Music Blog

Let's face it: summer's done. While the calendar might say we have three weeks yet to go, that back to school chill in the air and post-Labor Day hangover (just wait for it) say otherwise. Portland bids adieu to the season this week with a festival of festivals, if you will, each with its own angle to offer. In short, it's another one of those weeks that makes us Portlanders glad we live here.

We'll start with the behemoth: in what seems to be a bigger and bigger line-up every year (and yet remains surprisingly affordable), Music Fest NW (no, not that one-- this one) returns with a motherlode of local and touring acts beginning Wednesday and running through Saturday at venues all over the place. While indie (whatever that means) tends to be the focus, there's still a flavor for most, whether your bag is The Old 97's, Ratatat or Sir Mix-a-Lot (!). And speaking of, ahem, getting back, where else can you see a bazillion acts for fifty bucks? (Hint: it's not Sasquatch). We'll have some more coverage throughout the week, but a cursory glance over will make your head explode reveals a number of seemingly can't miss bills.

Might we recommend: opening night at Berbati's with the rejuvenated Old 97's, Langhorne Slim, Norfolk & Western & The 1900's; Eric Bachmann's Crooked Fingers joined by Death Vessel, Dolorean, and Laura Gibson Friday night at the Doug Fir; Built to Spill playing their 1997 stunner Perfect From Now On from front to back after Spoon's Britt Daniel plays a solo set Friday (early) evening at the Wonder Ballroom; Saturday night's kill rock stars showcase at Holocene featuring Thao, The Shaky Hands, Panther and Horse Feathers; The Helio Sequence closing out an insane bill that same night at the Crystal Ballroom that also features Menomena, Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes. Since you can't possibly make it to everything, we suggest the zen approach: wherever you are is the place to be.

Elsewhere this week, it's the beginning of the 6th annual PICA Time-Based Arts Festival, which runs through September 14th. Much less a music than an arts festival (PICA describes it a "convergence of contemporary performance, dance, music, new media and visual arts projects in Portland, OR), the fest nevertheless features one of the more intriguing performances of the week as Antony & the Johnsons will be joined by the Oregon Symphony Friday night at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. It looks to be the ideal setting to hear Antony's ghostly, disquieting croon as he and the Johnsons no doubt preview material from the upcoming EP Another World, their first release since 2005's Mercury Prize-winning I Am a Bird Now.

MP3: Antony & the Johnsons, from I Am a Bird Now- "Hope There's Someone"

Also of note (although he won't be performing his music), Maktub frontman Reggie Watts will be performing Tommy Smith's one-man stage act TRANSITION. See the TBA listing for dates and times for Watts' three performaces.

Finally, "a soulful celebration of sustainable living" is how the organizers of the 3rd annual Muddy Boot Festival describe its purpose. The event kicks off Friday night with the keynote address before two days of workshops, presentations, food, drink, and music (which is why we're telling you about it). The line-up features a number of names familiar to Portlanders, including Little Sue, Casey Neill & the Norway Rats, Freak Mountain Ramblers, The Stolen Sweets, and Fernando, among others. See the weekend's full schedule here.

More to come here, of course, throughout the week. Got your ultimate MFNW itinerary mapped out yet? Tips for taking it all in? Anything else? The thread is open....