Portland Music Month halted for 2025, organizers urge concert-goers to support local acts

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland Music Month typically runs through January, but audiences will have to wait until 2026 for the month-long celebration of local music.

The event is coordinated by MusicPortland, a “grassroots movement” that advocates for the Rose City’s independent music scene. It has hosted acts such as punk band J. Graves, indie pop group Chipped Nail Polish and pop duo Foamboy in recent years.

But in December, leaders announced the 2025 concert series was no more.

“A number of factors have led us to suspend this year’s festival and focus on launching it even more successfully in January 2026,” Portland Music Month wrote on its website. “We’ll miss the music and vibes this year, but we encourage you to support as much local music as possible in January! In the meantime, stay tuned for updates.”

According to the announcement, the organization will now look ahead to the 2026 celebration. The Portland Mercury reported that planning is expected to commence in March.

MusicPortland had a busy 2024, marked by its efforts to activate downtown with live music and to block a new Live Nation venue from impacting independent concert spaces. The organization also helped allocate money from the Echo Fund: a city-backed grant that benefits local musicians.

More than 300 acts applied for the grant, with just 22 selected to receive more than $85,000 altogether. The recipients have used the funding for projects ranging from music video production to recording and mixing new songs, according to MusicOregon.

Although the official Portland Music Month has been canceled, several of the city’s independent venues — including Alberta Street Pub, the Jack London Revue and the White Eagle Saloon — will showcase talent from near and far.

McMenamins’ Crystal Ballroom is gearing up to host the Portland Folk Festival on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 as well.