16
SOUND CHECK
AUGUST 11�18, 2021
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Russell James plays Side A-lley concert Aug. 13
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
LIVE MUSIC BY
RUSSELL JAMES
L
A GRANDE — Russell James
has toured the United
States, but he’s just now getting
back on the road.
“Every single one got can-
celed,” he said of his 2020
shows, which included 30 to 40
performances.
One of those gigs was in
La Grande. This weekend he’s
making up for that lost show
by taking the stage Friday, Aug.
13, at Side A Brewing, 1219
Washington Ave., as part of the
brewpub’s Side A-lley concerts
in the courtyard.
“I’m really happy about it,” he
said. “So many people appreci-
ate having live music again.”
The music starts at 7 p.m.
There is no cover.
James describes his music
as “mellow, folk, relaxing, soul-
ful, introspective.”
“It’s all original,” he said. “I
may throw in a cover or two,
depending on how I feel.”
He began playing music at a
Aug. 12: 6 p.m., Riverside Park
Aug. 13: 7 p.m., Side A
Brewing
La Grande
young age, and played with the
band The Porter Draw while liv-
ing in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He’s been solo for the last fi ve
years.
“I’ve been touring all over the
country,” he said.
In 2016, James spent a
month as the artist-in-residence
at Big Bend National Park in
Texas. He was encouraged to
“hike around, notice things,
and be inspired.” He also gave
several concerts.
“It was the greatest month of
my life,” he said.
James landed in Corvallis
in 2019 with the plan to stay
regional, playing around Oregon
as well as northern California
and Washington.
“For a long time I was criss-
crossing the country, and it was
tiring,” he said.
During the pandemic he
finished his fifth album, which
he’ll release in December
2021. He’s slowly building his
tour schedule for the coming
months.
“Right now everybody wants
to tour,” James said. “It’s hard
to find gigs.”
But he has two in La Grande
— in addition to the Side A
show, James will play at the
free Riverside Park concert on
Thursday, Aug. 12. The music
starts at 6 p.m.
During his concerts, he
said he sometimes talks about
having autism. This is why, he
said, his tour schedule often
includes extra rest days to
recharge after several nights
of concerts. By sharing his
story, he can advocate for more
autism awareness.
“Autism has a lot of miscon-
ceptions,” James said. “Autism
is really diverse.”
To learn more about the
musician, visit www.russell-
jamesmusic.net or follow him
on Instagram (@autism.sings).
John Ellison
Russell James, from Corvallis, plays twice in La Grande this week: Aug. 12 at
the Riverside Concert in Riverside Park and Aug. 13 at Side A.
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