Portland's Folk Festival

Join us for a day of celebrating the craft of folk music at the 1st Annual Portland's Folk Festival at the The White Eagle.

This carefully curated lineup will highlight some of the best folk and americana acts that the West Coast has to offer.

Those Willows // WORTH // Onward, etc.
Pretty Gritty // Fox and Bones
Papa Bear and the Easy Love
Haley Johnsen Music // Elke Robitaille
I am Shane Brown // hammerhead
Benji Burgess // Hanna Haas

Those Willows

Portland based Indie Pop band Those Willows began almost 10 years ago in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. Since then, they have grown to a four piece band and evolved their sound with Motown, folk and soul influences.

With four releases, tours around the US, and songs appearing on MTV, VH1 and Bravo, Those Willows will hook you with their vice grip vocal harmonies and magnetic energy.

"SOUNDS LIKE: When young love works out, or the color lilac, or two velvet ribbons tying themselves into a bow." - Willamette Week

Website:

http://www.thosewillows.com

Worth

Bohemian Blues Hop

From the downbeat of the title track on WORTH's Pardon Me, the listener is in for a magical ride. This 3rd album fuses the depth and dynamic impact of modern sound with the soulful rawness of the old school. The music is both haunting and familiar, and touches the addictive vitality of that new thing you can't stop playing in your stereo. Pardon Me is WORTH in full stride.

The first thing you notice when listening to Christopher Worth is the undeniable quality of his voice: it is thick, sensual, raw, and honest. At times he expresses with the buttery richness of John Legend ("I Need You," "Tides"); at others with the feral range and force of Paul McCartney ("Care", "Bayou"). There are delicate moments, too, in which his singing is reminiscent of Amos Lee ("Glory") and even D'Angelo ("Lo and Behold"). At it's core, however, his voice is steeped in the spirit of the blues.

Christopher Worth grew up in the hip hop and r&b of the 90's and you can feel these always in the backbeat of Pardon Me. The performances are also laced with the freedom and expressiveness of rock and roll: drums hit aggressively and are consistently placed hot in the mix. Rhythmic pockets stay deep, vital, and at times delve into a more roots or folk vibe. The instrumental tones themselves are luscious and expansive. Through the course of the record the band explores mellow acoustic valleys, groovy backroads, and electrifying peaks culminating in the anthemic "Fallen Leaves." It is the sweet spot between these genres and dynamics that defines Worth's sound.

The quality of the performances is second only to the seasoned songwriting. "This record is the culmination of almost 10 years of work," says Worth, and this is readily apparent even on a first listen. The songs are tight and timeless while provocative and philosophical. From the lilting rise of "Stay Here With Me," to the smooth invitation of "Tides," to the jazzy hook of "I Need You," Worth's melodic construction entices and never feels imposed. The voices find their wings in soaring melodies and lyrics that resonate as organic and real. These compositions have come from a vast well of emotion and experience.

Led by an accomplished musician and songwriter, Pardon Me exemplifies the living journey. It is a fresh, undeniable work from a consummate artist.

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/weareworth

Website:

http://www.worth-music.com/

Onward, Etc.

Onward, etc. is a musical project put together by Rosco Wuestewald. Leaving the midwest at an early age, he started a journey traveling around the world which has developed into a project known as Onward, etc. The project connects musicians located throughout the country, enabling each tour and show be completely unique based on the different band members and the location of the stage. As with anything alive with electricity, permanent members have been picked up along the way. Wuestewald met violin player, KC Olsen, on an excursion in Hawaii in 2009. KC joined Rosco for a gig that evolved Onward, etc. into an unfaltering duo. Their live performances proved to be captivating as Wuestewald's voice carried out his heart wrenching lyrics accompanied by his punk rock roots and Olsen's stage jumping antics. Now in 2014 the band has picked up bassist Dave Edery (Dave Edery & The Scandaliers) hailing from the greats of Honolulu HI & a new percussionist Jon Via out of Columbus Ohio. The Onward, etc. project has been successful as the cyclone of musicians have acquired components and companions in nearly every state in the country. They have played with a dream-come-true list of bands featuring: Larry and His Flask, Skinny Lister, Lucero, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, The Goddamn Gallows, Reverend Horton Heat, Murder By Death and many more. They have been a part of Coachella, Bonnaroo, Floyd Fest, SummerFest, Vans Warped Tour, SE Alaskan State Fair, and venues both intimate and rowdy throughout the U.S. & Europe. This caught the eye of DC Jam Records who signed them in 2013. Onward, etc. lives by their name as they forge onward making a new album "Sonder On" with DC Jam Records and Derek Obrien (Social Distortion, D.O.B Sounds) They released the album in March 2014 and have been ripping up the road with it since. Successfully doing 3 US headlining tours and one European tour. As they march forcefully into the new year there are hints at a new release and lots and lots of touring to come!

"it is hard to grasp how a body in constant motion can be a unifying force. These guys are an example of such a force. Spinning through the world, half musicians, half tornadoes, they carry with them a uniquely contagious will to live. Not in the sense of staying alive - far from it - but rather in living each day fearlessly, creatively, spontaneously and generously. I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks on the road with them this year, and continue to find inspiration in their music."

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/onwardetc/

Pretty Gritty

Soulful Americana

"...the magic of their music is in the way opposites attract. His harmonies add a soulful bottom and her's a softer edge."-Adrienne Lawrence, Frederick News Post

"Pretty Gritty's Soulful Americana have been turning heads in the music world for more than two years, but it would seem their future is brighter than their already bright past."-Ken Frager, The Pulse

Pretty Gritty on the road

Pretty Gritty is the serendipitous joining of the talents of Blaine Heinonen and Sarah Wolff, both born and raised in Montgomery County, MD. Although they originate from different rock bands, fate brought them together at local "open-mic" nights, where it became evident that they shared an interest in writing and performing songs that mix country, rock, blues, and soul. It's said that she brings the "pretty" while he brings the "gritty", combining for an engaging alt-country duo with seducing harmonies and addicting acoustics.

In three years, Pretty Gritty has cultivated a unique sound allowing them to open for such acts as Joe Newberry, Tim O'Brian, Tony Trischka, Chris Eldridge, Josh Gracin, Larry the Cable Guy, and Lake Street Dive at renowned places like Music & Spirits at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Jammin Java, 8x10, Frederick Gone Country, the Virginia State Fair, and the Charm City Folk and Bluegrass Festival.

Pretty Gritty's debut album, featuring Keller Williams, won three IMC awards in 2012. Their outstanding live performance has earned them a reputation as a must-see musical act.

Now Blaine and Sarah have returned victorious from their first National Tour and are in the studio finishing up their new EP. This third recording project was made possible by their amazing fans and supporters via Kickstarter. Do yourself a favor, come experience Soulful Americana at its best.

Website:

www.prettygrittymusic.com

Fox and Bones

Fox and Bones is a conceptual folk collaboration between American songwriters Sarah Vitort and Scott Gilmore based in Portland, Oregon. The internationally touring folk duo combines lush harmonies and a complex, heartwarming lyrical landscape with soft-spoken yet rich musical accompaniment. They've been called "addictive like peanut butter" by European music blog Rockette and were voted runner up for Portland's Best Folk band by Willamette Week in 2017.

Vienna Wurstelstand gushes: "These two will lull you with their sweet and delicate melodies and woo you with their complex lyrics. Recommended if you like: making out slowly, folk and singer/songwriter tunes, music you can hum to."

Perhaps Luke Neill of Portland Radio Project sums it up best: "Their two voices meld so perfectly together that you never want to stop listening."

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FoxandBones/

Papa Bear and the Easy Love

Constantly striving to explore the boundaries and edges of human emotion, Papa Bear captures a deep perspective into the human experience. Lyrical content covers the gamut of mystery, beauty, and the comedy and tragedy of life. The musical lineage stems from the folk heritage, but ranges broadly.. from Americana and bluegrass, to blues, jazz, and good old rock'n'roll. PB and the Easy Love's shows typically end in a massive singalong, blurring the boundaries between performer and audience, and inviting all to express themselves.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PapaBearAndTheEasyLove/

Hanna Haas

Hanna Haas is a folk singer-songwriter based in Portland whose warm guitar and soft vocals carry songs that speak to the constant rising and falling of life and the eternal beauty of it all.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/hannahaasmusic/

Hammerhead

Based in Portland, Oregon, Hammerhead is the folk duo consisting of Tyler Robson and Andrew Harrison. This band came to fruition in 2015 as the pursuit to record and produce an album in Harrison's home studio. As their musical bonds grew, so did the music, and the desire to bring a live show became the bands next goal. Beginning with just a couple acoustic guitars, and honest lyrics, Hammerhead has blossomed into a full-fledged experience. Following the release of their self-recorded and produced EP, "Broken Poetry And Melatonin", Hammerhead has been gaining a steady following and was recently nominated as one of the Best Folk Bands in Portland 2016 by Willamette Week, alongside other popular local bands such as Fruition and Pagan Jug Band.

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/Hammerheadoregon

Website:

soundcloud.com/hammerhead-126183388

Benji Burgess

Hungarian-American singer/songwriter based out of Oregon.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/benjiburgessofficial/

Shane Brown

Friends new and old, I'm still here. Making noise, learning, loving, and only using my powers for good.

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/shanebrownmusic