Music Festivals in and Near Portland

White Album Xmas has become a tradition – a way to keep Portland weird during the holiday season. The Nowhere Band – a full 15-piece Beatles orchestra plays the White Album in its entirety, while the jugglers, aerialists, clowns and acrobats of the Portland Circus Allstars present feats of remarkable strength, focus and dexterity. Guaranteed…

Together, Pioneer Courthouse Square and Portland Mall Management, Inc. are hosting the Sixth Annual Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition that was originally held throughout Downtown in the early ’90s. The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition is a fun and festive event that will bring caroling groups of all ages to the heart of downtown.

By Langston Hughes. The show was originally first performed off-Broadway on December 11, 1961 and the first play written by an African American to be staged there. Traditional holiday carols are sung in gospel style with a few additional songs selected for the show. This powerful holiday musical will appeal to everyone regardless of their…

Downtown will pulse with the melodic sounds of big brass as nearly 300 tubas play in unison for the 29th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in the heart of downtown. This event is free and open to the public.

For fans of square dancing, banjo playing, guitar picking and everything else acoustic and old timey, January in Portland is the best time of year, and the upcoming winter will be no different. For its 21st year, the Portland Old Time Gathering will bring together talented musicians — and those who just love to be…

Featuring a kaleidoscopic selection of genres, movements, labels, bands, and solo artists, the 37th Reel Music film festival features the latest in music film—from intimate portraits to career-spanning celebrations—alongside archival films ripe for re-discovery. Whether your passion is jazz, blues, folk, rock, electronic, world, classical—or anything between—we hope you find something to discover and inspire…

The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail together for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Come meet some of Portland’s best makers and creators! The Portland Night Market is a bimonthly, free event and open to all ages.

The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.

Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.

Alex Cameron is an Australian musician, singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Sydney, he is best known for his solo career, a high-concept act in which Cameron initially adopted the persona of a failed entertainer. He is also a member of the electronica act Seekae. With: Holiday Sidewinder

Charlie Parr is the eponymous new album by the Minnesota-based folk blues artist the same name. The album is a collection of new songs and new studio versions of classics/audience favorites from throughout Parr’s career and features Charlie’s trademark resonator guitar and 12-string with co-producer Liz Draper on bass, longtime collaborator Mikkel Beckmen on percussion,…

Willamette Week G!G Presents a showcase of the finest in Portland hip-hop. With: Brown Calculus, Rasheed Jamal.

It wasn’t that long ago that the members of Seattle’s The Head and the Heart were busking on street corners, strumming their acoustic guitars, stomping their feet and singing in harmony as they attempted to attract the attention of passersby. That unbridled energy informed their earliest original material, which was honed in local clubs before…

The music of Magic Sword tells the story of the most powerful weapon ever created: a sword of infinite power that appears only to those in the greatest need. When the Magic Sword appears, good will always prevail. With: Equip.

Celebrate the joy of the season at the 21st Gospel Christmas. Clap your hands and stomp your feet along with the region’s premier gospel singers and the Oregon Symphony at this beloved annual concert.

Hallelujah! Monica Huggett takes the stage to lead one of the most-performed works in musical history– Handel’s Messiah. Portland’s only annual production of this holiday tradition on period instruments features soprano Mary Wilson, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, tenor Dann Coakwell and baritone Sumner Thompson. Choose full-length (3 hours) or highlights performances (2 hours on Monday, Dec….

Will historic Haddon Hall be torn down to build a highway, or will the ghosts save the day? Portland’s 25th annual Christmas Revels show is a magical story full of wonder, music, laughter and quite a few ghosts. The 25th annual Portland Christmas Revels also features guest instrumentalists Phil and Gayle Neuman of The Trail…

Renowned for his eloquent Americana style, engaging live shows and off-the-cuff clever observations, John Craigie carries on the legacy of classic singer-songwriters while blazing a trail of his own. Recently, that trail twisted and turned into new territory for the Portland-based performer whom The Stranger appropriately dubbed “the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedberg.”…

Iconic L.A. psychedelic/alt-rock vets with a driving, kaleidoscopic sound. With: Eyelids.

Well-traveled, eclectic and progressive Bay Area bluegrass string quintet. With: Band Of Comerados.

Ladytron are a British electronic music band formed in Liverpool, England in 1999. With: YourYoungBody.

It’s impossible not to hear freedom and excitement coursing through the veins of Marco Benevento’s new studio album, Let It Slide. Produced by Leon Michels (The Arcs, Lee Fields), the record introduces a gritty, soulful edge to Benevento’s brand of high-octane keyboard wizardry—an uptempo, uplifting sound he playfully describes as “hot dance piano rock.” For…

Steelhorse delivers all the Bon Jovi hits performed by some of the most dynamic musicians and performers in the Northwest. You’ll be transported back to the hair band glory days, singing along with the classics like “Living on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Runaway,” just to name a few.

A holiday tradition for generations, the Cinnamon Bear Cruise brings magic to life. Be the guests of honor on this two-hour cruise. Enjoy holiday treats while a cast of fanciful characters entertains you with storytelling, music and magic. Have your picture taken with the Cinnamon Bear himself atop his magical throne. Make this a holiday…

Portland Saturday Market, the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the United States, opens every Saturday and Sunday from March–December. The market combines the vibes of an arts show, a live street concert and an open-air bazaar, this riverside market has been a beloved Rose City tradition since 1974. In fact, the market is considered the largest…

Music of Phish for Kids Holiday Celebration. The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country, allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (New York Times). Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock…

The eXtraordinary League of Rockers (XLR) gives young musicians (ages 8-18) the opportunity to join a band, learn what it means to take the stage and bring down the house playing real venues. In three months, each band participates in three live shows: The Showup, where rockers get their first taste of the stage; The…

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) kicks off the holiday season with a celebration of classic pieces by Tchaikovsky, Bach and Strauss. Joining the VSO are renowned Austrian soprano, Charlotte Pistor, and dancers from the local Columbia Dance Studio, who are back by popular demand following last year’s triumphant performance. The concert features the 70+ member…

Kevin Burke’s fiddle playing has been at the forefront of traditional music since the 1970s. His far-reaching solo album If the Cap Fits and his work with such distinguished performers as Arlo Guthrie, Kate Bush, Christy Moore and the Bothy Band established him as a first-class musician. Never one to be restricted by geography nor…

Kevin Burke’s fiddle playing has been at the forefront of traditional music since the 1970s. His far-reaching solo album If the Cap Fits and his work with such distinguished performers as Arlo Guthrie, Kate Bush, Christy Moore and the Bothy Band established him as a first-class musician. Never one to be restricted by geography or…

Renowned for his eloquent Americana style, engaging live shows and off-the-cuff clever observations, John Craigie carries on the legacy of classic singer-songwriters while blazing a trail of his own. Recently, that trail twisted and turned into new territory for the Portland-based performer whom The Stranger appropriately dubbed “the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedberg.”…

Stumptown Soul is back for its sixth year! An all‐star cast of Portland blues, jazz, rock & roll and soul musicians will light up the stage at the sixth annual Stumptown Soul Holiday Spectacular, a benefit for the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and the Children’s Cancer Association.

Silversun Pickups have always considered their sonic density a source of pride: The Los Angeles band’s four studio full-lengths — including their 2006 gold-selling debut, Carnavas — reveal additional sonic gifts with each subsequent spin. Their fifth album, Widow’s Weeds, also caters to an adventurous, patient group of listeners. Strident acoustic strumming tussles with raging…

“I’m realizing more and more every day that you can make anything happen for yourself if you really want to,” says Moon Hooch horn player Mike Wilbur. “You can change your existence by just going out and doing it, by taking simple actions every day.” If any band is a poster child for turning the…

See the Pacific Northwest’s premiere tribute to Huey Lewis and the News and a country/rock show band in one amazing night. The Pacific Northwest’s premiere tribute to Huey Lewis and The News! Playing fairs, festivals, events and casinos across the region, this group of veteran musicians features a powerhouse horn section and all the elements…

Endlessly eclectic, soulful and exciting Portland hip-hop/rock/R&B collective. With: Rich Hunter, Madgesdiq, CEG.

The Curious Cabaret – A Riotous Vaudeville Revue is a brand-new monthly variety show hosted by Portland’s 20-time award winning physical comedy duo, A Little Bit Off. The show brings you the absolute best in top-notch local talent, with acts ranging from acrobatics and dance, to magic and juggling, with a whole lot of comedy…

Waterparks is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas in 2011. With: De’Wayne Jackson, Kitten.

Celebrate the holiday season Espacio Flamenco style with traditional holiday songs (villancicos), student and Espacio Flamenco Company performances, and a flamenco sing-along. Performances by: Espacio Flamenco Coro NavideñoFlamenco Kids through Level 3 Dance classesFlamenco guitar classesEspacio Flamenco Company

“I’m realizing more and more every day that you can make anything happen for yourself if you really want to,” says Moon Hooch horn player Mike Wilbur. “You can change your existence by just going out and doing it, by taking simple actions every day.” If any band is a poster child for turning the…

What better way to celebrate the holiday season than with the infamous and fabulous Storm Large Holiday Ordeal? Now in its 13th year and first time with the Oregon Symphony, Storm’s Ordeal will delight you and leave you begging for more of her wicked charm and stunning vocals. Your holidays will never be the same.

“Based in Southern California, five-piece indie rock band Local Natives made quick waves at SXSW with their sweeping orchestral songs and celebratory swagger. Bearing musical similarities to Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire, their ride toward mainstream success picked up momentum when their song “Airplanes” was featured in an episode of the…

A very special holiday show with indie singer-songwriters. Featuring: Julia Nunes and Elizabeth and The Catapult, along with special guest Chase Burnett.

Conceptual L.A.-via-Portland electronic pop icons with new LP, Chain Tripping.

Inventive, folk-driven Canadian songwriter with new 2019 LP. With: Luka, Sheers.

TV star and pop sensation David Archuleta returns to the Alberta Rose stage for a not-to-be-missed holiday concert.

Positive reggae rock with a cause. With: Ted Bowne, The John Dank Show.

Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 50 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos, but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well…

Los Straitjackets are the leading practitioners of the lost art of the guitar instrumental. Using the music of the Ventures, The Shadows and with Link Wray and Dick Dale as a jumping off point, the band has taken their unique, high-energy brand of original rock ‘n’ roll around the world.

Low Bar Chorale presents its annual holiday-adjacent community sing-along.