It would be hard for someone to argue against the statement that Portland has its quirks. When you throw in​ creative individuals who desire a strong sense of community, you get magic. You get someone like Bim Ditson. He's gone on to be one of the stand-out innovators in the Portland music and arts communities. His invention? Rigsketball (and lots of amazing music and chainmail accessories).

You might've seen Rigsketball before, especially if you hang around local music venues. There's only one brightly-painted van with a hoop attached. The game is seriously defined as "a yearly bracket style basketball tournament played between Portland bands at locations across the city on a regulation height hoop attached to the back of a van." What happens next? Music.

Semifinals and finals will occur in the parking lot of The East Portland Eagles Lodge this Friday, July 25th at 5pm​. Live performances by six of our favorite Portland artists, Bearcubbin', Sons of Huns, The Ghost Ease, And And And, Talkative and Old Age and they can be experienced between two stages. Everything is free. Everything. See you there.

Are you down with local music? Are you down with non-profits? As Portlanders, I think the answer is a resounding yes. 

PDX Pop Now! – Portland's non-profit of rock is celebrating the release of its annual compilation of local talent with a fundraising/concert extravaganza at Mississippi Studios THIS Sunday!

For those of the “below 21” persuasion – never fear. In true, punk rock fashion PDX Pop Now! is including an all ages portion of the event that starts on the Bar Bar patio at 2pm, featuring performances by New Move, Blak Neon, LEO and Natasha Kmeto and a DJ Set. The festivities subsequently move indoors for a 21+ set featuring Illmaculate, Bearcubbin'!, Sara Jackson-Holman and Hosannas.

According to PDX Pop, “all proceeds of this event will support the PDX Pop Now! mission to stimulate and expand participation in the Portland music scene” - an admirable cause to say the least, considering all the hard work this organization has done to support local art. From its early days as a listserv for Portland music lovers in 1998, PDX Pop Now! has grown into an “all-volunteer organization committed to…provid[ing] and support[ing] live performances and recorded materials.”

Listen to Hosannas for spiritual uplifting, check out the track list for the compilation and get a copy for yourself at Mississippi Studios this Sunday. 

- Ted Jamison