four-piece Canadian band's latest album, Future Politics, released the day of Trump's inauguration. Its synth-pop dance beats make for great form of escapism, but nothing makes you forget about a shitty president than frontwoman Katie Stelmanis' voice, which is as clear and crisp as the air at the top of a Swiss mountain. Throw in a little bit of cello, and Austra evolves into fully formed electronic powerhouse. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214, 231-9663. 9 pm.  $20. 21+.

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