Here comes the heat - after the river, you'll wanna cool off with some of my music picks -- here's a quick rundown:

Friday at the Tonic Howie and the Hot Knives, the Decliners, and denim vested swamp garage of the Muddy River Nightmare Band.

Over at the Wonder Ballroom, the Lions of Batucada bring a world beat flavor.

Oregon Zoo the one and only Timmins family singers the Cowboy Junkies will chillax you right back along with the Indigo Girls outside on the lawn among the beasts.

Saturday night at the Tonic Pure Country Gold has a new 7" release, the Flip Tops also on the bill - good to see you out boys.

Artichoke Music is hosting the HUGE community folk festival on Hawthorne.

Also all weekend long it's the Good in the Neighborhood in Northeast Portland - parades, kid stuff, music food and ethnic marketplace. This is getting bigger every year.

Here's the ART - At the Olympic Mills Commerce Center it's the mural show, featuring that's right, BIG paintings. But wait - also playing will be MDC (Millions of Dead Cops), DJ Clean, Hello Cleveland, Paulrus Is Dead and The Chesstones

I had never heard of the Orange room before, but looks like a totally cool place to check out - the address is 10818 NW St Helens Road

Playing is:
Rifle
Reporter
Fist Fite
Old Growth
Science of Yabra
Vanishing Kids
Dudelord
Experimental Dental School

Holy hotel rooftops - the Top down filmfest from NW Film Center has a great outdoor up high line up starting next month - Tom Waits' Big Time among them on July 24. Says there'll be grub and cocktails too!

... More to come

---