ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, April 1, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3C
Treefort branches into Eastern Oregon
B
oise’s Treefort Music
Festival is an annual
event occurring the last
weekend of March (though now
expanded to a five-day stretch).
Spread across multiple venues,
the music primarily focuses on
indie rock, though there is plenty
of representation in hip hop,
country, experimental, jazz, and
even classical. Headliners this
year included
The Meat
Puppets, Jonathan
Richman, and
Angel Olson.
Although
there are plenty
of music festivals
spread across the
Pacific Northwest,
J.D.
each with quality
Kindle
performers, there
Comment
are few that
embrace cultural
regionalism on such a scale as
Treefort. Sure, Bumbershoot or
MusicfestNW balance out their
national headlining acts with
some local bands (primarily from
Seattle or Portland), but Treefort
takes it even further by pulling in
performers from the smallest of
Podunk towns between Boise and
the nearest metropolitan areas.
From a marketing standpoint
it is a logical move due to the
broadening of the potential
audience and the free regional
promotion for the festival that
each of the four-hundred plus
performers participating in Treefort
provide in their social media posts
regarding the event. That said, the
primary intention of bringing a
slew of regional bands on board is
creating an environment rooted in
the spirit of DIY independence and
inclusivity. The added audience and
promotion is gravy.
On that note, it was a welcome
sight to see a fair amount of
Eastern Oregon representation
in the mix. Anybody from our
region attending the festival would
be proud of seeing their friends,
neighbors and diaspora gracing the
same venues as any of the major
performers. (Full disclosure: My
band The Eastern Oregon Playboys
and I were one of the many bands
performing at the festival.)
Thursday evening, La Grande
based neo-krautrockers Catskills
performed an energetic and sweaty
set at the Neurolux, Boise’s
legendary independent music
venue. Many of the songs they
performed came off their recently
released cassette tape “Rufus
Dufur.”
Across town, at the Boise
Contemporary Theater, Boise
art-rock singer-songwriter Thomas
Paul, a frequent counselor at
the Pendleton Center for the
Arts Rock and Roll Camp,
presented a collection of songs
augmented by members of the
Boise Philharmonic. Among those
Philharmonic musicians was
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
James Dean Kindle and the Eastern Oregon Playboys perform at Pengilly’s Saloon during the Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho.
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Pendleton native Aurora Torres plays the viola with Boise perform-
er Thomas Paul at the Boise Contemporary Theater during the
Treefort Music Fest in Boise.
Tylor Ketchum of Helix performs with his band Tyler and the Train
Robbers at Tom Grainey’s during the Treefort Music Fest in Boise,
Idaho.
violist Aurora Torres, a product of
Pendleton School District’s and the
Oregon East Symphony’s classical
string education programming.
Friday evening, Helix born and
bred Tylor Bushman and his band
The Train Robbers brought their
brand of outlaw country to Tom
Grainey’s for what amounted to
one of the highest concentration
of boots and buckles all weekend
long. Crossing the floor to purchase
a drink or dancing was nearly
impossible in such a packed room,
though the band didn’t seem to
mind.
avenues; Comedyfort for comedy
enthusiasts, Alefort for craft beer
fans (which included a showing
by Baker City’s Barley Brown’s),
Foodfort for food truck lovers,
Yogafort for those looking to stretch
out for a little bit, etc. The list goes
on and on.
Writer Joel Wayne, a 2001
Pendleton High School graduate
and current Boise resident, read
selections of his fiction at Storyfort,
the subfestival dedicated to literary
arts and the spoken word. Among
the works he read was “Brother’s
Keeper,” his short story that was
It is worth noting that the
basement floor of Grainey’s houses
a separate venue that was bumping
heavy electronic dance music while
the Train Robbers rocked upstairs.
The contrast between the two acts
and their respective audiences
under the same roof is a perfect
illustration of the diversity Treefort
exemplifies in its programing.
That programing isn’t just
contained to music either. Treefort
includes a subset of festivals
(which could be stand-alone
festivals in their own right)
focusing on different cultural
BRIEFLY
WHAT TO DO
Acousta Noir to stomp into Hamley’s
Festivals
PENDLETON — Acousta Noir, AKA Joshua
Esterline, returns to Pendleton with his brand of folk,
Americana and stomp rock music.
Coming from a background shaped by punk, rock and
roll, roots, and various traditional folk styles, Acousta
Noir brings a unique, yet oddly
familiar, set of original songs
to the table, along with his
renditions of select and
obscure covers. He will
perform Friday, April 7
from 9 p.m. to midnight
at Hamley Saloon, 8 S.E.
Court Ave., Pendleton.
There is no cover charge.
Hailing from Douglas
County, Esterline first
began playing music in
1994, and has been a part of
Contributed photo
a varied array of musical projects.
These include punk bands (as a singer,
guitarist and drummer), singing for a heavy metal band
and a couple projects playing the upright bass.
For more information, contact Amy Nelson at
bookkeeper@hamleysteakhouse.com or 541-278-1100.
For more about Acousta Noir, visit www.reverbnation.
com/acoustanoir.
Echo Red 2 Red XC
Eclipse shines at Salem winery
SALEM — As accommodations are at near-capacity
throughout the path of totality during the Aug. 21 total
solar eclipse, Eola Hills Legacy Vineyard announced it
still has availability during its Eclipse Wine Festival.
The event runs from Aug. 18-21 at the property,
located just outside of Salem. The winery is offering
room and camping reservations paired with entertainment
and eclipse day packages. Prices for accommodations and
a wide variety of entertainment packages range from $0
to $2,900.
Activities include a Field & Vine dinner, live music,
guided star gazing, winery hiking and biking trails, and
astrological, geological and viticulture learning. Free
bus transportation is provided. Featured performers
during the event include Nu Shooz, Patrick Lamb and
Quarterflash.
For more information, call 503-623-2405, 800-291-
6730 or visit www.eolahillswinery.com.
———
Send information to community@eastoregonian.com,
or c/o Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street, Hermiston,
OR, 97838.
nominated for Pushcart Prize and
awarded the Lamar York Prize for
Fiction.
On its website Treefort exudes
an ethos that is admirable:
“Humanity is far greater than the
sum of its parts.” While that may
be so, it is awesome that Eastern
Oregon is one of those parts.
■
James Dean Kindle is the
East Oregonian’s entertainment
columnist, the executive director of
the Oregon East Symphony and a
Pendleton musician. Contact him at
jamesdeankindle@gmail.com.
•April 1
•Intersection
Main/Dupont
streets, Echo
www.echored2red.com
$45/adults, $20/youths. In its
ninth year, riders start and finish
in downtown Echo. Includes all
ages and skill levels with awards
and a raffle after the race. Race
postponed from March due to trail
conditions.
Adams Day
•Saturday, April 8
•Adams, various locations
www.cityofadamsoregon.com
Free entry. The Adams Ladies
Club is throwing a party in cele-
bration of the start of the Triangle
Little League. Includes a parade,
breakfast, vendors in the park,
yard sales, library book sale and
baseball games all day.
Prestige Championship
Wrestling 1
•Saturday, April 15; 7-11 p.m.
w w w. p c p r o w r e s t l i n g 1 .
eventbrite.com
•Eastern Oregon Trade and
Event Center, 1705 Airport Road,
Hermiston
$15-$50. Features some of
the biggest current and former
stars in WWE, TNA and UFC,
including former UFC star “Filthy”
Tom Lawlor.
BMCC Arts & Culture
Festival
•April 17-20, various times
•Blue Mountain Community
College
www.bluecc.edu
Free. Open to the public, ac-
tivities are planned on the Pend-
leton and Hermiston campuses
of BMCC.
Art & Museums
“The Path of Totality”
•Monday, April 3; 9 a.m.-5:30
p.m., art accepted
•Friday, April 7; 5:30-8 p.m.,
opening reception
•Crossroads Carnegie Art
Center, 2020 Auburn St., Baker
City
www.crossroads-arts.org
$15/members,
$20/
non-members. Up to three pieces
accepted by amateur and profes-
sional artists depicting the theme
inspired by the upcoming Aug. 21
total solar eclipse. Show and sale
runs April 7-29.
“A Place for All People”
Itts Cuzzen
•Wednesday, April 5; 4 p.m.,
public reception
•April 3-7; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
•Multicultural Center, Hoke
Union Building
•Eastern Oregon University,
La Grande
www.eou.edu
Free. The poster exhibition
serves to introduce the Nation-
al Museum of African American
History and Culture. The newest
Smithsonian museum opened
last fall in Washington, D.C. The
public reception features a pre-
sentation by Gwendolyn Trice,
executive director of the Maxville
Heritage Interpretive Center.
•Saturday, April 1; 9 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
No cover. Cover band fro
Spokane plays hits from the ’60s
to present.
Let’s Call It Spring
•Tuesday-Sundays, 10 a.m.-
6 p.m.
•Peterson’s Gallery and
Chocolatier, 1925 Main St., Bak-
er City
www.petersonsgallery.net
Free. Features a collection
of bright and colorful artwork by
favorite artists. In addition, new
spring chocolate line is avail-
able. Opening reception held in
conjunction with the First Friday
Artwalk. Runs through March 31.
Chuck Close: Portraits
•Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m., Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Selection of Close’s
works from the collection of Jor-
dan Schnitzer.
Open Regional Exhibit
•Saturday, April 29; noon-4
p.m., accept entries
•Thursday, May 4; 5 p.m.,
opening reception
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
$10/adults; $5/youths entry
fee per piece of art. Cash prizes
awarded.
Music
Tylor and The Train Robbers
•Saturday, April 1; 7-10 p.m.
No cover
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
Nuketown
•Saturday, April 1; 8 p.m. No
cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission
Hymnspiration
•Sunday, April 2; 7 p.m.
•Victory
Square
Baptist
Church, 103 E. Main St., Herm-
iston
Free. An evening of singing
old hymns, featuring food, fun
and fellowship.
Tylor and The Train Robbers
•Monday, April 3; 7-9 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages.
Momentum
•Monday, April 3; 7 p.m.
•Hermiston Church of the
Nazarene, 1520 W. Orchard Ave.
www.newhope.edu/creative_
arts/ca-momentum
Free. The Eugene-based
college group presents worship
through music, dance, drama
and technical arts.
Yaquina Bay
•Thursday, April 6; 7-9 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover, all ages. Also fea-
tures DoublePlusGo.
Live Music Thursday
•Thursdays 7-9 p.m. No cov-
er
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
Decade X
•Friday, April 7; Saturday,
April 8; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission
Night life
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
Mac’s Trivia Night
•First Thursday of month, 8
p.m. No cover
•Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
21 and older. East. Drink.
Think. Teams of 2-8 compete in
trivia contest with other teams.
Live host and prizes.
Midget Wrestling Fiesta
•Friday, April 14, Saturday,
April 15; 8-11 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
thepheasant.ticketleap.com
$20-$40. Micro Wrestling
Federation event.
Open Mic
•First/third
Friday
each
month, 8 p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118
S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
www.facebook.com/groups/
pendletonopenmic
Theater & film
“Treasure Island” Audi-
tions
•Saturday, April 1; 2 p.m. &
5:30 p.m.
•A.C. Houghton Elementary
School, 1105 N. Main Ave., Irri-
gon
Presented by Missoula Chil-
dren’s Theatre, featuring area
youths.
Dancing With Your Pendle-
ton Stars
•Saturday, April 8; 7 p.m.
•Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
events/402373760146806
$20. Presented by CAPE-
CO, features six local celebrities
teamed up with members of the
Utah Ballroom Dance Company.
Hot tickets
•Chippendale’s. April 29
at Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
Tickets ($34-$54) available via
www.wildhorseresort.com
•Viva Las Vegas Rockabil-
ly Weekend: April 13-16, Las
Vegas. Early bird four-day pass
($140) through March 15 via
www.vivalasvegas.net
•What the Festival: June
16-19, Wolf Run Ranch, near
Dufur. Three-day music, art, film
and interactive festival. Features
90 electronic music DJs on eight
stages and the largest splash
pool in North America. Camping
options available ($300-$2,500)
via www.whatthefestival.com
•Pendleton Whisky Fest:
(featuring Maroon 5) July 15,
Pendleton Round-Up Grounds.
Box/grand stand seats still avail-
able ($70-$95) via www.pendle-
tonwhiskymusicfest.com
•Northwest World Reg-
gae Festival: (music, camping,
food, vendors) July 28-30, Pfau
Pfamily Pfarma, 13 miles west of
Sandy. Early bird prices ($120)
via www.nwwrf.com