Music Fest NW 2011 Preview

Alongside the (commercial) rise of indie-rock in the nineteen-nineties, certain cities in America became billed as the new capitals of the alt-world. Mostly they were college towns, like Providence, Rhode Island (home of the ‘indie Ivy’, Brown) or Austin, Texas (riding the internet boom more than anywhere outside of the Bay Area). But the city that seemed to encapsulate it best was Portland, Oregon.

The dream of the nineties may have died out in the wake of one Austin’s nineties resident moving east a decade ago, but it is still alive in Portland (as the rest of the country was informed on IFC’s Portlandia). And waving the alt-flag as high as any other festival outside of Austin is Portland’s Music Fest NW. The city, industry compliment at the end of summer to Washington State’s outdoor Sasquatch! Music Festival (QRO recap) at the beginning, MFNW welcomes musicians from the Pacific Northwest and beyond at venues across the city for five days:

Wednesday,9/7

Thursday,9/8

Friday,9/9

Saturday,9/10

Sunday,9/11

Here’s a handy map of the participating venues:

View QRO Magazine 2011 MFNW Preview Map in a larger map

QRO Recommendation

Wednesday, September 7th

The Kills Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave., Suite 130 (21+)
9:00 PM – The Heligoats
10:00 PM – Kelly Blair Bauman
11:00 PM – Sean Flinn & The Royal We
12:00 AM – Crooked Fingers (album review)

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Mini Mansions
9:00 PM – Eleanor Friedberger (photos)
10:00 PM – The Kills (live review, live review, SXSW coverage, SXSW coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos)

You know where everyone’s gonna be at MFNW Day One – Crystal Ballroom for leading ladies like Eleanor Friedberger (of Friendly Fires – QRO photos) and Allison Mosshart of The Kills.

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – Hungry Ghost
10:00 PM – Hurry Up
11:00 PM – The Corin Tucker Band

Thursday, September 8th

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St. (all ages)
10:30AM – Little Dragon
12:30PM – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (live review, album review, photos, photos)
2:30PM – Sebadoh (live review, album review, photos)
4:30PM – Blind Pilot (photos)

Seattle independent radio station KEXP will be broadcasting live from Doug Fir Lounge, during the day, Thursday-Saturday of MFNW – and they’ll be having MFNW playing, so hit up Doug Fir during the day for free performances by the artists you might miss at night at MFNW.

Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. (all ages)
6:00 PM – The Joy Formidable (live review, live review, Osheaga coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, video)
7:30 PM – Brand New (photos)

Kick off your Day Two of MFNW ’11 with Wales’ excellent & exciting The Joy Formidable.

Aladdin Theater, 3017 Southeast Milwaukee Ave. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Monarques
9:00 PM – Dennis Coffey
10:30 PM – Charles Bradley (photos)

Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Breakfast Mountain
9:00 PM – Suuns (Osheaga coverage, photos, photos, photos)
10:00 PM – Talkdemonic (photos)
11:00 PM – Handsome Furs (album review, album review, 80/35 coverage, photos, photos, photos, photos)

Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave., Suite 130 (21+)
9:00 PM – Greylag
10:00 PM – Thousands
11:00 PM – Dolorean
12:00 AM – Damien Jurado (MFNW coverage, photos)
Handsome Furs
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Viva Voce
9:00 PM – Sebadoh (live review, album review, photos)
10:30 PM – Archers of Loaf (Sasquatch! coverage, photos)

The dream of the nineties is very alive at Crystal Ballroom, with the alt-reunions of Archers of Loaf & Sebadoh.

Dante’s, 350 W. Burnside (21+)
9:00 PM – Nether Regions
10:00 PM – Witch Mountain
11:00 PM – Black Cobra
12:00 AM – Kylesa

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St. (21+)
9:00 PM – Brainstorm
10:00 PM – Purity Ring
11:00 PM – White Arrows (Sasquatch! coverage, photos)
12:00 AM – Phantogram (MFNW coverage, North Coast coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos)

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Mnemonic Sounds
9:00 PM – Dirty Mittens
10:00 PM – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (live review, album review, photos, photos)
11:00 PM – Little Dragon

Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. (21+)
9:00 PM – Sun Angle
10:00 PM – Blouse
11:00 PM – Twin Sister (album review, photos)
12:00 AM – EMA

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – UME (Kanrocksas coverage)

10:00 PM – The Needful Longings
11:00 PM – Richmond Fontaine (MFNW coverage, photos)
12:00 AM – You Am I

Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave. (all ages)
9:00 PM – Dirty Ghosts
10:00 PM – Thrones
11:00 PM – Butthole Surfers

But if you want a real blast from the past, look no further than Butthole Surfers…

Friday, September 9th

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St. (all ages)
10:30 AM – The Horrors (live review, album review, album review, photos)
12:30 PM – Dan Mangan (Sasquatch! coverage, MFNW coverage, album review, photos, photos)
2:30 PM – Typhoon (live review, Osheaga coverage, photos)
4:30 PM – Rhett Miller

Pioneer Courthouse Square, 715 SW Morrison St. (all ages)

5:00 PM – Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
6:00 PM – Marketa Irglova
7:30 PM – Iron & Wine (Sasquatch! coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos)

Start off the weekend out at Pioneer Courthouse Square, with the major voices of Iron & Wine and Marketa Irglova (of Once & The Swell Season – QRO photos outdoors).

Aladdin Theater, 3017 Southeast Milwaukee Ave. (all ages)

9:00 PM – Anais Mitchell
10:00 PM – Joe Pug
11:00 PM – Horse Feathers

Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St. (21+)
8:00 PM – The Thornes
9:00 PM – Wizard Rifle
10:00 PM – Diesto
11:00 PM – Rabbits
12:00 AM – Zeke

Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives
9:00 PM – The Globes
10:00 PM – P.S. I Love You (Osheaga coverage, SXSW coverage, Northside coverage, photos, photos, photos)
11:00 PM – The Thermals (MFNW coverage, SXSW coverage, SXSW coverage, album review, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos)

Check out the blowin’ up-and-deservin’ it P.S. I Love You; skip the blown up-and-don’t deserve it Thermals.

P.S. I Love You Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave. (all ages)
9:00 PM – REPORTER
10:00 PM – Super Melody
11:00 PM – Purple and Green
12:00 AM – Glass Candy

Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave., Suite 130 (21+)
9:00 PM – Mission Spotlight
10:00 PM – Mbilly
11:00 PM – Old Light
12:00 AM – Centro-Matic

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St. (all ages)
9:00 PM – WEINLAND
10:00 PM – Sharon Van Etten (Sasquatch! coverage, Cross Linx coverage, CMJ coverage, Northside coverage, album review, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos)
11:00 PM – Blitzen Trapper (live review, Osheaga coverage, ACL coverage, album review, album review, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, video, video)

Are Blitzen Trapper going to follow fellow Pacific Northwest locals & alt-country friends Fleet Foxes (QRO photos, opening for BP) to the big-time?

Dante’s, 350 W. Burnside (21+)
Sharon Van Etten 9:00 PM – Hawkeye
10:00 PM – Dirty Beaches (photos, photos)
11:00 PM – The Stepkids
12:00 AM – The Horrors (live review, album review, album review, photos)

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St. (21+)
9:00 PM – Pickwick
10:00 PM – Lost Lander
11:00 PM – AgesandAges (SXSW coverage)
12:00 AM – GIVERS

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Elitist
9:00 PM – Transient
10:00 PM – A Storm of Light
11:00 PM – Pig Destroyer

Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. (21+)
Blitzen Trapper 9:00 PM – Wampire
10:00 PM – Deelay Ceelay
11:00 PM – Mad Rad (Sasquatch! coverage, photos)
12:00 AM – The Hood Internet (CMJ coverage, photos)

Dance scene at Holocene!

Jimmy Mak’s, 221 NW 10th Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – John Heart Jackie

9:45 PM – Celilo
10:30 PM – Holcombe Waller

12:00 AM – Y La Bamba (SXSW coverage, photos)

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – Caleb Klauder
10:00 PM – Fernando
11:00 PM – Dan Mangan (Sasquatch! coverage, MFNW coverage, album review, photos, photos)
12:00 AM – Rhett Miller

Check out some troubadours at the ol’ Mississip’ (pi Studios).

Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave. (all ages)

8:00 PM – TxE
9:00 PM – Shabazz Palaces
10:00 PM – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Reptar Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – E Rock
10:00 PM – Natasha Kmeto
11:00 PM – Marius Libman
12:00 AM – The Gaslamp Killer

Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – The Music Tapes
10:00 PM – The Minders
11:00 PM – The Ladybug Transistor
12:00 AM – The Olivia Tremor Control

Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Ave. (21+)
8:00 PM – Archers
9:00 PM – BOAT
10:00 PM – Bare Wires
11:00 PM – Thee Oh Sees (Siren coverage, photos, photos, photos)

Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. (all ages)
9:00 PM – Reptar (Govenors Ball coverage, photos, photos)
10:30 PM – MSTRKRFT

Saturday, September 10th

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St. (all ages)
12:00 PM – The Antlers (live review, live review, live review, Sasquatch! coverage, Osheaga coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos)
1:30 PM – Explosions In the Sky (Primavera Sound coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos)
3:00 PM – Avi Buffalo (Osheaga coverage, HoH coverage, MFNW coverage, photos, photos, photos, photos)
4:30 PM – The Moondoggies (Sasquatch! coverage, photos)

If you don’t have a ticket for Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday, hit up Doug Fir Lounge early for expansive Explosions In the Sky & The Antlers for free.

Pioneer Courthouse Square, 715 SW Morrison St. (all ages)

4:00 PM – Eluvium
5:00 PM – Typhoon (live review, Osheaga coverage, photos)
6:00 PM – The Antlers (live review, live review, live review, Sasquatch! coverage, Osheaga coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos)
7:30 PM – Explosions In the Sky (Primavera Sound coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos)

Pioneer Courthouse Square goes expansive on Saturday.

The Antlers

Aladdin Theater, 3017 Southeast Milwaukee Ave. (all ages)

8:00 PM – Emily Wells
9:00 PM – Lifesavas
10:00 PM – Portland Cello Project (MFNW coverage, photos)

Ash Street Saloon, 225 SW Ash St. (21+)
9:00 PM – Eternal Tapestry
10:00 PM – White Hills
11:00 PM – Sleepy Sun
12:00 AM – Pierced Arrows

Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave. (all ages)
Explosions In the Sky 8:00 PM – Wild Ones
9:00 PM – Death Songs
10:00 PM – Rebecca Gates
11:00 PM – Ted Leo (MFNW coverage, Siren coverage, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos)

Branx, 320 SE 2nd Ave. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Onuinu
9:00 PM – Bobby Birdman (photos)
10:00 PM – Jeffrey Jerusalem
11:00 PM – YACHT (spotlight on, interview, live review, live review, FFF coverage, album review, album review, photos, photos, photos, photos, photos, video)

I Believe In YACHT. Their Magic Is Real.

Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave., Suite 130 (21+)
YACHT 9:00 PM – Kelli Schaefer
10:00 PM – Quiet Life
11:00 PM – The Romany Rye
12:00 AM – The Moondoggies (Sasquatch! coverage, photos)

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Black Prairie
9:00 PM – Alela Diane
10:00 PM – Avi Buffalo (Osheaga coverage, HoH coverage, MFNW coverage, photos, photos, photos, photos)
11:00 PM – Blind Pilot (photos)

Dante’s, 350 W. Burnside (21+)
9:30 PM – 1-2 Buckle My Shoe
10:00 PM – CJ and the Dolls
11:00 PM – Serious Business
12:00 AM – DJ Beyonda
1:00 AM – Big Freedia (photos)

Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St. (21+)
9:00 PM – The We Shared Milke
10:00 PM – Youth
11:00 PM – And And And
12:00 AM – Helio Sequence (MFNW coverage, Siren coverage, album review, photos, photos, photos, video)

Hawthorne Theatre, 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd. (all ages)
8:00 PM – The Leaders
9:00 PM – Mean Jeans
10:00 PM – Poison Idea
11:00 PM – OFF! (CMJ coverage, photos)

Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. (21+)
9:00 PM – E3
10:00 PM – CHAACH!!!
OFF! 11:00 PM – The Incredible Kid
12:00 AM – Zuzuka Poderosa
1:00 AM – DJ Anjali

Jimmy Mak’s, 221 NW 10th Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – Violet Isle
10:00 PM – The Angry Orts
11:00 PM – Archaeology
12:00 AM – The Dimes

Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – Drunk Ladies
10:00 PM – Heavy Cream
11:00 PM – RTX
12:00 AM – Ty Segall (photos)

Rontoms, 600 E Burnside (21+)

8:00 PM – Boy Eats Drum Machine
9:00 PM – Finn Riggins
10:00 PM – Loch Lomond
11:00 PM – Jared Mees & The Grown Children

Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave. (all ages)
8:00 PM – Akimbo
9:00 PM – YOB
Dam-Funk 10:00 PM – Grails (album review)
11:00 PM – Neurosis

Rotture, 315 SE 3rd Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – Crypts
10:00 PM – Soft Kill
11:00 PM – Dangerous Boys Club
12:00 AM – The Soft Moon

Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave. (21+)
9:00 PM – Crown Point
10:00 PM – Kasey Anderson & The Honkies
11:00 PM – New York Rifles
12:00 AM – Ravishers
1:00 AM – Priory

Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Ave. (21+)
8:00 PM – Tyler Tastemaker
8:45 PM – devonwho (MFNW coverage, photos)
9:45 PM – Emancipator
11:00 PM – Dam Funk & The Master Blazter (photos, photos)