The students putting together Portland’s March For Our Lives, a gun safety protest organized in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting, have booked Portugal. The Man to play at Pioneer Courthouse Square on March 24.

The announcement came through the event’s Facebook page via Sue Castner, one of the adult organizers who describes herself as “just trying to stay out of the students’ way.”

The event, which includes a march through downtown Portland, begins with a rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza at 10 a.m.

At 10:30 a.m., participants will march to Pioneer Courthouse Square, where organizers anticipate the crowd will arrive by noon. That’s where Portugal. The Man will perform.

Read more at: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/03/portugal_the_man_portland_march_for_our_lives.html

Art Alexakis — best-known as frontman and songwriter of the alt-rock outfit Everclear — is releasing his first solo album, expected later this year via The End Records/BMG.

On Feb. 28 he launched a PledgeMusic campaign giving fans exclusive access to join him throughout the entire recording process and album release, along with different types of products, bundles, and experiences. He’ll be releasing all types of weekly updates, including behind the scenes footage from the studio, to give fans an inside look at everything that goes into making the record.

“For the most part, it’s going to be an acoustic singer-songwriter type of album,” says Alexakis. “There’s going to be banjo, and some keyboards, and some programming on it. Right now it has the feel of a very rough-sounding, almost Americana-type of feel, while underneath it I’m programming and really screwing with sounds. I’m letting it evolve as it goes, and that’s what’s so much fun about it. It’s not about making another Everclear record; it’s about doing something that’s just me. I’m pushing my ability and pushing the envelope, and having fun at the same time. I’ve always wanted to do something like this.”

Read more at: http://variety.com/2018/music/news/everclear-frontman-art-alexakis-to-release-first-ever-solo-album-1202710793/

We want to send a big shout-out to our friends and Portland, OR-based Portugal, The Man for their win at the Grammys!  Last year, Portugal, The Man was nice enough to donate their time to play Oregon Music Hall of Fame’s Oregon Backstage fundraiser.  We are very excited and happy for them!  They won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit single, “Feel It Still.”

Congrats to Jeff Lorber.  He won in the Grammy category of:

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:

What If – The Jerry Douglas Band

Spirit – Alex Han

Mount Royal – Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge

Prototype – Jeff Lorber Fusion — WINNER

Bad Hombre – Antonio Sanchez

Also, Randy Porter and Nancy King were in the last five (but did not win). Still, congrats to them for the nomination:

Best Jazz Vocal Album:

The Journey – The Baylor Project

A Social Call – Jazzmeia Horn

Bad Ass and Blind – Raul Midón

Porter Plays Porter – Randy Porter Trio With Nancy King

Dreams and Daggers – Cécile McLorin Salvant — WINNER