SOU’WESTER EVENTS!
See what’s happening during your next stay or plan a visit around our free live music, workshops, wellness offerings and more!
Sama Dams: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
Few bands command the unexpectedly fine line that divides tension and release like Sama Dams does. And it’s no wonder: songwriters Sam and Lisa Adams have been playing music together for over a decade – as long as they have been married – developing a creative forthrightness that sometimes feels voyeuristic. Taking cues from jazz, R&B, new wave, indie-rock, and classical art song, the alt-rock trio weaves a sensuous musical fabric that is distinctly theirs.
Much like the Dirty Projectors or Thom Yorke, Sama Dams’s high art sensibilities are wrapped around a subversive knotty core of uncompromised radicalism – like if Leonard Bernstein was signed to K Records. In that way, the DIY ethos of the Pacific Northwest has shaped much of the band’s path forward since graduating music school in 2008 and relocating to Portland in 2012.
Sama Dams’s fourth and most recent full-length album, ‘Say It’, surprises you with its gritty yet precise instrumentation, striking a keen balance between reserve and power, from wiley “Neil-Young-riding-a-rocket-sled” electric guitar riffs and mutant waves of organ to distorted ukulele and cut-up-on-the-spot breakbeats. The Portland Mercury said “‘Say It’ is an endlessly fascinating sonic concoction, and a confident step forward for Sama Dams.” What should be a series of stylistic contradictions results in each song firmly standing its ground as an interwoven compositional masterpiece, bending and twisting with eclectic abandon.
The band’s sprawling sonic footprint is held together by their dynamic vocal power – an alternate-reality vocal pairing of Kate Bush and Jeff Buckley. Sam and Lisa’s combined proficiencies and unique approaches to songwriting merge with the brilliant percussive work of drummer Micah Hummel, creating a matchless sound in live settings as well as in the studio.
Sama Dams can regularly be found gracing stages, music festivals, and living rooms across the United States and Central Europe, their music finding a place in the hearts of both music enthusiasts and general audiences alike with their intelligent arrangements, catchy melodies, and playful musicality.
The band’s support of their latest release Not Gonna Lie EP in February of 2020 was interrupted But they are happy to be back on stage, and preparing to record a full length record.
Faith & Majesty: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
Faith & Majesty are an indie folk/alt sister duo/band from Gainesville, Florida. Their contemplative writing melded with hard-hitting harmonies make their music feel like a heartbreaking lullaby. Having started making music together in 2016, the duo are excited to release their first EP in 2023 following their string of single releases.
Oh, Rose: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
The Olympia, WA based Oh, Rose has solidified their place in the PNW music scene through powerful, upbeat performances showcasing the emotive and unfiltered voice of frontperson Olivia Rose. Their catalog is both intimate and explosive; since forming in 2014, the band has released two albums and an EP, amassing a catalog that ranges from soft, synth-tinted love songs to full-on, painfully screamed ballads. Their latest release, While My Father Sleeps via Park the Van Records, tells the complex story of family, adversity, love, and friendship, while also serving as an homage to Rose’s mother, who passed away in January of 2017. Rose will be performing an intimate, stripped down version of previously released and new material at Sou’wester on February 25th, 2023.
Twin Bridges: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
Twin Bridges is the solo work of Zach Gerzon, a Portland, Oregon based cellist. Twin Bridges is a blend of singer songwriter, cello driven songs, and live looped instrumentals.
Matthew Zeltzer: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
Matthew Zeltzer is a Portland based songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is best known for his work with MAITA (guitar, production), and has toured the US and Europe both as a solo artist and sideman. His work has been featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered, Spin, and KEXP.
The Fourth Wall: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
The Fourth Wall was formed in 2011 on the island of Oahu. After releasing their first record (Motion & Rest), they quickly gained local notoriety, opening for visiting national acts like Andrew Bird, The Shins, and Menomena. In 2012, The band relocated to Portland, Oregon. Since their move, they’ve released two highly acclaimed records through Portland label, Bug Hunt. The Portland Mercury called their 2015 album (Lovely Violence) “something of a wonder: an engrossing, fully realized and vitalized record with no easy musical touchstone.” The band went on a few tours following the release of Lovely Violence and landed an opening spot with Band of Horses.
4th Annual ARTS WEEK!
During Arts Week The Sou’wester hosts 30-35 artists and art collectives for a week of residency work culminating in a weekend (Friday and Saturday) of music, studio tours, performances and installations.
Over the past 9 years we have held an event around this time of year to highlight the creative process and the experiential nature of the Sou’wester Residency Program. Each year this event brings amazing artists to this neck of the woods and shines creative light into the darkest heart of winter.
The focus of Arts Week 2023 is SHIFTING CYCLES:
“Our reliance on a known occurrence has been disrupted. This shift is replacing existing patterns and problems. Collective action and individual insight paving our path forward.”
On the weekend, Friday and Saturday March 17th and 18th, 2023 the public will be invited, free and open to all, to tour the grounds and surrounding areas for a weekend full of installations, music, performances and open studios.
(The Sou’wester has regular residencies offered year-round in addition to residency events such as the annual ARTS WEEK. Applications for the Sou’wester Standard Residency are separate from ARTS WEEK and accepted on a rolling basis.)
Thank you to our Arts Week 2023 Sponsors!
Henry Chadwick: Presented by Sou’wester Arts
Henry Chadwick is a Portland, OR-based singer-songwriter, musician & recording producer/engineer from Santa Cruz, CA. Chadwick’s music dances between genres – landing somewhere between rock, indie, psychedelia, and shimmery, sunshine-tinged power-pop. After spending years drumming in roots rock band, The Coffis Brothers, Chadwick struck out on his own in 2016. Since then, he’s gone on to tour, release multiple albums & EPs, & garner attention from audiences as well as prominent blogs and outlets such as Rolling Stone, Time, Huffington Post, Indie Shuffle and more. Chadwick recorded his debut LP, Marlin Fisher, in 2018 with legendary record producer, Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Kurt Vile, Beck etc.). The album has met with a nice response from critics and listeners alike. Chadwick’s sophomore LP, We All Start Again was released on October 29th 2021, & is his most ambitious, mature and evolved sounding record to date.
Palm Sunday is a genre bending Portland based band spearheaded by songwriter Merle Law. They started this project in Atlanta GA in 2018 where they recorded the lofi debut EP “Wishful Thinking” later released in New Orleans LA. They are currently cooking up their first full length album recorded entirely to tape in Portland, OR. The counter jazz rhythms overlap with timeless ethereal songwriting. The effect of being elevated by something familiar. The melancholy, unconventional rhythm and tropical elements carry one another.
Jonny G and the Music Factory is a Hard Rock and Roll (some times soft) music group from
the PNW.
she began writing her first songs, influenced by indie & soul scene, mostly outside of Israel.
She listened to bands such as Radiohead and Modest Mouse amongst others, slowly developing her musical taste and honing her own style.
Since the release of her EP Keren’s songs were played in the famous radio show in London ‘Get In Her Ears’ and a lot of writers all over wrote about her music.