Rebels and rockers in Portland, Oregon

“What really makes Portland’s music scene unique is that it’s heavily DIY. My family was part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804. It wasn’t easy for them to get to the Pacific Northwest; the people who made it here were rugged individualists.that mentality remains today. We’re all just a bunch of pirates and adventurers; except now, we’re making music instead of exploring the world.

The identity of this town comes from these renegade artists, and the music you’ll hear is so eclectic. In terms of the venues I frequent, there’s Lollipop Shoppe, where you’ll find outsider music and heavy metal.there could even be a square-dancing night. Laurelthirst Pub is the first place that I played with The Dandywarhols; it’s a tiny bar geared towards alt-country. Mississippi Studios and the Alberta Street Pub are other great options.then there are places like Bunk Bar – a sandwich shop by day that has great shows at night.

Pickathon, just outside town, is one of the coolest festivals in the world: you camp up in the woods and DJS play vinyl sets in between the bands performing. It’s zero waste, too.we’ve also got amazing record stores here – vinyl is alive and well. Music Millennium is the king of them all, then you have smaller ones like Jump Jump Music, which is mostly soul records.” Musician and Oregon native Zia Mccabe plays keyboard for alt-rock band The Dandy Warhols.