Going to a show or a festival usually features one giant aspect: that it's going to be LOUD. The amps are going to BLOW YOU AWAY as the singer SCREAMS into the mic and the drum and bass lines POUND AWAY INTO YOUR CHEST. However sometimes it's nice to get out, hear some music and not feel like you're about to have a heart attack. Sometimes it's nice to enjoy evocative, emotional and quiet music, which is why nationwide artist, musician and label CEO Chris Johanson decided to get together with some of his musical friends and local non-profit art organization Disjecta and created the Quiet Music Festival of Portland. Combining art and music in a peaceful environment, this festival hosted over two nights – August 12 and 13 – started when Johanson first came up with the idea after tiring of ear-blasting shows:
The idea of the show came because I love music, but don’t like to be around loud music anymore. Quiet music is so calm and peaceful and yin. I find that quiet music is restorative and want to celebrate it through having a concert in a community art space. Sharing it in this context will show how nice it is that music does not have to be so loud to create an emotional experience. All of the bands are people that I know, and we just want to have a good party with good people and grow the circle of friends.
So celebrate the demure and delicately understated for $7 per day or $12 for both nights (what a steal!), and check out the schedule for bands that will soothe your soul:
Quiet Music Festival of Portland Schedule:
Friday, August 12, 2011
Sun Foot
Kyp Malone (of TV On The Radio)
Tom Greenwood
The Golden Bears
Larry Yes
Franklin’s Mint
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Lucky Dragons
Christine Shields
Stephen Malkmus
Dragging an Ox Through Water
Chris Kaup