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Jenni Moore
Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland. Read More
The New Class of the Portland R&B Scene
Portland has become a hot spot for up-and-coming R&B musicians.
Jenni Moore
Jenni is an Alaska-born, Oregon-raised writer living in Portland. Read More
When it comes to Portland’s Black community and its musical history, the discussion is often focused on jazz and hip-hop. These days, however, a new generation of artists is attracting more light to the Portland R&B scene than perhaps ever before.
Here are 10 local artists making soulful waves in Portland.
TYuS
For fans of PARTYNEXTDOOR, Bryson Tiller, Usher
TYuS is often credited with putting Portland on the nation’s map of modern R&B hubs. The then-20-year-old singer’s career took off in 2016 when his self-published songs went viral, thanks to his fierce online following. “City of the Rose,” a popular cut about a romance with a Portland woman, has racked up a staggering 1.2 million views on YouTube.
Now signed to Warner Brothers Records, Tyus released his 2017 EP Phases with the help of famed producer Hit-Boy. And although he’s gained recognition nationally, his work continues to feature Portland in content and collaborations with Portland rapper Cassow. The music video for “Other Side//Brand New” is filled with immediately recognizable shots of Portland’s skyline and bridges. Tyus croons to the upbeat R&B track while walking downtown, visiting Alberta Market and exploring Forest Park.
Chanti Darling
For fans of Patrice Rushen, Morris Day, Cheryl Lynn
After winning Willamette Week’s Best New Band poll in 2015, retro-futurist R&B group Chanti Darling’s star has continued to rise. Meanwhile, frontperson Chanticleer Tru has become one of the most in-demand artists in town. Tru grew up with a diverse music background, listening to jazz, R&B, gospel, opera, dance music and musical theater. This range of influences is apparent in singles like “Stars” and “Casual” (featuring Portland’s the Last Artful, Dodgr), which show off Tru’s immense vocal ability.
When you see the band live, you’ll understand why they draw crowds. Keys, live tracks and two enthralling back-up dancers typify the Chanti Darling experience. Shows often feel like traveling back in time to the days of disco — or jumping forward to a dance party in the funk-i-fied future. A similar vibe prevails at Jump Jack Sound Machine, the monthly dance party Tru DJs with singer Natasha Kmeto. Chanti Darling’s studio debut RNB: Vol.1 — a 10-track project that includes a wide range of R&B genres and production help from Portland’s Damon Boucher — was released in August 2018 on Portland’s Tender Loving Empire label.
Blossom
For fans of Erykah Badu, Solange, Brandy
If you called Blossom — aka Keisha Chiddick — the queen of Portland soul music, not many would argue with you. Blossom is also one of the hardest working solo artists in town; she frequently brings her fun live act to venues like Holocene, Mississippi Studios, Rontoms and Doug Fir. She’s also been known to open for established national stars like Ginuwine and BJ the Chicago Kid.
With roots in Trinidad and Tobago, Blossom has lived in Portland since her youth. Her sound is diverse and ever-evolving; earlier songs like “Sass” mix jazz and neo-soul to create super-chill vibes, while newer single “Black Magic Woman,” produced by local artist Fountaine, shows strong reggae influences. Tease, her debut full-length with producer Hot16, includes poppier takes on soul, with summer anthems like “Get Over It,” “So Cool” and the ’90s-tinged “Loves Comin.” With Clout Atlas (a collaborative EP with EYRST labelmate Ripley Snell) released in summer 2018 and another solo album on the way, Blossom’s career is just getting started.
The Last Artful, Dodgr
For fans of Missy Elliott, Anderson .Paak
Originally hailing from Los Angeles, rapper and singer the Last Artful, Dodgr has become one of Portland’s biggest hip-hop acts. Another member of Portland label EYRST, the artist (whose given name is Alana Chenevert) gained wide acclaim with her 2016 single “Squadron.” Bone Music, a collaboration with producer Neill Von Tally, is regarded as one of the best Portland albums of 2017.
Chenevert’s raspy flow, commanding stage presence and impressive singing and rapping talents have earned her opportunities to back up Portland rapper Aminé on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, make an appearance on Sway in the Morning and even tease a studio session with “Uptown Funk” producer Mark Ronson, Christina Aguilera and Anderson .Paak on Instagram.
Fritzwa
For fans of Lauryn Hill, India.Arie
A transplant from New York City, Fritzwa makes contemporary R&B that’s laced with hip-hop. Often performing live with a full band, the singer/emcee is constantly refining her craft as a musician and bandleader. Her full-length project Avenue A is a nostalgia-induced R&B daydream and an ode to New York that’ll resonate with anyone who feels like they’ve left a piece of themselves somewhere. Standout tracks include “Like My Art,” “Ice Queen” and the Trox-produced “Bouncin.’”
Fritzwa is also a spectacular DJ, regularly spinning at spots like Church Bar and Holocene, getting crowds bouncin’ with a holy trinity of hip-hop, Afrobeat and dancehall.
Brown Calculus
For fans of Erykah Badu, SassyBlack
Formed in 2016, interstellar neo-soul duo Brown Calculus features Andre Burgos and Young, Gifted and Brown co-founder Vaughn Kimmons — also known as Brown Calvin and Brown Alice, respectively. The duo, who are also members of soul/hip-hop outfit Tribe Mars, are a stalwart act on local bills around town.
In 2017, Brown Calculus released its debut EP Live at the Map Room, featuring spacey, twinkling production and spoken word/vocals from Kimmons. Highlights include the surprisingly cheery “Good Job” and the much-needed “Self Care.”
Festivals
Portland Jazz Festival
The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.
Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival
Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.
Soul’d Out Music Festival
Whether you’re a lifelong soul fan or hunting for your new favorite band, Portland’s annual Soul’d Out Music Festival delivers.
Fountaine
For fans of originality and Michael Jackson-esque dance moves
Rapper/producer Fountaine (aka Michael Stewart, formerly known as Mikey Fountaine) is popular for his forward-thinking sound, energetic and captivating live sets, and innovative “anime rap,” first seen on his free 2015 project Blak $ushi. A native Portlander, Stewart plays the protagonist in Seena Haddad’s X-Ray web series about a young rapper hustling in Portland’s underground hip-hop scene.
Fountaine’s massive third full-length H.F.I.L (Hell for Infinite Losers) is a highly personal story of his experience dealing with depression and racism as a Black artist born and raised in Northeast Portland. Although the album is largely hip-hop, it includes “All for Me,” featuring Blossom and a sample of Aaliyah, as well as a danceable soul-infused song called “Dressed to Kill,” which utilizes talk-boxy vocal treatment. Fountaine also produces an array of sounds for other artists, and plans to release a more R&B-focused solo project soon.
I$$A
For fans of Akon, Sean Kingston, Shaggy
Senegal-born singer/producer I$$A is one of the most experienced and hardest working artists in the Portland R&B category. His sound pulls from global influences — most notably dancehall and Afrobeat.
His most popular release by far is “Sleep on You,” a 2015 single featuring Canadian rapper/singer Tory Lanez. Since then, I$$A has released a pair of catchy island-hop singles: “Bambi” and “Open Your Heart.”
Maarquii
For fans of Princess Nokia, Big Freedia, Mykki Blanco
Marquis Dickerson, who performs under the moniker Maarquii, is probably best known for being a hip-hop artist with a focus on experimental booty-house music. But if you’ve listened to their 2016 EP Heavy Petty, you know not to place Maarquii in any one box. In addition to rapping, Maarquii also sings on select tracks and is a former dancer for Chanti Darling.
The 26-year-old’s stunning presence in the local spotlight has become a beacon of empowerment for Black femmes, and songs like “Wirecutters” and “Dam God” should show you why. Slowed-down R&B tracks abound on 2017’s Lullaby in Gemini EP, with highlights like “2Chill” and “Prettywrecked.”
Reva DeVito
For fans of Robyn, Alina Baraz
Portland R&B songstress Reva DeVito is known for her solo work, like her sultry debut EP The Move and tracks like “Babe Squad.” Lately, however, she’s been making waves as one half of Umii, a joint project with Cali funk producer B. Bravo.
The duo’s aqua-themed album This Time from the Fresh Selects label feels both timeless and modern, with fluid and electronic production, funky guitar and DeVito’s heavenly vocals. Lead singles “Masquerade” and “Dangerous” are especially addictive, with throwback vibes that’ll win the heart of every ’90s kid who appreciates a quality pop record.
Upcoming Concerts & Shows
Portland's Singing Christmas Tree
Come celebrate Christmas with Portland’s favorite holiday tradition. Let the glory of Christmas come alive as the three hundred-voice choir creates a Christmas extravaganza for the whole family, featuring your favorite holiday songs, dancing Santas and a beautiful cinematic Nativity. It is an awe-inspiring presentation of the true gift of Christmas and an experience not…
WinterSong
This annual concert is sure to put you in a holiday mood as you share in music that brings everyone together in the spirit of celebration and community. Join in for the warmth and music of the season. This year’s Wintersong concert is free — a gift to show our appreciation for your ongoing support.
Oregon Repertory Singers: Glory of Christmas
Oregon Repertory Singers return for Glory of Christmas with your favorite holiday works, including traditional carols and great sacred music appropriate for the season. In January, these holiday favorites will be recorded in an album for release during the 2023 Christmas season. Hear your favorites live: Morten Lauridsen’s Contre Qui Rose and Dirait-On, Stars by…
Comfort and Joy
Join the Oregon Symphony for an evening of good cheer with season classics such as “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “White Christmas,” as well as a very merry sing-along. It will be a jubilant celebration sure to put you and yours in the holiday spirit. Artists Deanna Tham, Conductor Oregon…
The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
Pioneer Courthouse Square is excited to host the Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition – a fun, festive, and joyful competition that will bring caroling groups to Portland’s Living Room and extend to a ten-block radius downtown. The top three caroling groups will hold a “carol-off” at the Square hosted by KGW’s Drew Carney, and the…
Handel's Messiah
Join the Oregon Symphony, the PSU Chamber Choir, and four world-class soloists for a grand celebration of one of the best-known choral works in the classical repertoire. All who experience Messiah will delight in the majesty of Handel’s beloved masterpiece.
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus presents: Light the Way Home Join the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus as they ring in this festive season with an evening of choral magic. In the midst of a chaotic world, PGMC celebrates the quirky and joyous importance of those we choose to call family. Expect holiday classics, new favorites, and…
Tuba Christmas Concert
We welcome you back to downtown for this holiday tradition. Experience the melodic sounds of big brass as 150 tubas play in unison for the 30th Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in Portland’s Living Room. This COVID-safe seasonal performance is FREE for the public.
Gospel Christmas
Bring joy to your holiday season with the 23rd annual performance of this beloved concert, featuring the region’s premier gospel singers alongside your Oregon Symphony. Special Concert Artists Charles Floyd, Conductor Gary Louis Hemenway, Choral Director Northwest Community Gospel Chorus Oregon Symphony
Concert-At-Christmas
PYP Concert-At-Christmas: Up In The Air! A Portland tradition since 1961, this post-holiday concert celebration features performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra, PYP Conservatory Orchestra, PYP Wind Ensemble, PYP String Ensemble, and an Alumni Orchestra. Join us for a musical journey, “Up in the Air.” The Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by David Hattner, Musical Director…
New Year's Eve with DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid
DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid’s New Year‘s Eve Dance Party featuring Orquestra Pacifico Tropical and dholi Adam McCollom. This party marks the 22nd anniversary of Anjali and The Kid playing in Portland clubs as a duo since their New Year‘s Eve debut in 2000. Celebrate the New Year at this annual dance party hosted…
Portland Music Month
January is officially Portland Music Month and MusicPortland has curated a lineup of 100+ local artists to support the music community. Get tickets to hear extraordinary live music that will light up the winters at venues all over Portland.
Portland Old Time Music Gathering
The 24th Annual Portland Old Time Music Gathering will kick off with a Cajun/Honky Tonk Dance night at the Spare Room Bar and Restaurant and a jam (location TBD). There will also most likely be a jam on Wednesday. Friday and Saturday will take place at the Alberta Abbey in NE Portland and Sunday will…
Portland Folk Festival
An annual celebration of folk, Americana, and roots music in Portland, Oregon, hosted by McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom. Friday Lineup: Ron Artis IIEddie BermanHillstompGlitterfoxThe June BugsJacob WestfallKaryn AnnSaturday Lineup: Fox and BonesLo SteeleAdrian + MeredithDead LeeThe Singer and The SongwriterLaryssa BirdseyeSunday Lineup: Eddie BermanChristopher Worth and David Jacobs-StrainThe HacklesFlyover StatesRedray FrazierThe AM (Acoustic Minds)Jessica ManaloLane NorbergPFF…
Portland Jazz Festival
The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.
Winter Music Festival
Celebrating over ten years of music and still going strong. This festival gives you great entertainment for a few hours and a chance to get out of the house before spring begins and help the community. The Winter Music Festival (formerly the Winter Blues Music Festival) features several bands on two stages.
White Album Xmas
White Album Christmas 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 note for note, while the jugglers, aerialists, clowns and acrobats of the Rose City Circus present feats of remarkable strength, focus and dexterity. Guaranteed to…
Long Hallways | Volcanic Pinnacles
LONG HALLWAYS Long Hallways transports listeners into an immersive experience. Since 2012, they have written from a broad palette, incorporating Jazz, classical, Latin, metal, and electronic influences to the ambiance and crescendos associated with Post-Rock. Described as eclectic, orchestral, and cinematic, the music takes you down paths and landscapes as unexpected movements shift the mood….
Kristin Hersh
Throwing Muses’ lynchpin, Kristin Hersh’s prolific career has seen her heralded queen of the alternative release. In 2018 she announced a new partnership with Fire Records that made possible the release of her tenth studio album, ‘Possible Dust Clouds’. “I’m thrilled to find some like-minded teammates in the shifting paradigm of the recording industry. Together,…
The 1975
The 1975 are one of the breakthrough British bands of the past decade. They got together as school friends on the outskirts of Manchester and arrived, reinvigorating the alternative scene as they took 2013 by storm. It was a year that set the band on what Matthew Healy has described as a “delirious ascent.” Propelled…
The Juicy Jam!
The Juicy Jam’s only goal is to jam, and The Juicy Jam’s only rule is no covers. Instrumentalists can blast off on space jams and be the backing band to songwriters from all over the place. Songwriters can find their band and explore new material in an environment that’s soaking wet with excitement. Parker’s Hideout…
Jim Brickman: A Very Merry Christmas
Jim Brickman, the multiple Grammy-nominated songwriter and piano sensation, is back this festive season with his annual holiday tour, “A Very Merry Christmas,” a magical evening celebrating music, love and family. Joining him this year will be the daddy-daughter duo Mat and Savanna Shaw. Together they will warm the hearts of all as sounds of…
Dead Horses
A bustling boulevard in the heart of Milwaukee provides a colorful backdrop for the latest album by folk duo Dead Horses. Brady Street, due out on August 12, 2022, is Dead Horses’ first full-length release since their arresting 2018 record, My Mother the Moon. The last album charted on the Americana Top 50 radio charts…
Mean Jeans
Mean Jeans is a trio of punk rock party animals that began in Portland, OR, around 2007, consisting of Billy Jeans (aka Christian Blunda), Jeans Wilder (aka The Hound of Love), and Junior Jeans. More adept at goofing off than playing instruments, they’ve still managed to make a name for themselves with raucous live shows,…
Phantoms
Applauded by NPR, Billboard, Dancing Astronaut and many others, Phantoms are a live electronic act that do precisely that. Often tough to box in…..their style is best described as blurring the lines of house music and indie-dance. Incorporating distinctive synth and drum patterns, the duo have become synonymous with their ‘genre’ of alternative electronic.
Bob Schneider
Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter and former frontman of The Ugly Americans and The Scabs, Bob Schneider has become one of the most celebrated musicians in the live music capital. Drawing from a range of diverse musical styles, Schneider’s talent has defied genres. Schneider will release a new record ‘In A Roomful Of Blood with A Sleeping…
OJA | Portland Market
OJA Portland Market is the indoor shopping and gathering place for winter 2022. Curated out of a desire to represent the depth of Portland’s diverse communities, OJA, is the Yoruba word for Market. Guiding Portland Back to Community Art + Culture + Food + Music + Drinks + Retail including a Live Entertainment Stage and…
Jessie Marquez and Clay Giberson
An innovative voice in the contemporary jazz scene of the Pacific Northwest, pianist and composer Clay Giberson is part of a new generation that is redefining jazz. Emotionally compelling, the music grooves as much as it dazzles with harmony, lyricism and rhythmic intricacy. Giberson’s performances convey a deep appreciation of structure and form but pay…
The Queen's Keys
Drag artists Saint Syndrome and Nicole Onoscopi bring you live vocals and piano, mixed with comedy and storytelling. A perfect event for date night or a family night out. (All ages are welcome.)
PSU Choirs: Believe
In this concert experience developed through a season of giving, grieving and growing, the PSU Social Justice Choirs, under the direction of Coty Raven Morris, present an evening of holiday and cultural selections, with guest performances by the Maybelle Community Singers, PSU Choirs, Bravo Youth Orchestra and more.
Avi Kaplan
By the time Avi Kaplan launched his solo career in 2017, he’d already built an audience that stretched across the globe, racking up three GRAMMY Awards as a member of the platinum-selling vocal group Pentatonix. Avi knew he needed to return to his artistic foundation — to the organic acoustic-driven rock and roots music that…
Rakim
Where many MCs of the time developed their technique through improvisational battles, Rakim was among the first to demonstrate the possibilities of sitting down to write intricately crafted lyrics packed with clever word choices and metaphors (of course, he also had the delivery to articulate them). Even after his innovations were worshipfully absorbed and expanded…
The Gothard Sisters
A Celtic Christmas Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with a Portland Christmas tradition. Celtic folk music, Christmas carols, Irish dancing, drumming, stories and holiday cheer with internationally acclaimed Celtic folk trio The Gothard Sisters.
Villains & Vixens : Holiday Edition
“Villains and Vixens” returns for 2022… with a festive twist. Featured villains will be from your favorite Christmas movies, literature, pop culture, and folklore, singing hilarious parody songs by the Torchsong team. Jingling all the way to the stage will be famous baddies from movies like “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Grinch,” “Die Hard,”…
Cloud Nothings
Cloud Nothings was founded in a Cleveland basement, the one-man recording project of Dylan Baldi, an unassuming, then 18-year-old student of song with a remarkable ear for melody. Prolific from the start, Baldi’s early work was rough but immediate: crudely recorded, spring-loaded spasms of Buzzcocks-informed pop that quickly found an online following among the lo-fi-inclined….
MAITA
Hot off the heels of MAITA’s 2020 debut, Best Wishes, named one of the “50 Albums that Define Oregon” (Portland Monthly), MAITA’s sophomore LP, I Just Want To Be Wild For You, digs into the crippling oxymoron of modernity: the constant bombardment of communication paired with utter disconnection. Released February 18th via venerable indie label…
Ilya Yakushev
With his “winning blend of rapturous lyricism and dramatic flair” (San Jose Mercury News), Ilya Yakushev marks his PPI debut with a fascinating program that unites Classical elegance and fiery modernism. DEC 3rd: The sunny opening trills and music-box precision of Haydn’s Sonata in D Major contrast with Mozart’s shadowy Adagio in B Minor, a…
Be A Light, presented by Portland Lesbian Choir
The Portland Lesbian Choir is overjoyed to resurrect the music from their canceled winter 2021 concert, Be a Light, for this year’s winter concert. They are excited to bring some light and share their voices with you on Dec. 3rd and 4th, 2022, at the Performing Arts Center at Parkrose High School. For both shows,…
Portland Nordic Chorus Holiday Concert
Celebrate the start of the holiday season with a cheerful performance from the Portland Nordic Chorus. They are a mixed community chorus celebrating friendship and common interest in Nordic culture and music by rehearsing and performing music. They sing Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Swedish, and English primarily. They welcome all with and without Nordic heritage who…
Good Country
Portland State’s acclaimed Opera program presents a tale straight out of the Old West, tracing the true story of Charley Parkhurst, a stagecoach driver in the California Gold Rush who was assigned female at birth and lived life as a man. Created by composer Keith Allegretti and librettist Cecelia Raker, “Good Country” is one of…
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2
Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Pianist Kirill Gerstein Renowned pianist Kirill Gerstein brings his “intelligent and virtuosic music-making” (Observer) to Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, a work of soulful melodies and technical fireworks. Framing the program are Tania León’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Stride, an homage to the profound legacy of Susan B. Anthony, and Prokofiev’s nostalgic…
John Craigie
Portland, OR-based singer, songwriter, and producer John Craigie adapts moments of solitude into stories perfectly suited for old Americana fiction anthologies. Instead of leaving them on dog-eared pages, he projects them widescreen in flashes of simmering soul and folk eloquence. On his 2022 full-length album, Mermaid Salt, we witness revenge unfurled in flames, watch a…
Skullcrusher
Helen Ballentine’s spellbinding first full-length album, Quiet the Room is the sound of a window opening, a barrier dissolving. Across these fourteen tracks, the outside world seeps in, and the inside world crawls out. The result is a stunning and quietly moving work that reflects the journeys we take through the physical and spiritual realms…
Floater
With intense and unforgettable live performances, their fan base has grown over the years to a fever pitch and Floater fans are legendary for their dedication. Floater is an American rock band currently based in Portland, Oregon. The band was started in 1993 by Robert Wynia, along with Peter Cornett and David Amador. They are…
Jockstrap
When Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye make music as Jockstrap, the process and result has one definition: pure modern pop alchemy. With their debut album I Love You Jennifer B, Jockstrap will cement themselves as one of the most vital young groups to emerge from London’s melting pot of musical cultures in years.
Ground Up
Join in for street and club-style dance battles, judged by a talented lineup of internationally respected dancers. Come and listen to fresh cuts by DJs. Open to all to compete, spectate and dance. This is an all-ages event, but the bar will be open for 21+. $300 PRIZE (each category)
Choir Boy
w/ SRSQ Choir Boy “Choir Boy” was what the kids called singer/songwriter Adam Klopp in his early teens when he fronted punk cover bands in Cleveland, Ohio. An intended insult, the label seemed fair and fitting, given Klopp’s religious upbringing and angelic voice. After high school, Adam left Ohio for college in Utah. While his…
Layperson
Julian Morris (b. 1989; Boston, MA) has been writing and recording as Layperson for ten years. Culling inspiration from the salt of the earth lyricists like Iris Dement and Townes Van Zandt, Julian’s music is earnest and true to his life experience. Julian transitioned in 2015, which permanently altered his singing voice. Re-learning the voice…
The Sheepdogs
Everybody could use a trip away from 2020 and 2021. Maybe just a weekend on the lake…even if it’s just a trip of the mind. The Sheepdogs’ No Simple Thing has the wattage to take you to that mental cottage with six new songs so summer-y you’ll only need to pack your jean shorts and…
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Squirrel Nut Zippers had the good fortune to make it to the big leagues while the swing revival of the 1990s crested. Although the group’s roots stretched far beyond the Rat Pack — they were informed by New Orleans jazz, hot dance music, Harlem jazz, and other jumping music of prewar America — they nevertheless…
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