Skip to main contentDecisions, decisions. Music fans like you will be facing tough choices this weekend, when the noise of 250 acts will spill out of 20 clubs and into Portland streets, thanks to the most impressive MusicfestNW lineup ever.
With so many great bands and solo musicians in the schedule--plus street musicians, afterparty entertainers and other acts--you're going to be facing overlap. First, there's the heavy musical artillery offered by a handpicked crop of Pacific Northwest bands. Then there's an explosion of talent-packed showcases hosted by Sub Pop, Kill Rock Stars, K Records and Arena Rock, some of the hottest labels around. Now factor in the unquestionable power of great headliners like Lyrics Born, Built to Spill and Iris DeMent.
So you'll have to narrow down the entire crop of bands to draw up your own hit list, but whatever you choose, chances are it will bear wonderful, juicy musical fruit. It's 10 pm on Thursday and you're a funk fan who also loves homegrown hip-hop? Well, you've got Galactic at the Crystal and Lifesavas at Roseland Theater. Decisions, decisions. It's 11 pm Friday and you're an indie rocker who likes short, intense blasts of pop punk but also has an ear for the softer stuff? Now you're facing a choice between the Thermals at Dante's or Mirah at Nocturnal. Oh yeah, and don't forget the Gossip is playing Roseland Theater.
Man. You're screwed.
OK, maybe not screwed, but still, you've got it tough. That's why organizers have added a few brand-spankin'-new features to help you with your festival experience. If you're planning to skip from club to club, you can hop on an official MFNW shuttle running a circuit to almost all of the participating dens of dance (sorry, White Eagle). And when you need a place to take a break from decision overload, check out the Scion Block Party, an outdoor stage at Southwest 2nd Avenue and Ash Street featuring dance-ready DJs and a whole bunch of other multimedia hoo-hah to cool off to.
But first, before you dig into the band list, there's another decision, the simple matter of deciding to buy one of those blue wristbands that will get most anyone into all of these shows. If the lineup of acts for this year's festival, which is printed in the pages of this MusicfestNW Guide, doesn't quite convince you, consider that proceeds from the festival will be donated to First Octave, a nonprofit that provides musical training for Portland schoolchildren.
Over the past three years, MusicfestNW has donated more than $30,000 to get instruments in the hands of kids. And if more Portland kids keep playing music, well, the festivals of the future will continue to be packed with great acts. And you'll have to keep making tough decisions.
Mark Baumgarten, Music Editor, Willamette Week
For much more info, schedules, picks, and music, go to musicfestnw.com.
For much more info, schedules, picks, and music, go to www.musicfestnw.com
WWeek 2015