It’s been eight years since the first Siren Nation Festival. Back then it was a massive undertaking for the 10 or so volunteers, including myself, who had come together united in the belief that women artists would benefit from expanded opportunities to have their music heard, their art seen, and their networks expanded by getting to know other female creatives. Our mission was to “inspire and empower women of all ages to create their own art and to highlight the many achievements of women in the arts.”
Natasha Kmeto performs at Siren Nation on Saturday, November 8th at the Alberta Rose
Since founding, under the leadership of Artistic Director, December Carson, Siren Nation has flourished from an organization that produced a four day music and film festival with free workshops once a year; to what is now a mature, year-round presenting arts organization (still run exclusively by volunteers) that curates original art exhibits; produces fashion shows; hosts annual tributes to female pioneers in music, film events, comedy nights and burlesque shows; mentors new women-focused non-profits – and still produces a fantastic annual festival that creates community by bringing together diverse artists and audiences.
This year’s festival is the most ambitious yet spanning a full 12 days. It kicked off this past Saturday with a comedy showcase at the Funhouse Lounge, spearheaded by local comedienne and Marketing Director for True West and the Aladdin Theater, Amy Miller, and was followed on Sunday by a full day of free educational workshops and an Art & Craft sale at McMenamins Kennedy School.
This year’s women’s group show, “Natural Wonders” features more than 40 Pacific NW artists and opens this Thursday, Nov. 6th, 6PM – 8PM at the Albina Press on Hawthorne Blvd. 5012 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215. (Free)
THE MUSIC
Edna Vasquez performs at Siren Nation on Friday, November 7th at The Alberta Rose Theater
Each year, Siren Nation raises the bar with their musical lineup, the biggest component of the festival. 2014 boasts 7 different Siren Nation music events to choose from.
Here is a quick rundown on the lineup and details on some of the incredible bands performing. Be sure to get to the venues early to secure your spot!
Kudos to the all the women of Siren Nation who create these performance, exhibition and educational opportunities for women artists year-round that help make Portland the vibrant, diverse and inclusive arts community that it is: December Carson, Erin Donovan, Beth Olson, Mary Ann Naylor, Cassie Ridgeway, Jenn Feeney, Anna Magruder, Amy Miller, Holli Prohaska and an army of volunteers!
Ticket Info:
Siren Nation VIP Passes are only $50 and are good for entry into any Siren Nation Festival Event. Individual tickets can be purchased through the venue websites.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Meiko at the Doug Fir LoungeDoors at 8PM. Show at 9PM. 21+. $12.
Friday, Nov. 7
Swan Sovereign, Crushed Out and Fault Lines at Mississippi Studios
Doors at 8PM. Show at 9PM. 21+. $12.
Friday, Nov. 7
Melao de Cuba, Luz Elena Mendoza and Edna Vazquez at The Alberta Rose Theatre.Minors are welcome with an adult!
Doors at 7PM. Show at 8PM. $12 advance / $15 door.
Friday, Nov. 7
Liz Vice at the White Eagle
Show at 9:30PM. $7. 21+ only.
Saturday, Nov. 8
The Cabin Project, Lemolo and Natasha Kmeto at The Alberta Rose Theatre.Minors are welcome with an adult!
Doors at 7PM. Show at 8PM. $12 advance / $15 door.
Saturday, Nov. 8
The Jenny Finn Orchestra and The Libertine Belles at the Secret Society.
Doors at 8:30PM. Show 9PM. 21+. $15.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Mirah at The Doug Fir Lounge
Doors at 8PM. Show at 9PM. 21+. $12 advance / $15 door.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Meiko at the Doug Fir Lounge
Doors at 8PM. Show at 9PM. 21+. $12.
Watch: “Be Mine” by Meiko
Click here to view the embedded video.
Friday, Nov. 7
Swan Sovereign, Crushed Out and Fault Lines at Mississippi Studios
Doors at 8PM. Show at 9PM. 21+. $12.
Watch: “Daughters” by Swan Sovereign on PDX Spotlight
Click here to view the embedded video.
Swan Sovereign
Swan Sovereign is a Portland, Oregon trio with punchy, defiant pop songs and harmonies so buttery that you’ll forget to be offended by the bossy lyrics. Stephanie Schneiderman (drums) Lara Michell (guitar) and Christine McKinley (bass) are a tight, spare unit with compact songs that burst from dead quiet into tantrums and back down. Swan Sovereign’s songs about interrogation, family secrets and organized rebellion cut clean and deep. Then they rub salt in with mean 60s girl group harmonies. It leaves a pretty pink scar.
Watch “To Sing True of Love” by Crushed Out
Click here to view the embedded video.
Crushed Out
Crushed Out is an electrified honky-tonk surf duo from Brooklyn, NY, who’s joyous and high-energy live shows are known to melt cold cold hearts and set folks to dancing in the aisles. Their new record TEETH, built on a foundation of timeless melodies ringing with crystalline reverb, fans the fire they lit on their 2012 debut Want To Give. The husband-wife duo of Moselle Spiller and Franklin Hoier draw deep from their shared love of ‘atomic’ 50’s rock ‘n’ roll, country blues, and SoCal surf guitar to creating a sound that delivers on all those things rock ‘n’ roll promised us so long ago…
Fault Lines
Formed in Portland in the summer of 2011 by three natives, a transplant from southern Oregon and a British expat, Fault Lines is one of the most distinctive bands to emerge from the city’s music scene in recent years. Their punchy garage-pop is reminiscent of Portland predecessors Sleater-Kinney and Sweden’s Hives, with traces of Jack White and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Friday, Nov. 7
Melao de Cuba, Luz Elena Mendoza and Edna Vazquez at The Alberta Rose Theatre.
Doors at 7PM. Show at 8PM. $12 advance / $15 door.
Minors OK when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Watch: “Y Andale” by Melao de Cuba
Click here to view the embedded video.
Melao de Cuba
Melao, the Spanish word for molasses, is a group of talented Portland musicians who come together to share the beauty and exuberance of traditional Cuban music. Just as molasses is transformed into one of the oldest spirits of the world, rum, Melao transforms elements of Afro-Cuban and Spanish music into vibrant, danceable music that lifts your spirit and brings joy to your heart.
Edna Vazquez performs original compositions that pay homage to her many Latin American influences and frequently mixes in her own arrangements of traditional songs to bring the feeling of Mexico’s Folkloric music to her audience. She sings with a velvety voice and sometimes whistles the melodies to compliment her guitar. A versatile and experienced musician, Edna not only spans styles and genres, but plays music in a variety of arrangements including performing solo, with the Edna Vazquez Quintet and with Mariachi Los Palmeros.
Luz Elena Mendoza (Y La Bamba & Tiburones) draws from both her strict Catholic upbringing as an only daughter of a Mexican immigrant to create what LA Weekly calls “Devendra Banhart-influenced art-folk with hazy femme vocals and traditional Mexican sounds.”
Friday, Nov. 7
Liz Vice at the White Eagle
Show at 9:30PM. $7. 21+ only
Watch: Pure Religion by Liz Vice on PDX Spotlight
Click here to view the embedded video.
Saturday, Nov. 8
The Cabin Project, Lemolo and Natasha Kmeto at The Alberta Rose Theatre.
Doors at 7PM. Show at 8PM. $12 advance / $15 door.
Watch: “Idiot Proof” by Natasha Kmeto
Click here to view the embedded video.
Natasha Kmeto
Natasha Kmeto is a Portland-based singer and electronic producer who turns heads everywhere she goes. Armed with a taut dancefloor sensibility and a flutteringly sensuous voice, she exudes the kind of confidence that can only come from a staunch commitment to her craft. Her tracks, which she composes, produces, and performs entirely by herself, straddle the line between dance, pop, and RnB, making rhythmically intriguing compositions that slide effortlessly into the ear and send shivers down the spine. Her energy, talent, and realization of the intricate coalesce into a truly visceral live show, moving both to the partygoer and the thinking person alike. Wherever her music goes, heavy breathing will follow.
Watch: “Letters” by Lemolo
Click here to view the embedded video.
Lemolo
Lemolo is the dream pop brainchild of Seattle musician Meagan Grandall. Grandall grew up in the sleepy town of Poulsbo, WA and spent her childhood meandering along the town’s most scenic road, Lemolo Shore Drive. After graduating from Seattle University in 2009, Grandall decided to turn her passion of writing and performing music into a career and has been performing her music with Lemolo ever since. The band’s debut full length album, The Kaleidoscope, was self-released in 2012. The album was included in KEXP’s “Top Listener Voted Albums of 2012″ list, was a number one best seller at Sonic Boom Records and was also voted as the “Best New Music” of 2013 by City Arts Magazine. Grandall is currently recording the sophomore Lemolo album to be released soon.
Watch: “The Lining” by The Cabin Project
Click here to view the embedded video.
The Cabin Project
The Cabin Project is an orchestral indie pop band from the Portland whose sound stems from anthemic choruses, three-part harmonies, loop pedals, and string sections. The songs are musically expansive, yet retain an intimacy similar to that of The National, Bon Iver, Feist, and Mates of State.
Saturday, Nov. 8
The Jenny Finn Orchestra and The Libertine Belles at the Secret Society.
Doors at 8:30PM. Show 9PM. 21+. $15.
Watch: Jenny Finn Orchestra
Click here to view the embedded video.
Watch: The Libertine Belles
Click here to view the embedded video.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Mirah at The Doug Fir Lounge
Doors at 8PM. Show at 9PM. 21+. $12 advance / $15 door.
Watch: “No Direction Home” by Mirah
Click here to view the embedded video.
Mirah
Brooklyn, NY based artist, Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn has been creating incorruptible independent pop music since the late 1990’s. She has released over a dozen solo and collaborative recordings on K Records, Kill Rock Stars and various domestic and foreign independent labels. Defined by her graceful songwriting and adventuresome recordings, Pitchfork has praised her “incredible voice—a versatile coo that can flit from low, sultry tones to high, airy falsetto in one breath.”
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