Next weekend, on July 22nd and 23rd, HONK! PDX will host its first festival of brass bands at two locations in SE Portland. Next Saturday, festivities will run from noon to 7 p.m. at Revolution Hall field and then transition to three Montavilla venues for a Sunday celebration. HONK! bands draw inspiration from Klezmer, Balkan-Romani music, Brazilian Samba, Afrobeat and Highlife, Punk, Funk, Hip Hop, and the New Orleans second-line tradition. Area residents and visitors to Montavilla Town can enjoy free music in the SE 79th Avenue and Stark Street plaza from 12:30 to 6 p.m. However, more music will kick off a block away at Milwaukie Lumber from 1 to 6 p.m., followed by a Beer Bunker hosted stage starting at 3 p.m. until closing. The final event features an Open Jam where organizers encourage the audience to join the festival, playing their own instruments.
HONK! PDX positions itself as a free celebration of community, collaboration, and creative expression dedicated to creating a community of inclusion. It is an all-volunteer organization fiscally sponsored by SE Uplift. This style of event began in Massachusetts in 2008 as an activist street band festival, later expanding to New York, Detroit, Seattle, Austin, Brazil, Australia, and now Portland. Organizers designed the multi-day musical celebration to be accessible, representing various ages and abilities. Anyone who wants to bring an instrument and play can join pick-up bands throughout the festival.
HONK! PDX is seeking volunteers to help out during the festival. Event coordinators ask that interested participants fill out the sign-up sheet at the HONK! PDX Volunteer site. This free event does not need advanced tickets, and children are welcome. More information is available on the event website honkpdx.org.
