Plus, a new show case of local duo and trio collabs, and Justin Timberlake adds a 2025 Portland date to his world tour. by Jenni Moore As the nation reels from all the election-related roar and we figure out how to collectively move forward as a country in this new era, music offers an escape and an opportunity to connect with other like-minded folks in our community. This week, Hear in Portland, check out a new showcase from the folks behind A Beat Happening, the fourth album from Mal London, and newly added a Portland stop on Justin Timberlake's world tour!  MUST SEE:  Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s).     Combos: DoubleDash, MLTZR, CELLY, WRK! A Beat Happening already held their final regular showcase of the year, but this month they’re presenting a different free and all ages show called Combos. Still hosted by ABH's resident DJs Luvjonez and Free Tillman, Combos is a celebration of seven years of ABH events and will spotlight a unique mix of duo and trio performances that fuse hip hop, R&B, jazz, and electronic music. The lineup looks exciting and features the talents of Portland-based artists, like DoubleDash (multi-instrumentalist Machado Mijiga and instrumental meditative jazz and classical act Dario LaPoma), beatmaker MLTZR, and producer CELLY (of Skratcher Portland). The show also presents a chance to catch new improvisational soul trio WRK!, which includes the incredible voices of Yawa (AKA Amenta Abioto), Vaughn Kimmons (Brown Calculus), and Jacque Hammond. (Winningstad Theater, 1111 SW Broadway, Sun Nov 17, 5-8 pm, FREE, RSVP here, all ages)           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by A Beat Happening (@abeathappening) MUST LISTEN:  New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist. Forever Hold Your Peace, Mal London In early October, Portland-based rapper and singer Mal London dropped his fourth album Forever Hold Your Peace. Following up his 2023 collab album with fellow Portland rapper JxJury, FHYP was produced by Miami-based beatmaker Buddy Minnelli, who provided a chill backdrop for the end-of-summer project. London selected a small handful of notable featured artists—from the likes of fellow Portland rapper Wynne on album highlight “Wasn’t For You,” to underground rapper .zone from Durham, NC on “Rolled,” and eclectic, multi-talented artist Che AM on the jazz-influenced “Radio Silence.” The album single "Plurals" is worth your time, but my personal favorite track is the catchy and romantic “Me & You," which seamlessly transitions and evolves into the subsequent “GYMW II.” London shows off pretty sonics and flows to match. ADDED TO THE QUEUE:  Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar. Justin Timberlake Some of us have been following and fanning out over  Justin Timberlake since his NSYNC days. Thankfully, Timberlake’s unfortunate DUI from June didn’t “ruin the tour,” and he did us one better, and added a Portland date to the Forget Tomorrow Tour. Timberlake's world tour stopped in Seattle for two consecutive nights back in May—where this critic personally observed Timberlake still performing in top form. His impressive two-hour setlist contains back-to-back hits, spanning the popstar's  25-year career. Along with peak Timberlake staples like “LoveStoned/I Think She Knows,” “Cry Me A River,” “Rock Your Body,” “Suit & Tie,” “What Goes Around…Comes Around,” “Sexy Back,” and “Mirrors,” Timberlake also integrated the best tracks from his sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was, like “Play” and “Sanctified.” Expect the long sets, seasoned live vocals and iconic pop choreography, but there's not much that can prepare you for the tour's elaborate stage designs that bring the singer close to as his many fans in surprising ways. (Moda Center, 1 N Center, Mon Jan 13, 7:30 pm, $50-275, tickets here, all ages)