Molly Woodstock
Molly Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More
Music Festivals in and Near Portland
From blues and jazz to folk and indie pop, the Rose City has plenty to offer any music lover.
Molly Woodstock
Molly Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More
Looking for a tuneful way to enjoy your time in Portland? Get your tickets now for these exciting annual celebrations, and browse our events calendar for additional concerts and performances all year round.
Winter & Spring
Chamber Music Northwest Winter Festival – January
Portland’s premier chamber music organization kicks off the year with a week of performances by some of the world’s best classical ensembles at the annual Chamber Music Northwest‘s Winter Festival at Reed College.
Portland Old-Time Music Gathering – January
A dedicated group of volunteers show their love for traditional Appalachian-style string music with the annual Portland Old-Time Music Gathering. This grassroots festival returns to the Tiffany Center every Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend.
Reel Music Film Festival – January
One part concert series, one part film festival, the Northwest Film Center’s annual Reel Music Film Festival pairs archival concert footage and biopics of famous musicians with live performances by a wide variety of musical artists.
Portland Jazz Festival – February
Celebrate Black History Month with the annual PDX Jazz Festival, hosting dozens of concerts (including several free events) by internationally recognized jazz masters and talented local musicians alike.
Summer
Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival – June
The big sister of CMNW’s winter festival, the Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival is a five-week concert series filling venues across the city with Grammy-winning quartets, world-class pianists, open rehearsals and opportunities to meet composers over a cup of coffee.
Waterfront Blues Festival – July
Every Fourth of July weekend since 1987, downtown Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park plays host to the Waterfront Blues Festival, the country’s second-largest blues festival, featuring midnight blues cruises and headliners like Mavis Staples, Robert Plant and Steve Miller Band.
Cathedral Park Jazz Fest – July
The largest and oldest free jazz festival west of the Mississippi River, the annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival fills Cathedral Park with three days of world-class jazz, soul, blues and R&B acts beneath the St. Johns Bridge — no admission required.
Harefest – July
Billed as the Northwest’s most nostalgic music festival, the adults-only Harefest music festival in nearby Canby features performances by the region’s best tribute bands. Visitors can expect imitations of Metallica, Heart, Journey and Bon Jovi, to name a few.
PDX Pop Now – July
Discover some of the city’s best up-and-coming artists at the free PDX Pop Now showcase beneath the Hawthorne Bridge. In addition to food carts, a record fair and performances by dozens of local musicians, visitors can watch rounds of “Rigsketball,” a 3-on-3 basketball tournament played by 32 Portland bands.
Northwest String Summit – July
Located 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Portland, Horning’s Hideout in North Plains hosts the annual Northwest String Summit, a gathering of bluegrass bands and acoustic pickers. It’s best to buy your tickets early, as the intimate festival is capped at 5,000 attendees.
Pickathon Music Festival – August
Travel half an hour southeast of Portland to pastoral Pendarvis Farm for three days of independent music and zero-waste camping at Pickathon music festival, led by folk and indie headliners like Andrew Bird, Beach House and Jeff Tweedy.
The William Byrd Festival – August
Founded in 1998, this annual event explores the life and work of beloved early English composer William Byrd with a series of concerts, lectures and liturgical services.
Montavilla Jazz Festival – August
Head to the Montavilla neighborhood in Southeast Portland to enjoy a weekend of original progressive jazz works composed and performed by skilled Portlanders.
Autumn
Jim Pepper Native Arts Festival – September
This free, family-friendly community concert celebrates the life of late saxophonist and composer Jim Pepper, a Portlander of Kaw/Creek heritage whose 1969 song “Witchi Tai To” is the only song based on a Native American chant to break into the Billboard pop charts.
Further Afield
Oregon Country Fair – July
Travel two hours south of Portland to verdant Ventura to join Oregon Country Fair, the state’s preeminent counter-cultural celebration, packed with 45,000 attendees, nearly 1,000 booths and dozens of dance, music and circus performances.
Oregon Jamboree – August
Catch concerts by the likes of Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw at the Pacific Northwest’s premier country music festival, Oregon Jamboree, staged in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains 100 miles (161 km) south of Portland.
Annual Music Events
Upcoming Music Festivals
Discover Portland's music scene at these upcoming festivals.
Sabertooth Music Fest
Mark your calendar for the 6th annual Sabertooth festival. The psychedelic stoner rock festival is back in Portland on Friday, June 5. The full lineup is coming very soon, so be sure to join the Facebook event to stay up-to-date on all of the details. Last year’s highlight was the Melvins, and this year we’ve…
Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival
Chamber Music Northwest’s annual summer festival combines high-caliber classical music with a laid-back atmosphere.
Harefest
The annual Harefest music festival in Canby presents the Northwest’s best tribute bands performing on three stages over two days. The Harefest experience has been described by many attendees and performers as “adult summer camp” not only for the fun-loving, good-natured attendees, but also because of its rustic location and tent camping around the festival…
Northwest String Summit
The annual Northwest String Summit celebrates Bluegrass, roots, and Americana sounds during its multi-day festival in North Plains, Oregon. Visit their website early to purchase tickets, as they usually sell out fast.
Pickathon
Every August since 1999, Pickathon draws diverse musical performers to celebrate music and the outdoors at the lush Pendarvis Farm just outside of Portland.
Vanport Jazz Festival
THE 2020 EVENT IS CANCELED. The Vanport Jazz Festival is scheduled to return Aug. 7, 2021. See website for details. The Vanport Jazz Festival honors the city of Vanport and the voices who formed Portland’s jazz community. Near the site of the historic 1948 flood, the event transforms Colwood Golf Course into a cultural revival,…
Inner City Blues Festival
Soul Queens & Blues Kings A benefit for HEALTH CARE FOR ALL- OREGON “Healing the Healthcare Blues” This very special showcase will celebrate icons of Soul and the Blues pioneers that helped shape the history of music. Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester brings together some of our local R&B favorites: Lenanne Miller, Renato Caranto, LaRhonda Steele,…