M. Ward will stop at Revolution Hall on May 14. Wrenne Evans
Happy Friday, fellow music nerds! Let’s get into some local music buzz, shall we?
Oregon-grown rapper Wynne, who recently put out her dazzling debut mixtape If I May, has announced she’s joining EarthGang on their “Mirrorland” tour next month! After a kick-off show in Seattle, Wynne, Mick Jenkins, Jordan Bryant, and EarthGang will play a sold-out Wonder Ballroom on Saturday, January 18. This is coming a month after Wynne’s hometown debut show at the Hawthorne Theatre on December 14, which, after making it a FREE-with-RSVP event recently, has sold out as well.
As Copy Chief Robert Ham reported earlier this week, local multi-instrumentalist/writer/recording engineer Lauren K. Newman has died at the age of 41. In addition to her solo act LKN, Newman played in multiple musical projects including experimental outfit Painted Debris, metal duo Palo Verde, and noise-rock band Lonesome Traveler. While the cause of her death is not yet known, friends and family of the artist say she had been battling health issues, including Crohn’s disease, for quite some time.
Singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette—the Queen of Alt-Rock, who brought us classics like “Ironic,” “Jagged Little Pill,” and “You Oughta Know”—is coming to Portland this June on a tour that’ll include support from rock band Garbage and singer/songwriter Liz Phair. Morissette’s tour is in support of her forthcoming album, Such Pretty Forks In the Road (due May 1), her first after a six-year hiatus. The artist also recently dropped “Reasons I Drink,” the first single from the project. Give it a spin in preparation for the return of Alanis. Tickets for her stop at Ridgefield (June 2) go on sale Tuesday, December 10 at 11 am.
Maroon 5 is also coming to town… which will either make you vomit a little in your mouth OR drum-up a defense of how the band’s 2002 debut Songs About Jane is actually pretty good, you guys! Adam Levine and company may have drifted into making some cringe-worthy pop (and yes, some cringe-worthy moments) in recent years, but every now and again they make another bop worth slapping, like their new, exceedingly sentimental single “Memories” , or 2015’s “Sugar.”
Portland-raised indie-folk artist M. Ward recently announced his new album Migration Stories will come out on April 3. He also dropped the lead single for the project, “Migration of Souls.” Of course Portland is on the list of tour dates, with M. Ward stopping at Revolution Hall on May 14.
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Hip-hop and R&B artist Dodgr—who recently relocated back to her hometown of LA after growing a career in Portland for the last few years—attended the Hollywood movie premiere for Disney’s Spies In Disguise—a first for the artist. Voice actors Will Smith and Tom Holland were also present. Dodgr is credited on the film’s soundtrack, on the movie’s theme song “Freak of Nature” with Mark Ronson; other artists on the soundtrack include Anderson .Paak and De La Soul. Spies In Disguise drops on Christmas day, but Mark Ronson Presents the Music of Spies in Disguise, an EP, releases on December 13.
On Cyber Monday, Pickathon—the Mercury’s favorite boutique music festival—announced a limited amount of its new Patron Pass, plus other changes to come in 2020. “The Patron Pass throws open the doors of Pickathon, giving you full backstage access to the festival so you can party with the artists,” reads a news release.
“Backstage at Pickathon has the best hangs, plus this grants you access to special side-viewing areas to beat the crowds and get closer to the performances. You’ll live the high life at the festival, with FREE food all weekend long and unlimited drinks at any bar! You’ll also gain access to additional stages where artists tape exclusive sessions (plus a schedule and map to find them).” The pass also includes express check-in, early Thursday entry, and first access to accommodations like glamping(!), RV, and car camping. Check out all the bells and whistles included in this $1250 ticket here.
That’s all for now. Enjoy your Spotify Wrapped stories, everyone!
