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Summer Concert Round-Up
Savor Portland’s glorious summer with outdoor concerts ranging from multi-day festivals to free noon shows in the park.
It takes a fair amount of rain to keep Portland’s trees green and flowers blooming, so by June, we’re all more than ready for a long string of warm, sunny days. That pent-up desire for sunny weather may explain our skill at making the most of the long days and warm nights with outdoor concerts. Come summertime, Portland overflows with things to do — especially when it comes to music. Discover some of our favorite summer concert series in The Rose City.
Noon Tunes
June–July
For decades, Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland has hosted Noon Tunes, a free lunchtime concert series. In 2024 the series expands to include 16 free concerts, taking place every Tuesday and Thursday from June 4–July 30. Bring your own brown bag lunch or buy something to eat at one of the Square’s food carts, then grab a seat on the brick steps to enjoy some midday music.
Summertime Shows
Discover the sounds of summer at these annual concert series around Portland.
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
With acts that have ranged from Phoebe Bridgers to Stevie Wonder, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and a hot ticket for cool nights.
Pickathon Music Festival
Every August, Pickathon draws diverse musical performers to celebrate music and the outdoors at the lush Pendarvis Farm just outside of Portland.
Chamber Music Northwest’s Summer Festival
Chamber Music Northwest’s annual summer festival combines high-caliber classical music with a laid-back atmosphere.
Zoo Nights at the Oregon Zoo
June–August
The concerts on the lawn at the Oregon Zoo span summer and the decades. Having undergone a recent transformation, 2024 brings Friday evenings of fun from mid-June to late August, with live music on the lawn at 6:30 p.m. and activities from 5:30 p.m. Advanced tickets (sold separately) must be purchased online.
Americana Harvest Fest
June–August
Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island is the site for the newly expanded Americana Harvest Fest. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by farm animals, u-pick fields, and the market bar and grill.
Waterfront Blues Festival
July 4–7
For 37 years, the Waterfront Blues Festival has brought some of the world’s best blues, funk and soul music to the banks of the Willamette River. The view is stellar and the music is celebratory at Tom McCall Waterfront Park making this festival the perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July Weekend.
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival
July 19–21
You can experience history at the longest-running jazz and blues festival west of the Mississippi River. Cathedral Park is the stunning setting for this free concert series beneath the St. Johns Bridge.
Portland Festival Symphony
July
Every summer, the Portland Festival Symphony returns with free weekend concerts performed by a full symphony orchestra. These concerts occur in some of the city’s most gorgeous public parks, so bring your picnic blankets and baskets for a perfect summer evening.
Project Pabst
July
Project Pabst is a two-day, two-stage adults-only concert/party featuring big name acts that span the decades from Billy Idol and Violent Femmes to Big Thief and Denzel Curry. Single-day or two-day passes are required. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
Music on Main
July–August
Held every Wednesday evening from July 10–August 28 next to downtown Portland’s historic Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Music on Main fills the city center with the sounds of live music. Food and drink are available for sale, but seating is limited (so arrive early!).
Summer Free for All Concerts in the Park
July–August
Portland Parks and Recreation’s Summer Free for All program includes the popular free concerts in public parks around the city, held almost every night in July and August. Enjoy live music along with local food carts and kid-friendly pop-up activities.
PDX Live Concert Series
August
Some big names in music descend on Pioneer Courthouse Square each August for PDX Live. The 2025 series opens with Royel Otis on August 6. A number of popular acts are scheduled to perform over the two-week run before the series wraps August 21 with a performance by The Roots.
Mentioned Elsewhere Online
City of Portland
Sounds of Summer
Find plenty of opportunities to hear live music this season.
Latino Cultural Festival
Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of Latin culture at the Annual Washington County Chamber — Unitus Community Credit Union Latino Cultural Festiva. This culturally rich event provides a platform for sharing information, connecting with the community, and promoting local businesses and non-profits to more than 10,000 attendees. The festivities will kick...
Waterfront Blues Festival
Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.
Americana Harvest Fest
Topaz Farm is excited to announce the 2025 Americana Harvest Fest series. The festival features a mix of nationally and internationally known folk, country, and bluegrass artists. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by farm animals, U-pick fields, and the market bar and grill. Come early to enjoy...
Mon Rovîa
Join Topaz Farm's kick-off of the 2025 America Harvest Fest series with a very special evening featuring Afro Appalachian folk artist, Mon Rovîa. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and soak in live music, surrounded by the natural beauty of Sauvie Island and the farm's wildflowers, animals, and U-pick fields. Come early to enjoy fresh-grilled...
The SteelDrivers
Join the farm for a special evening of bluegrass soul with Grammy Award winner, The SteelDrivers. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and soak in live music, surrounded by the natural beauty of Sauvie Island and the farm's wildflowers, animals, and U-pick fields. Come early to enjoy fresh-grilled farm food and local craft beer, cider,...
Blitzen Trapper
Portland's legendary Blitzen Trapper will bring their experimental Americana, psychedelia, and pop music for a special night on the farm. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by farm animals, U-pick fields, the market bar and grill. Come early to enjoy the farm, including the cow train, fresh...
The Milk Carton Kids
Get ready for a special evening on the farm with four-time Grammy Award-nominated artists, The Milk Carton Kids. The American indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, California began making music together in early 2011 and have recorded and released six albums. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by...
Josiah and the Bonnevilles with special guest, Philip Bowen
Get ready for an intimate evening of Folk, Americana and Country with Appalachian artists Josiah and the Bonnevilles, plus special guest, Philip Bowen. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by farm animals, U-pick fields, and the market bar and grill. Come early to enjoy the farm, fresh...
River Whyless
Join the farm for a special evening of Neo-Traditional Folk and folk-rock with River Whyless of Asheville, North Carolina. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by farm animals, U-pick fields, and the market bar and grill. Come early to enjoy the farm, fresh grilled farm food, craft...
PDX Live Concert Series
Pioneer Courthouse Square (The Square) and True West, one of the leading independent concert promoters and event producers in the Pacific Northwest, bring back the PDX LIVE concert series. Show schedule: August 6 – Royel Otis August 7 – Dinosaur Jr. and Snail Mail August 8 – Jamie xx August 9 – Waxahatchee August 11 – STRFKR &...
Dinosaur Jr. & Snail Mail
Dinosaur Jr. was founded in 1984, and the group emerged among the most highly regarded alternative rock groups. By reintroducing volume and attack in his songs, Mascis shed the strict limitations of early 1980s hardcore, influencing the burgeoning grunge movement. Mascis' work inspires a generation of guitar players and songwriters today. When the original lineup of...
Jamie xx
Jamie xx is a British composer, performer, music producer and artist, and one of three members of The xx. In 2015, he released his GRAMMY, Brit, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut solo album In Colour on Young. On September 20, 2024, nine years after the release of his globally revered debut album, Jamie...
Waxahatchee
One of the hardest-working singer-songwriters in the game is named Katie Crutchfield. She was born in Alabama and grew up near Waxahatchee Creek. Skipped town and struck out on her own as Waxahatchee. That was over a decade ago. Crutchfield says she never knew the road would lead her here, but after six critically acclaimed...
STRFKR & Phantogram
Starting under the head-turning moniker Starfucker, STRFKR is an indie electro band formed by Josh Hodges, a songwriter with an aptitude for breezy hooks. The project's dance-friendly eponymous debut appeared in 2008 and led to a record deal with Polyvinyl. Amidst regular lineup changes, the group cracked the Billboard 200 with their third full-length, 2013's...
Men I Trust
Men I Trust, a Canadian indie band formed in 2014, has quietly but profoundly left its mark on the music scene. Comprising Emma Proulx (guitar and vocals), Jessy Caron (guitar and bass), and Dragos Chiriac (keyboards), the trio’s enchanting sound, blending dream pop and indie elements, resonates with a global audience. Renowned for their hypnotic...
Shakey Graves and Trampled By Turtles
Across his career, Shakey Graves—a.k.a. the performance moniker of Austin, Texas-born Alejandro Rose-Garcia — has intentionally created thrilling musical adventures tailored to each fan: burning CDs and putting them in personalized decorated bags, building intricate scavenger hunts that send fans in search of unique tapes; and Bandcamp-exclusive releases. "The fans and musicians that really resonate...
Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals
Ben Harper is one of the premiere songwriters of his generation. He is also one of the most versatile and brave songwriters, fearlessly working in various genres, ranging from pop, reggae and soul to blues, rock, funk and folk. He has recorded 18 studio albums and amassed a worldwide following, having sold over 16 million...
The Roots
One of the most prolific rap groups, the Roots were also among the most progressive acts in contemporary music, from their 1993 debut through their conceptual 2010s releases. Despite the seemingly archaic practice of functioning as a rap band with several instrumentalists -- from 2007 onward, their lineup even featured a sousaphonist -- they were...
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