Read all about what’s on the music forecast, Hear in Portland. by Jenni Moore Right now we’re seeing artists express complex feelings of guilt and shame for sharing their projects and career highlights on social media in a time where multiple waves of genocide, corruption, and the dismantling of our democracy are constantly splashing across our screens. However, I’d like to chime in and offer that now is when we need artists and artistry the most. Even as our public education system is continuously threatened with attacks on anything vaguely resembling diversity, equity, and inclusion, the broligarchs aren’t able to fully control the levers of art and culture. So yes, we need artists to continue pumping out radical content, spreading messages of hope, documenting, and poignantly capturing this moment in time. This week we’re thrilled about opportunities to catch Olympia band Oh, Rose live, an upcoming visit from rising star Durand Bernarr, and Wu-Tang Clan’s final tour—stopping at Moda Center this summer. MUST SEE:  Upcoming local event(s) featuring local artist(s). Oh, Rose / Sun Atoms / Dustbunny One of my favorite Olympia bands, Oh, Rose are headlining Polaris Hall, marking the last of a trio of PNW shows after subsequent visits to Eugene and Seattle. Fronted by Olivia Rose Huebner—the indie band’s main songwriter—Oh, Rose are pretty much guaranteed to rock your socks off live, thanks to the singer’s stunningly dynamic, at times visceral, vocals. The band will no doubt perform standout tracks from their third and most recent album, Dorothy, which dropped last fall via local label Antiquated Future. The fiercely gritty “Dog,” the cinematic “The Call,” and the soothing, Sheryl Crow-reminiscent “Roses” dot the album from beginning to end with relatable, emotive stories. Opening the show are two Portland-based bands Sun Atoms—makers of psychedelic darkwave and post-modern pop—and the grungy shoegazers, Dustbunny. (Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth Ct, Fri April 4, 8 pm, $15, tickets here, 21+) ADDED TO THE QUEUE:  Some upcoming music buzz to add to your radar. Durand Bernarr / Shae Universe  Profoundly talented singer/songwriter/producer Durand Bernarr blesses the Wonder Ballroom with a stop on his “You Gon' Grow, Too! Tour.” Having earned his chops in the music biz by singing backup for Erykah Badu, collaborating and performing with artists from Thundercat and Kaytranada to Annie Lennox, Bernarr is a star in his own right and finally starting to receive his flowers. He earned his first Grammy nomination for his 2024 EP En Route, and I wouldn’t be surprised if his 2025 album Bloom earns a nod next year as well. Multifaceted and genre-fluid, Bernarr once again proves that his vocal range is as expansive as his stylistic versatility, consistently demonstrating his ability to easily alternate between highly developed technical singing and rapping. His sound reminds the listener of Outkast one moment and D’Angelo the next, though he cites Erykah Badu, Rick James, and Little Richard as his greatest influences. In addition to the gorgeous six-minute build of Bloom’s opening track “Generous,” we’re hoping his upcoming show at Wonder Ballroom will see him perform other album highlights as well. Truthfully, Bloom is a no-skips situation. With all the quality releases and prowess this artist demonstrates—along with his wildly entertaining and hilarious stage presence—it’ll be exciting to see how he arranges his setlist and backing musicians. If it’s even a little bit like his NPR Tiny Desk Concert, I’ll be a happy camper. (Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, Sat April 26, 8 pm, $25+, tickets here, all ages) Wu-Tang Clan / Run the Jewels It’s never a guarantee that major hip-hop tours will stop in Portland. As such, an important summer happening to put on your radar early is Wu-Tang Clan’s last hoorah, a tour appropriately titled, Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chapter. Along for the ride is the heavy-hitting duo, Run the Jewels. The tour features all the surviving members of the group—RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna—along with Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son Young Dirty Bastard. Fans will be able to scratch something off their bucket list as Wu-Tang performs major hits from the soundtrack of our lives, like “Protect Ya Neck,” “C.R.E.A.M.,” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin to F Wit,” and “Bring da Ruckus.” Wu-Tang also recently announced that their first album in nearly a decade, Bastard Swordsman: From the Wu-Tang, the Saga Continues Collection will be released on Record Store Day 2025 (April 12). The forthcoming 12-track studio album is produced entirely by Mathematics, pulling inspiration from ’70s-era Blaxploitation films as well as karate flicks. Tickets went on sale at the end of February—if you haven’t bought them already, now’s a good time to get your coins together. (Moda Center, 1 N Center Ct., Tues July 1, 8 pm, $55.50+, tickets here, all ages) ...read more read less