New literary and
music festival This! Fest debuts at the Woods in Sellwood this Friday
and Saturday, with readings from more than two dozen prominent Portland
writers, ranging from the established (Jon Raymond) to the up-and-coming
(Vanessa Veselka) to the grossly under-prepared (WW's own Casey
Jarman), supplemented by more than 18 musical performances. In an effort
to keep a poignant but brief pace, each writer has the floor for five
to seven minutes and each band will perform a 30-minute set.
"Hopefully
we can dispel a little bit of the feeling that readings are snorefests.
I know a lot of writers who get bored at their own readings," says
This! Fest co-creator Lisa Wells.
According to
organizer Jeremy Hadley: "Musicians often tend to romanticize about
being writers, and I think writers tend to romanticize being musicians.â
In honor of that idea, we've put together our own fantasy band of Portland authors.
From
left: Jon Raymond on washboard, Emily Chenoweth on violin, Kevin
Sampsell on drums, Vanessa Vaselka on guitar and Tom Bissell on the
banjo.
GO: This! Fest is at the Woods, 6637 SE Milwaukie Ave.,
890-0408, thewoodsportland.com. 5 pm Friday, Sept. 9; 3 pm Saturday,
Sept. 10. Free. 21+.
Headout Picks
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 7
[MUSIC] MUSICFESTNW
And so it begins. Tonightâs kickoff
performances include the Kills at the Crystal Ballroom and an intimate
set from Crooked Fingers at what is sure to be a packed Bunk Bar. It
only gets better from here, folks. Various venues from Sept. 7-11. See musicfestnw.com for schedule.
THURSDAY SEPT. 8
[WORDS] LITERARY DEATH MATCH
International reading series Literary
Death Match pits four established local writers against each other in a
battle of words and wit. Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate Ave., 286-9449. 8 pm. $6 advance, $10 day of. 21+.
[FASHION] FASHIONâS NIGHT OUT
Over 30 downtown clothing stores host
fashion shows, giveaways and entertainment to get Portland out of its
hiking boots and fleece for one night. And itâs all freeâincluding
parking, pedicab rides, gift bags and âmini make-overs.â 4-9 pm. Info at downtownportland.org/fashions-night-out.
FRIDAY SEPT. 9
[THEATER] THE METHOD GUN
Austin theater company Rude Mechsâ latest hit follows the misfortunes of a group of actors as they rehearse a production of A Streetcar Named Desire without the characters of Blanche, Stanley, Stella or Mitch. Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th Ave., 224-7422, pica.org. 8:30 pm Friday-Sunday, 6:30 pm Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 9-13. $25. [MUSIC] TAYLOR MAC
The singer and alt-drag performer presents Comparison Is Violence or The Ziggy Stardust Meets Tiny Tim Songbook, a medley of songs by David Bowie and Tiny Tim. Washington High School, Southeast 12th Avenue and Stark Street, 224-7422, pica.org. 8:30 pm Friday-Sunday, Sept. 9-11. $24.
SATURDAY SEPT. 10
[WINE] PINOT IN THE CITY
Slurp your way through more than 100 Oregon wineries and chow on eats from valley restaurants. Northwest
9th Avenue and Marshall Street. 2-6 pm Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 10-11.
$60 one day advance, $70 at door, $90 two-day ticket. Info and tickets
at willamettewines.com.
TUESDAY SEPT. 13
[PREACHINâ] ANDREW DINWIDDIE
Actor Andrew Dinwiddie performs a 1971 recording of a sermon by evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, Get Mad at Sin! A Message to the Young People of Today. Dinwiddie attempts to re-create not only the sermon but the near-manic style of the preacher in his prime. Washington High School, Southeast 12th Avenue and Stark Street, pica.org. 6:30 pm Tuesday-Saturday, Sept. 13-17. $20. WWeek 2015
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