Portland Polish Festival
Pierogies! A polka contest! A lesson in Polish history! No, this isnât just another weekend at my grandmotherâs houseâitâs Portlandâs annual Polish Festival! This yearâs festival is promise to be as delightful as the past 25 (itâs the longest-running Polish Fest in the US), offering Polish beers, plates of traditional cuisine, and performances by traditional folk dancers and musicians. (Sept 21-22, Sat 11 am, Sun noon, Polish Hall, free, all ages) ALEX ZIELINSKI
Oaks Park Oktoberfest
No need to travel to Munich, weâve got our very own Oktoberfest here in Portland. Head to Oaks Park for a weekend celebration of German culture with authentic food and delicious Paulaner beer, polka bands, Bavarian dancing, games, a whole bunch of venders, and good family-friendly fun hosted by the German American Society of Portland. Sept 20-22, Fri 4 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am, Oaks Amusement Park, $3-6, all ages)
The Mohanad Elshieky Going Away Show
It was only a matter of time, and the Conan appearance is when the clock really got started: Mohanad Elshieky blew up, and when you're a stand-up in Portland, that means saying goodbye to Portland for a little bit. Come catch one last local set from a guy you're going to keep seeing on your TV screen for many, many years to come. (Wed, Sept 25, 7:30 pm, Curious Comedy Theater, $10, all ages)
Bucks for a Truck: A Benefit Concert for Friends of Noise
Friends of Noise supports youth by offering opportunities to gain knowledge about the local music industry. Check out youth performers and artists, with sound engineering by emerging youth technicians. Funds go towards buying a box truck to transport the nonprofitâs audio equipment. (Fri Sept 20, 6 pm, Disjecta, $5-10) EMILLY PRADO
Sad, Hungry and Horny: The Best of Show Ridiculous
Sketch comedy in Portland is alive and well now, but what about the future? Show Ridiculous can tell you all about it with this program from the year 2841, taking an "academic look back" at their history, which includes sketches so good they "changed comedy forever." (Fri-Sat Sept 20-21, 7:30 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10)
Shells, Deadbeat Beat, Jessica Dennison & Jones, Bob Desaulniers
Known for her work in Detroit rock band Tyvek and the late-great Saturday Looks Good to Me, Shelly Salant is a fixture of Midwestern indie music. As Shells, she makes adventurous, guitar-driven instrumental albums that pair the collaged freedom of Mick Turner from Dirty Threeâs solo records with the best of â90s indie rock instrumentals (think Yo La Tengoâs âGreen Arrow,â Halo Bendersâ âRebels Got a Hole in It,â and Silver Jewsâ âNight Societyâ). Ostensibly free and easy collections of home recordings, when played as a whole her albums gather a sense of intention and purpose. They feel casually grand, transcendent, and somehow wise. (Sat Sept 21, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $7) JOSHUA JAMES AMBERSON
The PDX Apology Hour
Chase Brockett hosts this stand-up showcase that offers participants an opportunity to comedically own their shit live on stage, with performances from Mohanad Elshieky, Jake Silberman, Dan Weber, and more. (Sat Sept 21, 9 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10)
Kulululu, Liquid Light
Local art-punk rockers Kulululu bring their shapeshifting sounds to Rontoms to head up the latest installment of Sunday Sessions, with indie rock and power-pop outfit Liquid Light rounding out the bill. (Sun Sept 22, 8 pm, Rontoms, free)
Sisters, Ben Zaidi
Seattle-based disco-pop duo Sisters bring their infectious and bubbly sounds back down the I-5 to celebrate the release of their latest EP, We Can Get Together at the Liquor Store. Fellow Seattle electronic artist Ben Zaidi and Portland's own Seance Crasher round out the proceedings. (Sun Sept 22, 9 pm, The Liquor Store, $10)
Depressed Cake Pop-Up Shop
The Portland chapter of Depressed Cake Shop hosts several pop-ups every year to raise awareness of mental health with baked goods. All treats are donated by local bakers and colored black and gray on the outside (and sometimes colorful on the inside) as a representation of mental health issues. The Portland pop-up benefit Baby Blues Connection, which serves mothers and families navigating perinatal mood disorders. (Sun Sept 22, 1 pm, Opal 28, free)
The Dalharts, Golden Calves, Horse Pills
The Fixin' To serves up a full-dose of rockabilly and country courtesy of the Dalharts, Golden Calves, and Horse Pills. (Mon Sept 23, 8 pm, The Fixin' To, $7)
Golden Retriever, Pungent
Portland's Golden Retriever put on one of the most mesmerizing live shows you'll ever come across. Tonight the duo (consisting of modular synth player Matt Carlson and bass clarinetist Jonathan Sielaff) head up an intimate hometown show at Dynasty, with newly-minted local outfit Pungent (featuring members of Martha Stax, Dreckig, Deathlist, and Sama Dams) rounding out the bill and making their live debut. (Tues Sept 24, 8 pm, Killingsworth Dynasty, $7)
Chuck Mead
The Kansas-haling/Nashville-based singer/songwriter brings his blend of country, Americana, and rockabilly to town to head up a free in-store performance supporting his latest album, Close to Home. (Tues Sept 24, 6 pm, Music Millennium, free)
Naomi Klein, Thom Hartmann
The bestselling author of The Shock Doctrine and This Changes Everything returns with On Fire, exploring the dire state of our current climate crisis, and putting forth a call to arms for a Green New Deal which could counter impending disasters and in turn bring about a thriving society. Klein will be joined in conversation by Thom Hartmann, radio host and author of The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment. (Wed Sept 25, 7 pm, Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, free)
Sama Dams, Illegal Son, Sheers
Local R&B and indie rock shapeshifters Sama Dams head up a hometown show at Mississippi Studios, with fellow Portland-based outfits Illegal Son (AKA Denzel Mendoza) and Sheers (AKA Lily Breshears) rounding out the $5 bill. (Wed Sept 25, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, $5)
The Cool Kids Patio Show
The Doug Fir's free, outdoor comedy and music showcase takes control of the patio for the final show of the season, with performances from Ben Harkins, Amanda Arnold, Shain Brendan, and Jordan Casner. Hosted by Nariko Ott. (Thurs Sept 26, 6 pm, Doug Fir, free)
Guillotine Boys, Abronia, Blesst Chest
Portland trio Guillotine Boys bring their psych-infused folk out to Dynasty to head up a hometown show. Fellow local experimental rock shapeshifters Abronia and Blesst Chest round out the bill. (Thurs Sept 26, 8 pm, Killingsworth Dynasty, $7)
There's even more to do in our Cheap, Free, & Fun calendar, and don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!
