The Green Light for In-Person Concerts is Music to the Ears of Local Nonprofit

The Green Light for In-Person Concerts is Music to the Ears of Local Nonprofit

Portland, OR. As Oregon reopens, one activity Oregonians are eagerly anticipating is the return of concerts and live music. The Portland nonprofit, Friends of Noise is a local organization making a  return of live music possible, and accessible for anybody who wants to get involved. It provides sound equipment to performers, hosting free age-inclusive shows, and helping creative youth navigate the local music scene. Now starting its summer 2021 season, the nonprofit has a fresh slate of performances and events to bring the joy of communal music experiences back to Portland youth, including a dance battle, hip hop cypher performance, and multiple outdoor concert events for youth artists.

Friends of Noise provides programs, workshops, and other professional development opportunities for teens and young adults to gain experience with sound equipment, and performing so they are more prepared to navigate the music industry.


An integral core foundation to Friends of Noise is the belief that getting young performers and audience members involved in music is essential to the growth of the local and global music community. 

The nonprofit offers a variety of services to support Portland’s musically-oriented youth, including professional development workshops providing skills for involvement in the music industry, paid opportunities for youth musicians to perform, and offering sound equipment services for independent, youth-organized concerts, teaching those interested how to operate such equipment and offering youth paid opportunities for work with sound technology. According to Friends of Noise executive director André Middleton, the nonprofit’s mission is to “facilitate healing and growth in the community” for Portland youth artists, with a focus on BIPOC individuals.

Middleton admits that the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for Friends Of Noise, with the nonprofit completely halting operations like most other businesses at its start. However, the organization still found ways to utilize its services mid-pandemic to further its commitment to justice by providing sound equipment to local Black Lives Matter protests and marches to “lift up the voices of the unheard.” Friends of Noise even helped host a BLM protest event on labor day 2020 in Portland’s Cathedral Park, providing and setting up sound equipment for speakers.

Middleton says that his organization’s greatest challenge of the pandemic has been the recruitment of new youth performers and sound technicians to work with, stating that reconnecting with the musical youth of Portland is the current “highest priority” for Friends of Noise. Thankfully, they were still able to support independent young musicians of Portland through the pandemic by recording isolated performances in various Portland music venues from a wide range of talented youth, editing them, and uploading these performances to the Friends of Noise Youtube channel as part of their “Friends of Noise TV” series.

Here’s a video from ‘Friends of Noise TV’:

A woman of color performs music on a stage outlined in orange lights and backdropped by blue curtains in a small music venue with red curtains hanging from the walls. She stands next to a banner with the "Friends of Noise" logo on it, and in front of her there is a camera mounted on a tripod filming her performance. in the foreground of the image, we see the back of a male sound technician wearing headphones to the left, and a computer screen showing the different camera angles recording her performance to his right.

Behind the scenes photo depicting the filming of a live performance by Arietta Ward/”Mz. Etta” at Jack London Revue for the Friends of Noise TV YouTube concert series.

Middleton says what he was most excited for about the return of live music, but for Friends of Noise, concerts have been back for a while as they have done sound equipment for and hosted a series of concerts for youth artists in parks around Portland, following COVID safety procedures such that youth could still gather, connecting to both music and one another, safely. He is most eagerly anticipating the Friends of Noise Summer Jam being held for free at Oregon Contemporary on July 11th from 6-10pm, where the organization will be hosting a variety of talented young performers. Middleton also noted that he is currently working with a youth graphic designer in a paid opportunity to create a poster for the event, highlighting his organization’s commitment to uplifting creative youth and getting them involved in as many ways as possible.

Middleton hopes support for Friends of Noise will take off this summer in comparison to last year, as the organization has its eyes set on a large, yet important project— the creation of a free, youth-led, all-ages, all-inclusive space for performances, music, workshops. and creativity as part of public housing in Northeast Portland. He expressed disappointment in the fact that Portland currently has no all-ages, youth-inclusive concert spaces, and hopes to change that by saving the organization’s funds and donations to establish the community center.

More information about Friends of Noise can be found at the nonprofit’s website, friendsofnoise.org. Here, supporters of FON’s mission can find times and locations for all of the organization’s upcoming events mentioned in this article and many more. Further, readers can donate funds through the website via posted PayPal, Venmo, and Cashapp to help make André Middleton’s dream of an youth led and focused, all-inclusive community concert center a reality— one which places the importance of creative expression above alcohol sales.

Year of the Horse Gallops Into Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden

Year of the Horse Gallops Into Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden

Portland, February 1st. 2014. The Year of the Horse began on January 31, 2014! People born in the Year of the Horse are generally popular, smart, and strong. Community Leaders say you can learn more about this most colorful and joyous of all Chinese festivals during the two-week celebration at Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden

Click here to see the full schedule of Chinese New Year activities.

The celebration started on Friday, January 31 with “Rolling in the Wealth,” a traditional good fortune and prosperity activity of rolling oranges and gold coins through Lan Su’s front door. “Rolling in the Wealth” is followed by the Lee’s Association Dragon & Lion Dance team, a visit from the Portland Police Mounted Patrol Unit, and a martial arts demonstration.

The Portland Police Mounted Patrol Unit  stopping by to say hello for the Year of the Horse.

The Portland Police Mounted Patrol Unit stopping by to say hello for the Year of the Horse.

The garden will have Lion dances every Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

The garden will have Lion dances every Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

 

The celebration ends with three nights of Lantern Viewing and dragon processions (February 12-14).This photo by Diane Cook & Len Jenshel Photography from National Geographic shows the garden at Chinese New Year during the lantern viewing festival.

The celebration ends with three nights of Lantern Viewing and dragon processions (February 12-14).This photo by Diane Cook & Len Jenshel Photography from National Geographic shows the garden at Chinese New Year during the lantern viewing festival.

 

The celebration ends with three nights of Lantern Viewing and dragon processions (February 12-14).

Buy your admission tickets now to cut down on the time in line. Now with no online service fees!
Please note: For the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff, entry may be limited at peak times of visitation to meet fire code regulations. Expect lines at times on opening day and weekend days. Plan for the most auspicious visit by arriving early! “Rolling in the Wealth” orange and coin rolling is limited to the first 100 visitors.

Weekends during Chinese New Year feature:

Lion dances every Saturday and Sunday
Miniature horses from the NW Miniature Horse Club
Children’s music and dance performances
Make a Happy New Year card
Demonstrations from the Portland Shaolin Center
Chinese Zodiac Calligraphy demonstrations
and more!
Weekdays offer a sneak peek at Lan Su’s 2014 events and activities, including Cuisines of China, Lan Su in Bloom, Chinese Fun and Games, and more. 

From Lan Su;

Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland’s greatest treasures. Built by Chinese artisans from our sister city Suzhou (home of China’s famous ancient gardens), it’s the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China. Much more than just a beautiful garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony.

Once inside the garden’s walls, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled through time to another era in a faraway world. Lan Su is a window into Chinese culture, history and way of thinking. Ever changing, Lan Su always has something new to offer – by the minute, by the hour, and with the seasons. Enter the wonderland.

Inspirational Space

Lan Su  is modeled after the Ming Dynasty gardens of China, which were designed as spiritual utopias: places where individuals could escape the problems of everyday life and discover their true selves by connecting with nature. Like those ancient gardens, Lan Su is a peaceful and soothing place – a respite from city life that is designed to inspire, facilitate personal growth, and spark creativity.

A Window into Chinese Culture

Lan Su is a rare treasure that offers an extraordinary glimpse into Chinese culture. Visitors of all ages can explore the garden, its history and meanings through a wide variety of fun and enriching activities, including: guided and self-guided tours, mahjong, tai chi, calligraphy, musical performances, art shows, tea tastings, and an ongoing lecture series featuring everything from Chinese medicine and acupuncture to healthy cooking and eating.