demo

Thursday, November 13, 2025

McMenamins Presents

Emily Scott Robinson

Andrea von Kampen

7pm doors, 8pm show

All ages welcome

Share this event

Add to Calendar

Emily Scott Robinson

Folk & Americana

Emily Scott Robinson

Colorado songwriter Emily Scott Robinson beckons to those who are lost, lonely, or learning the hard way with American Siren, her first album for Oh Boy Records. With hints of bluegrass, country, and folk, the eloquent collection shares her gift for storytelling through her pristine soprano and the perspective of her unconventional path into music.

"I think that the thread running through the album is those things that call to us, and how we can't resist that call," she says. "It's about the siren songs that come up through our lives."

Though not fully autobiographical, American Siren gracefully blends imagined characters with meaningful people she's encountered on her journey. Showcasing her ability as a storyteller, "If Trouble Comes a Lookin'" invents a scene where a vulnerable priest and an unhappy wife meet in an Arkansas hotel bar. "Hometown Hero" is an emotional tribute to her cousin, a veteran lost to suicide. "Lost Woman's Prayer" stems from the words of a sage friend she met while traveling abroad, while "Every Day in Faith" is a personal testament to seeing things through.

As the album's lead track, "Old Gods" carries the siren concept to its fullest potential with beautiful three-part female harmony; she originally wrote it for a community production of Macbeth. Meanwhile, "Things You Learn the Hard Way" was completed after asking for relevant scenarios from her social media followers. Yet there's a part of her own life in every song, too. That's especially true in "Cheap Seats," about a distracted waitress who's bound (someday) to realize her dreams. Robinson wrote it after seeing John Prine and Bonnie Raitt sing together at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2019.

"If you make music that you love that tells the truth, or that tells a story, everything emanates from what you have inside," she says. "I knew at the core that I love writing, I love telling stories and I love performing. I knew if I just kept doing that, even when I didn't always know what the next step was, that it would continue to grow and that the people who were meant to be a part of that would find me."

Robinson grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and turned toward guitar at age 13, after a summer camp counselor closed out the nights by playing songs by Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, and Dar Williams every night. She taught herself to play in the early 2000s by printing guitar tabs from the internet and singing to CDs by Indigo Girls and James Taylor. But she didn't pursue songwriting until after seeing Nanci Griffith perform in Greensboro in 2007.

"I went home and I wrote a really sad, beautiful country song," Robinson remembers. "I was like, ‘Wow, that was easy.' And then I kept trying to write through college and I realized, ‘This is not actually that easy.'"

Graduating from Furman University with degrees in history and Spanish, Robinson took a job as a social worker and translator in 2011. "I moved to Telluride when I was 24 to work as a victim's advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault," she says. "I fell in love with Telluride. That's really where my dream started to be born of doing music."

In 2013, she found kindred spirits at Planet Bluegrass' The Song School, a songwriting retreat in Lyons, Colorado, where other participants encouraged her talent, and just as importantly, showed her that being a touring musician could be a viable financial option. Before temporarily moving away from Telluride, Robinson went into town and sat on the empty stage where the city's annual bluegrass festival is staged, promising herself that she'd be singing on it someday.

Bolstered by the positive response of her 2016 debut album, Magnolia Queen, Robinson and her husband packed everything into an RV and hit the road, with Robinson booking her own shows along the way. That same year, her songwriting landed her among the Kerrville New Folk Winners at the esteemed Texas festival. The winners embarked on an eight-city tour of Texas that fall, introducing Robinson to an audience that remains invested in her career.

"That was my first time touring," she says. "It was so much more fun than I thought it would be. I'm a homebody and I was anxious about it because I hadn't done it. I thought it would run me ragged. What I didn't account for was how much energy I would get from it and how great it would feel to get in touring shape and be singing every night and have my stories be super on-point and loving the experience of finding an audience."

Robinson received significant acclaim for her 2019 album, Traveling Mercies. And her long-held dream came true later that year when she sang on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival stage as the winner of the Telluride Troubadour Contest. A poignant standalone single in 2020, titled "The Time for Flowers," prompted a private Instagram message from Oh Boy Records' Jody Whelan, letting her know how meaningful the song was to his family. They struck up a fast friendship, then decided to partner for a release of American Siren.

"It is bigger and riskier and more expansive than my last collection," Robinson says. "It feels like I wrote some songs that I'm going to grow into as I continue to perform them. I actually cried after I finished every one of them. I was so relieved that I was able to write them. I carved out a little more of my own experiences into these songs. They're excavating some deeper stuff than I've touched on before. I think they will have a healing quality for people who listen."

For her fans and for herself, this revealing collection proves that heeding the call to make music was the right decision. "Ever since this dream was born, I don't think it's ever left my mind," Robinson says. "I've worked toward it every day, even when I felt like I was stumbling in the dark. Now I can look back and see how beautifully it all knits together."

Andrea von Kampen

Andrea von Kampen

Deemed "a fine singer with guitar work reminiscent of the cult hero Nick Drake" by the New York Times, ??singer-songwriter, Andrea von Kampen is known for her captivating melodies and introspective storytelling. von Kampen's most recent, third full-length record, "Sister Moon" was released on March 15th, 2024, and focuses on themes of climate change, the connectedness of nature, and the stories of Richard Powers.

Under the Radar said, "Sister Moon finds von Kampen in a meditative and naturalistic mood...[it] feels equally earthen and spiritual, grounded in von Kampen's intricate guitar work and elevated with her swooning melodies."

Andrea's previous releases include the 2022 film soundtrack and acting debut "A Chance Encounter," and a 2021 album "That Spell," both released on Fantasy Records. von Kampen independently released a handful of EPs and her debut album "Old Country" in 2019.

Sharing the stage with an impressive array of artists, including The Tallest Man on Earth, Trampled by Turtles, Watchhouse, Punch Brothers, The Wood Brothers, Bonny Light Horseman, Darlingside, Lief Vollebekk, and many others, von Kampen has established herself on the road. She has performed in renowned music festivals such as The Newport Folk Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.

 

Events

About Mission Theater

Experience a slice of Portland history. What is now known simply as “the Mission” was originally home to the Swedish Mission Covenant congregation in the early 20th century, and despite its staid, buttoned up appearance, this place now hosts live music, video dance nights and special events on select nights each month. 

For ADA accommodations please contact us by email at boxoffice@mcmenamins.com. Please note we are only able to accommodate in this section until it is at capacity.

House Rules

As our guest, please respect the house and ensure the safety and comfort of those around you by observing our House Rules. 
  • Backpacks are not permitted.
  • Re-entry policy is determined on the day of the show, and we can't guarantee that re-entry will be permitted.
PATRONS WILL BE DENIED ENTRY OR WILL BE ESCORTED OUT OF THE BUILDING WITHOUT REFUND OF TICKET IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IS OBSERVED:
  • Possession or use of illegal substances
  • Possession or use of permanent markers or paint pens
  • Possession of any type of weapon
  • Possession or use of false identification
  • Willful damage to the property
  • Cursing or verbal harassment towards other customers or staff
  • Inconsiderate behavior towards other customers or staff
  • Any form of inappropriate, racial or physical harassment , including displaying symbols that the venue deems to be threatening
  • Intoxication before entry
  • Consumption of any alcoholic beverage not purchased on premise
  • Smoking in non-designated areas
  • Violence of any nature
  • Thank you for your help in making the Mission Theater safe, comfortable and fun for all.

Box Office

Box Office Information
Tickets for all McMenamins shows are ticketed by Cascade Tickets, and may be purchased at the Crystal box office (located under the Crystal's awning), by phone at 1-855-CAS-TIXX, or by clicking the "Buy Tickets" link located at the event listing on our schedules.
 
Tickets bought directly at the Crystal box office or any of our ticket outlets will only incur a $2 facility charge. (Please note! Tickets to Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn will incur additional service fees.)
 
Resend Ticket Confirmation Email
 
Crystal Ballroom Box Office Hours
1 hour before door time on concert days only
 
Will Call
Will call is located at the box office.
 
Refunds
Refund requests may be directed to refunds@etix.com. If a show is cancelled or rescheduled, ticketholders will be emailed with their refund options. We will also post show information on our website (crystalballroompdx.com) and social media platforms. 
 
Accessibility
For ADA accommodations please contact us by email at boxoffice@mcmenamins.com. Please note we are only able to accommodate in this section until it is at capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have questions about your box office and ticketing … where do I find that info?
Scroll up and check out our Box Office info! If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, you might find your answer below, and if not then feel free to shoot us an email.

What seating is available?
The Mission Theater specializes in open-floor shows, but also has a mezzanine on three sides with seating throughout. Occasionally the main floor will feature seating as well, and we will indicate this by referring to the event as a “seated event.”

The mezzanine sounds cool! Can I reserve seats there? 
No, our seats are all first-come, first-served. 
 
I don’t like to buy tickets online; where can I buy in person at the Mission? 
The Mission does not have its own outlet, but tickets for Mission shows (and any McMenamins music events) are available at the location described above in the Box Office section. 
 
Help, I can’t find my tickets! Can you resend/email them to me?
Even better, just go to www.etix.com/ticket/resend and provide your email address as well as the last 4 digits of the card used for purchase. A ticket confirmation will be sent to you.
 
I have a printed at home ticket … can you just scan the original email from my phone? 
We’re able to scan ticket barcodes from most phones…. Make sure your brightness is turned up for best results! If that doesn’t work we will be able to enter your ticket’s order number into the system and get you into the show that way. 
 
I can’t make the show; can I get a refund? 
We are not able to offer refunds. If you opted to purchase insurance through our ticketing company as part of your ticket purchase, you should have received an email from Allianz Global  Assistance and you can file a claim with them directly. You are also welcome to sell your tickets.

Someone sold two tickets to me for tomorrow's show. When I arrive at the venue, will there be any issues since I wasn't the original buyer? 
We are unable to determine the validity of third party tickets. Also, a ticket may be scanned only once for entry. If your ticket was purchased from someone who sold the tickets to multiple parties, only the first person who shows up will be granted entry. 

Are there still tickets / VIP tickets to a show?
You can check this by finding the show on the Mission Theater online calendar and clicking the ticket link, where availability information will be displayed. 
 
I couldn’t get a ticket for a sold-out show. Is there any way I can get one?
The best we can say is that sometimes the artist or promoter will release some tickets that they’ve been holding onto. We can’t predict, however, if or when that might happen. 
 
How do you accommodate for ADA?
For ADA accommodations please contact us by email. Please note we are only able to accommodate until the ADA section is at capacity.

I understand there are stairs leading into the Mission’s main floor. Do you have accessibility options? 
Yes, we are wheelchair accessible. We have a ramp leading to our side entrance on 17th Avenue; just let security at the front door know you need ramp access. 
 
Can I bring my camera to a show? 
While we don’t have specific house policy, we do enforce the band’s policies, and we don’t typically know those policies until the day of the show. Usually only phones or small handheld cameras are allowed, but all attendees are subject to the stipulations from the band. Professional camera gear is almost never permitted. 
 
Are Light Gloves allowed?
Yes.

 Is there a coat check?
There is no coat check at the Mission Theater. 
 
What’s your re-entry policy?
Due to a variety of factors in play for each performance, re-entry policy is determined on the day of the show, and we can’t guarantee that re-entry will be permitted. Please see our House Rules (above) for additional important entry-based information.
 
I’m interested in performing at your venue; who can I contact?
You can email booking@mcmenamins.com.
 
I want to work at the Mission Theater! 
We want to hear from you! Please check out our employment page and apply there!
 
I want to hold a private event in that glorious space!
Please visit our private event page for details! We have a dedicated staffer that can help with weddings, meetings, parties, you name it!
 
What is the venue capacity?
300 standing, 200 seated
 
Do you have air conditioning?
We do indeed have air conditioning, but there’s a LOT of air in the room and it can be tricky to keep the space cool. We set up water stations at our shows, and you are permitted to bring your own empty water bottle to fill there so you can stay hydrated. 
 
How do I get my McMenamins passport stamped?
Mission Theater stamps are only provided at the bar in the venue, and you must attend an event in order to receive one! If there’s no show or a show is sold out then you’re out of luck for that night, so plan ahead and pick a show from our fine selection of upcoming events! Another option is to wait for our occasional open houses or other free events, as we issue stamps for those events as well. 

History

The location that serves as one of McMenamins favorite neighborhood theater pubs was the locus of great spiritual zeal beginning in the 1890s. That's when the Swedish Evangelical Mission established its church here....

From a church to a theater-pub to event space, the Mission's history ain't exactly saintly. Click here for more info!

Photos

Use the arrows to scroll through the photos, or click on any image to view the gallery in flickr.


Best of McMenamins Mission Theater

Contact Us  |  Join Our List  |  Passport Program  |  Music Booking Inquiry  |  Employment (Español) |  Privacy Policy  |  Accessibility  |  Gift Cards  |  Donations

Site handcrafted in Ashland, Oregon by Project A

Daily Fresh Sheet

Copyright © 2017-2025 McMenamins Inc. All rights reserved.