Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2017)
14 // COASTWEEKEND.COM A man ‘Possessed’ gives free concert in Cannon Beach CANNON BEACH — Possessed by Paul James — a performer the New York Times dubbed a “one man folk wonder” — will bring a whirlwind of musical energy to Cannon Beach during a free concert 5 p.m. Sunday, July 23, in the downtown city park. The free event — pro- duced by the Tolovana Arts Colony with support from the City of Cannon Beach’s Community Grant — includes an opening act. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. All ages are welcome. “Sweating intensely, and with every muscle straining, he played religiously intense folk without the religion, in between tales of teaching music to special-education students,” the Times’ Jon Caramanica wrote. The publication hon- ored the performance at the Pickathon festival as one of 2014’s top 10 concerts of the year. Combining the names of his father and grandfather, Possessed by Paul James is the moniker of Konrad Wert. And as NPR put it: “Those who have seen him perform … would agree he seems possessed by something.” Touring from his home SUBMITTED PHOTO Possessed by Paul James (aka Konrad Wert) base in Boerne, Texas, just outside San Antonio, Wert plucks, strums and bows banjo, guitar and fiddle. His songs traverse country, folk and punk traditions. “While performing by his lonesome, Wert’s music is hardly sparse,” the Arts Colony wrote. “It is muscu- lar, gritty and electric, like a tornado whipping across the plains.” “Part of the magic of a Possessed by Paul James per- formance is witnessing Wert spinning up, conjuring such elemental intensity,” organiz- ers continued. “Indeed, live and in person is where he really shines.” Wert told NPR: “In the re- cording studio, that’s a great way to present the music. But in a live show, in an interac- tion, whatever’s gonna come is gonna come. For me, that’s Liberty presents classical music series ASTORIA — For the first season since its renovation, Astoria’s Liberty Theatre will offer an entire series of classical music. The series begins Sat- urday, Sept. 23, with the Portland Chamber Orches- tra, including pianist Ruusa- mari Teppo. The Schubert Ensemble of London comes Wednesday, Oct. 4, followed by The Tacoma Opera on Friday, Nov. 17; PROJ- PHOTO BY ERICK BENGEL ECT Trio Thursday, Jan. 4; Song & String Trio on Sunday, Feb. 4; The Bodhi Trio on Saturday, Feb. 17; The Delgani String Quartet on Friday, March 16; The Oregon Brass Quintet on Thursday, April 26; and the The Solstice Wind Quintet on Friday, May 25. The performers will hold free pre-show workshops to the band, orchestra, choir and dance students of Asto- ria High School, with help from community donors. These workshops are funded by community donors. “The purpose of Lib- erty Restoration, Inc. is to provide a forum for com- munity events, a center for local, regional and national performing artists, and a center that fosters education and the development of the performing arts, and a center which anchors downtown Astoria’s continued econom- ic revitalization,” the theater said in a release. For more information, visit www.libertyastoria.org. the purest pleasure of playing music: It’s almost a conver- sation, with a listener and a musician.” When not performing, Wert doubles as a special education teacher. Cannon Beach’s down- town city park is located northeast of Second and Spruce streets, behind the tennis courts and Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.tolovanaartscol- ony.org, email tolovanaarts- colony@gmail.com, or call 541-215-4445. Mayor leads hike on Four County Point Trail ASTORIA — For the Angora hike taking place Saturday, July 22, Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear will lead a hike on the Four County Point Trail. Hikers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Sixth Street parking lot to carpool. This short hike (1.6 miles round trip) along Wolf Creek through a Douglas fir and alder forest leads to the only place in Oregon where the corners of four counties (Washington, Tillamook, Clatsop and Columbia) meet. Afterward, hikers will get back in their cars and drive to the Sunset Wayside Rest Area. Here, there’s a loop trail (1.5 miles) that crosses South Fork Rock Creek on a 100-foot bridge through an alder forest.
