Join us every Thursday night for our celebration of songwriting and Portland's vibrant songwriter community. Songwriters, put your name in the hat to play an original song during the show.

A great night of all-original music, whether you're playing or listening.

Hosted by Matt Meighan with Sherry Pendarvis. This week's featured performer: Matthew Payne.

Join us every Friday night for an evening of live, eclectic music. Our treasure trove of local talent brings you music from the folk and world music traditions.

An original member of The Journeymen, with Scott McKenzie and John Phillips, Dick has a national reputation as an innovative banjo player who draws on traditional music for his instrumental compositions.

Dick bases this show on his latest book "Talkn' Bout' A Revolution: Music and Social Change in America" There will be some live music, but mostly Dick will be playing a number of recordings, many of them out of print, that highlight the role of music in producing or encouraging social change. This show represents a broad spectrum of music, including American Indian, African-American, Spanish language music, songs by and about women, songs designed specifically to produce social change, neo-Nazi and segregationist music, and music of the Gulf Wars. If you are interested in American music, be sure to make this unique one-time event.

Dick is also the author of 14 published books, and numerous instructional folios for banjo and guitar. His 2005 book; Which Side Are You On: An Inside History of the Folk Music Revival In America, was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award.

Aunt Lena, the zany out of the box alter ego of award winning internationally known singer-songwriter Anne-Louise Sterry invites you to enjoy a deluxe antipasto of comedy and songs. Aunt Lena will also have special guest singers and friends to add to the general entertaining confusion. Find more about Aunt Lea and Anne-Louise at www.anne-louise.com

Aunt Lena is the irrepressible, unpredictable, yet almost prescient distributor of “Cutting Edge Mediterranean Wisdom”. She is the crazy Italian Aunt whose view of life, love, husbands and food does not just bring a smile to people’s faces but actually goes a little deeper into their lives to make a real and positive difference.

Born in Hoboken, raised in Northern New Jersey, Anne-Louise Sterry is the eldest daughter of a large Italian family where music and storytelling were always a big part of life. Anne-Louise and ‘Aunt Lena’ perform across America and Europe in concerts and keynotes. Anne-Louise is a former nurse, a professional member of the National Speakers Association, an advisory board member for the Clackamas County Arts Alliance, a member of Children’s Music Network, Portland Songwriters Association, the National Storytelling Association and the Association for the Education of Young Children. Anne-Louise has recorded and produced five CDs of music and stories for families with more on the way. Her CD “Making Ravioli” won the Children’s Music Web Award for Best Spoken Word Recording for Older Children in 2003. She teaches storytelling for Portland State University.

Mindy Dillard is a performance-artist/singer-songwriter originally from Salt Lake City, UT. Tonights show is a CD Release concert for her new CD "Awakening Under Fluorescent Lights."

She moved to Portland in 2006 to apprentice with Sojourn Theater Company, which creates socially relevant performance pieces through a process called “devising.” She writes songs on the guitar, meshing writing with music with theatrical performance – it’s the best fit yet. She is working on a one-woman operetta that uses fairy-tale archetypes to explore body image and finding authentic connection in our world. She also really likes dark chocolate truffles and magic. Listen to her music at www.myspace.com/mindydillard

Joining Mindy tonight is Portland's own Eric McEuen. Eric's amazing thought provoking songs will touch and move you. He is a remarkable guitarist that can make the instrument sing.

Back to their performing roots as a duo, Sky in the Road creates music with an organic feel that reflects their unique native Oregonian perspective. They describe their music as folk-based winding its way through Americana, country, Celtic, world folk, gypsy jazz, new age, rock, reggae and more. Known for their tight, soaring vocal harmonies they fill out their sound with a variety of instrumentation including 6 and 12 string guitar, Irish bouzouki, banjo and East Indian harmonium.

Sky in the Road has released several CDs including, "Time Travels", "Celtic Gypsy", "Where Everything is Music" and their 1996 debut, "Sky in the Road". Their recordings have received airplay in major markets such as Boston, San Francisco and Portland and on numerous college radio stations nationwide.

Join us for a special night as we send our dear friend and Portland treasure off on an adventure. "Steve Ulrich is a rocker and a hippie and a kommie and a kapitalist and a gypsy and a reformed psycho and a sweetheart and a TRUE ORIGINAL. His songs and his voice are all his own, but he's a generous guy, he likes to share." Brian Beattie Producer

It's no surprise that Seattle-based Larry Murante has a reputation as one of the finest contemporary singer songwriters to emerge from the Northwest in recent years.

His beautifully woven stories about every day folks, set to song, combine compassionate, socially conscious lyrics and a joyful, energetic folk/rock style. Jackson Brown, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum and Michael McDonald are all reflected in his music. Larry is known for his soaring, mellifluous, tenor, a strong rhythmic guitar style and an engaging stage presence.

Larry Murante tours nationally, performing at folk concerts, festivals, radio interviews and house concerts.

Scott has been writing and playing music for over 30 years. He made his debut with the "Alternative Chorus Songwriters Showcase" at the world-famous Improvisation on Melrose in 1976. He worked with the late, great Jack Segal (who wrote "When Sunny Gets Blue", among many other Tin-Pan Alley favs) at the "American Guild of Authors and Composers" while Segal was the west coast president. He was first published in 1982 by Kin Vasey, for an ill-fated Motels cut. Scott has played on scores of recordings and in countless venues since. He has been fortunate enough to have played with great artists, such as Edgar Winter, Tony Award winner Scott Waara, Jason Wade from Lifehouse, international opera star, Juliana Gondek, Nashville recording Artist, Kate Miner, internationally acclaimed bassist, David Miner (Leon Russell, producer of Elvis Costello's King of America), Ron Aniello (producer), Jack Kelly (internationally acclaimed drummer), the late, great Dave McKelvy (one of the top harmonica players ever), Mitchell Sigman from Berlin, British rocker, Steve Counsel and many more. In 2003, Scott played keyboards on tour with Mary Ramsey and John Lombardo, original members of 10,000 Maniacs and John and Mary and with Ted Mason, of Modern English, The Blue Mocking Birds and president of Mi5 Records. Scott played keyboards with up and coming country music star, Gis Johannson and Big City, and in 2007, gigged with Latin heart-throb, Roberto Enrique.

Willamette Week, calls PDX songwriter Alan Kanning "fearsomely talented." Kanning describes his own work as "short stories with an acoustic guitar soundtrack." Kanning was born in Shelby, Montana into either a farm family that played music, or a family of musicians that farmed.

Alexa Wiley is a songwriter poet in Portland, Oregon. She has lived in the rainy Northwest Portland since first grade. True to place she sings in a sweet melancholy key. alexa is committed to authentic expression and environmental awareness. Alexa's style is in the spirit of the folk tradition. Her songs are a mix of poetry, jazz, world beat, country, rock, and folk. Alexa signed with Red Newt Records, a division of Frederick Productions in the spring of 2007.

Grant is the lead singer for the Portland band 'Loose Change.' Together since 1989, Loose Change has played every first Thursday at Mississippi Pizza Pub since they opened to raise money for Veterans for Peace. Grant is a dedicated and active folk singer, veteran, peace activist, and the President of Portland's first ever Peace Memorial Park

We are thrilled to welcome Joyce Woodson to our stage. We have listened to her recent CD several times a week for the last year. Do not miss this show.

Joyce Woodson’s crystal clear voice and solid guitar work are equally adept in the folk music world or wending her way through the west with her powerful songs about the land. She’s welcome on festival stages, at coffee house concerts and among the late-night circles of practicing songwriters. Her strength is in storytelling, bringing characters to life as if they’re hunkered down at the campfire next to you.

Writing about the disappearing California landscape and her love for the land is Woodson’s strength. Her first two albums present her original tunes in the California folk music style (think Kate Wolf). Her recent album If I Hadn’t Seen The West is pure western music. Inspired by the The Sons of the Pioneers (think cowboy) who wrote and made famous the songs, Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water, she says, “Those harmonizing voices brought the cowboy life and landscape clearly into focus for me - so much so that I felt like I was in the saddle with them and I never wanted the trail or the song to end.”

Donna Lynn Davis and husband, Terry, are songwriters and storytellers. Folk style music is the medium. Donna and Terry are amazing musicians and songwriters. You are in for a real treat. They will surely be playing songs from their most recent CD HeavenTown.

Back to their performing roots as a duo, Sky in the Road creates music with an organic feel that reflects their unique native Oregonian perspective. They describe their music as folk-based winding its way through Americana, country, Celtic, world folk, gypsy jazz, new age, rock, reggae and more. Known for their tight, soaring vocal harmonies they fill out their sound with a variety of instrumentation including 6 and 12 string guitar, Irish bouzouki, banjo and East Indian harmonium.

Sky in the Road has released several CDs including, "Time Travels", "Celtic Gypsy", "Where Everything is Music" and their 1996 debut, "Sky in the Road". Their recordings have received airplay in major markets such as Boston, San Francisco and Portland and on numerous college radio stations nationwide.

The wicked ladies of Storytellers 3 are back with tales to trouble your dreams and tickle your funnybones.

Halloween stories for adults.
Storytellers 3 combines the story artistry of Sarah Hauser, Anne Penfound, and Anne Rutherford, representing 30 years of professional storytelling. Telling at venues in the Pacific Northwest, they delight audiences with stories full of wit, wisdom, and a quirky view of life.

Barb Galloway began her 35+year career in Portland's nightclubs and concert scene initially doing great renditions of Joni Mitchell. Though underage at the time, Barb was not deterred in her focus to perform and meet other musicians. She began being recognized as a stellar artist even then: opening for Country Joe McDonald, featured on local TV programs, Radio shows and in the "First Oregon Book of Jazz". She performed in the first women's Latin Jazz Band, Babayaga and toured the US after recording an album (which still garners royalties)...Barb later played a wide variety of styles: rock 'n roll, blues, jazz, country, folk and bluegrass. She continues to love a variety of styles, but her primary focus these days is in the folk/bluegrass/country vein. In 2006, Barb was featured in the Flatpicking Guitar Magazine as one of the top women flatpickers in the US. She has released 2 well received cd's and is working on material for her 3rd.

Donna Luckett began performing in high school band and college as a music major. She later moved into music concert production and band promotion. Barb taught Donna to play bass guitar and the relationship of Galloway and Luckett as performers began. Galloway and Luckett have performed across the US, Canada, England and Ireland. They were featured in the NXNE festival in Toronto Canada with their first CD release. G&L continue to perform locally at various special functions including for state and local political events, OHSU graduations, private parties, and various farmers markets. In the past two years, they have connected with Artichoke Music and consider the stage at Artichoke to be one of their favorite venues. Jim, Richard and the Artichoke Community Music Program has become one of their most treasured organizations. Join Barb, Donna for an evening of fun, music, and great friends.

Ellen Stapenhorst has been writing songs and entertaining audiences around the country and internationally for over four decades. She writes and performs with humor and passion, and her strong, rich voice and guitar playing, along with insightful, fun and well-crafted songs, create an atmosphere of intimacy and warmth whether in a living room or a large concert hall. Lifelong commitments to peace, equal rights and sustainable, healthy living on the planet infuse her music.

Ellen grew up in the coffee houses of southern California in the late sixties, was part of the Aspen-based original country rock band Tanglefoot in the seventies, and after a brief stint in Nashville, returned west to California and Colorado. She currently lives in Paonia, on the western slope of the Rockies. Ellen has four full length CDs of original folk and country-flavored songs, including this year’s release, Shifting Sand, a mainly live solo recording. Her song “Traveler” (Come Back Home) has been on the LA Acoustic Radio Most Requested list for two years.

Join us for a very special night of music from Richard Colombo, the heart of Artichoke Music. His fingerprints are on everything that happens here. He is often in the background making this organization work. Tonight we get hear his masterful guitar and heartfelt songs come alive, He will be joined by Ellen Stapenhorst, his dear friend and one of his very early musical partners from his days in the Bay Area.