THURSDAY, Dec. 1
| $5 | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/events/ |
Northwood Cheer | Shoutout to Blue for consistently offering a good selection of beer, yummy burgers and a free live show almost every night of the week. It’s a cozy place to kick back and sample some live music you might never have heard before. Enveloping the space in warm, cheery vibes will be Northwood, an acoustic outfit built on strong and playful instrumentation and powerful three-part harmonies. They’ll play a sweet, easy-listening set that ranges from bluegrass, folk, country and Americana.
| FREE | 9:00 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |
FRIDAY, Dec. 2
| FREE | 5:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |
I’m Comin Over | To be honest, I know next to nothing about country singers, and even less about the big-stadium variety. Some crooning hunk (or so they say) named Chris Young is stopping by Portland as part of an impromptu 25 city tour. Before I’m tempted to slam the vapidness of modern country music, I’ll give this successful (and philanthropic) performer the benefit of the doubt and showcase his resume instead: seven number 1 singles, 14 Gold/Platinum certifications, rousing appearances on Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and a number 1 spot on the Billboard's Top Country Music Chart. Joining him for this night of big-hearted country will be Dustin Lynch and Cassadee Pope.
| $30 | 7:00 pm | Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Sq., Portland | http://www.chrisyoungcountry.com/events |
They're Back | Huge crowds came out to see the reunion of the New England jam band phenomenon Percy Hill back in June. The energy was so intense, that these improvisational rockers decided to recapture that and perform two more shows before they slink back into retirement. This spirited band that bloomed brightly in New Hampshire during the 90s are set to dazzle us one more time with a performance of their highly lauded production, Color In Bloom.
| $25 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |
Nostalgia Night | To this day, the Charlie Brown Christmas Show tugs on many a heartstring. The timelessly endearing tale of commercialism, scrawny Christmas trees and a round-headed hero will be recreated by local musicians Heather Pierson, Shawn Nadeau and Craig Bryan. With gentle jazz riffs and tickling piano notes, this trio will make you remember that oddly poignant cartoon.
| $22 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |
Too Many Santas | As they have for eight years, hundreds of festive folks dressed as Santas, Elves and Reindeer, will prance around downtown drinking and spreading holiday cheer. As they hop from bar to bar, their bellies will get rounder and their cheeks redder. Join this quirky crowd if you’re in the mood for some seasonal, jolly-filled fun.
| FREE | 4:00 pm | Downtown Portland | http://www.santaconpwm.com/ |
Back to the Future | Pull up some fishnets and crimp your hair for this concert that’s essentially a blast back to the 80s, a golden-era for live music. The Awesome, an ultimate party band will get the crowd dancing like maniacs and singing classic covers of Hall and Oates, T'pau, Wang Chung, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, INXS, Mr. Mister, Nu Shooz, Peter Gabriel, Madonna, Human League, Wham, Tears for Fears and Whitney Houston louder than they do! What better way to warm your cold bones than rattling them to some fiery 80s hits?
| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/event/the-awesome-9/ |
| $10 | 8:00 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/events/302030370180158/|
Stand Up for Standing Rock | Many locals are livid and distraught that the situation at Standing Rock hasn’t been resolved. Don’t believe the fake news; the Dakota Access Pipeline hasn’t been stopped and protestors are still being tortured with water cannons and pepper spray. Join other locals that are furious with the situation and committed to doing something to show solidarity, at this evening of hip-hop that’s aimed to raise money for this fight to defend the environment. Politically conscious and community oriented performers will take the stage and help spread the word against some fire beats. The bill includes Seth On Gray Street, Words Of Phrase, Hannah Harleen, Stay On Mars, aLunarLanding and more.
| $2-10 | 9:00 pm | Flask Lounge 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |
Pastoral Americana | Described as performing “a contemporary sound with ageless qualities” is Tall Heights a band that emerged at the perfect time, right when folk was becoming huge. “Tall Heights is staying true to their harmony, cello and guitar laden souls, while creating something indie, something chic, something new.” This arresting and hard to classify band will perform their latest album, Neptune a curious, lush collection of songs that features “pristine, emotive vocal harmonies, a chugging electric guitar, ethereal synthesizers and brittle splashes of percussion.” A Massachusetts-based, country-folk quintet called The Novel Ideas will open this concert and help listeners elevate their sonic palette.
| $15 | 9:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com/event/1295831-tall-heights-portland/ |
| FREE | 1:00 pm | Cellardoor Winery, 10 Thompson’s Point, Portland | http://mainewine.com/ |
| $8 | 7:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://space538.org/events |
Unstoppable Funk | The Brooklyn-based power funk outfit Turkuaz has injected some life into Portland’s streets with their epic performances many times now. They’ve only been around for about 4 years, but their rapid rise to relevance and track record of explosive festival appearances shows they’re a musical force to be reckoned with. For the uninitiated, expect “intricately arranged songs built on thick grooves that are driven by a powerhouse rhythm section and interlaced with swirling guitar and synth lines,” from this high=energy concert experience. The gritty, greasy and funky members of The New Mastersounds will also be there to help shake the floorboards.
| $22 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |
MONDAY, Dec. 5
| FREE | 5:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |
| $15 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |
| $10 | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |
National Parks Adventure | There’s a little adventurer hiding within us all, waiting in our subconscious and urging us to experience raw natural beauty and embark on majestic journeys through America’s wilderness. Or maybe that's just me. Anyway, I'm sure Robert Redford will coax the little guy out of you as he narrates a documentary titled National Parks Adventure. The travel bug will flare up again during this action packed film screening that takes viewers to untamed forests, red-rock canyons and craggy mountain peaks. Believe me, this film is meant to be viewed on the big screen. After the film, a discussion will be led by Lucas St. Clair, the man that helped convince President Obama to designate the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
| FREE | 6:30 pm | Maine College of Art, 522 Congress St., Portland | https://www.meca.edu/ |
| $23 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |
THURSDAY, Dec. 8
Chasing Ghosts | The wait is over. Johnny Clay Shanks will be out all night offering copies of his new album Chasing Ghosts in between performances. Originally from Texas, this local singer/songwriter has been making splashes in the scene (mostly with the Dapper Gents) showcasing his poetic, southern, “plain ol’ rock n’ roll” style. Although deeply rooted in the blues, Shank’s new work evokes vibes ranging from Hendrix to the Black Keys. Opening this album release party is Driving Charlie Home, a folk rock group from Damariscotta.
| $9 | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |