The Sellwood Community House is bringing free outdoor concerts to Southeast Portland this summer. The Thursday and Friday night concerts take place right outside “The Shack” at Sellwood Park (SE 7th Ave and SE Miller St) under a beautiful canopy of 100-year-old fir trees.
Pack your picnic baskets, grab your lowest lawn chairs, and check out the remaining August schedule.
Photo: Piano.Push.Play, created by Christine Claringbold in 2024.
Thursday Nights: Piano.Push.Play Series
Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., the park transforms into an open-air recital lounge featuring beautiful, artist-designed acoustic pianos. This series is presented in cooperation with Piano.Push.Play, which rescues pianos, has them painted by artists and places them all over Portland.
Here are the remaining performances:
- August 13: Jason Buchanan, with elegant classical and contemporary melodies.
- August 20: Vince Kelly, soulful keys and sing-along standards.
- August 27: Asher Fulero (rescheduled from earlier in the month), multi-genre performance.
Friday Nights: Summer Sellwood Sessions
Every Friday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m., local bands kick off the weekend with high-energy music. Here are the upcoming events:
- August 14: The County Fools, fast-paced bluegrass and string-band covers.
- August 21: Reb & The Good News, a seven-piece pop-funk, afro-beat, and soul dance party.
- August 28: PATINA, indie rock favorites.
- September 4: Kid Leisure (with opener Derek Montclair), funky grooves and vintage dance tracks.
- September 11: The Apricots, harmony-heavy indie pop and rock.
Getting to Sellwood Park
Public Transit
- By Bus: Take TriMet Bus Line 70 (12th Ave/NE 33rd Ave). It drops you off just blocks away along SE 13th Avenue. You can also ride TriMet Bus Line 99 (Macadam/McLoughlin) for quick access from downtown.
- By MAX Light Rail: Take the Orange Line to the SE Bybee Blvd MAX Station. From there, the park is a scenic walk or a quick bike ride westward through the neighborhood.
Parking
- Street Parking: Free, unrestricted parallel parking is available all along the perimeter of Sellwood Park on SE 7th Avenue and SE Miller Street.
- Pro Tip: Spots fill up quickly on warm Friday nights. Look for open spaces a few blocks east toward SE 11th Avenue to avoid congestion near the playground.
- Bike Parking: Multiple permanent bike racks are next to the tennis courts and The Shack building.
Know Before You Go
- The Food: You can purchase cold drinks, snacks, and sweet treats directly from The Shack window, or carry in food from neighborhood hubs.
- The Vibe: Highly kid-friendly and dog-friendly. Expect lawn games scattered around the grass and plenty of space for toddlers to dance.
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