Stumptown Soundcheck

What happens when live music becomes part of the soundtrack to your day? This month on Stumptown Soundcheck, host Anthony Messano welcomes David Pollack and Johnny Franco of Curbside Serenade, along with Paul Van Orden from the City of Portland's Noise Program, for a conversation about busking, public spaces, and how music, community, and thoughtful policy come together to shape the places we shar...

If you’ve tried to buy a concert ticket lately, you know how frustrating it’s become. Oregon is stepping in with new laws aimed at bots, deceptive practices, and speculative ticketing—but will they actually change the experience for fans, artists, and venues? Host Anthony Messano is joined by Jimi Biron and Kevin Erickson to explore what these reforms get right, where they fall short, and what it...

Music festivals don’t just happen—they’re built. We talk with Chad Colwell (Jackalope Jamboree) and Christina Fuller (Waterfront Blues Festival) about what it really takes to create festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

This episode of Stumptown Soundcheck unpacks the merger between MusicPortland and MusicOregon — what changed, what didn’t, and why it matters to everyone in the music ecosystem. Host Anthony Messano talks with Music Oregon Board President Tim Wilson and Music Portland board member (and former president) Kate O’Brien about advocacy, statewide expansion, and the real impact these organizations have...

Portland is in the middle of another transition, and conversations about safety, culture, and identity often blur together. On this episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Anthony Messano is joined by Marshall Runkel, political strategist and longtime Portland civic advocate, to talk through how music and cultural policy intersect with the city’s future. The conversation touches on public investment...

With new host Anthony Messano at the helm, Stumptown Soundcheck digs into one of the most universal — and maddening — parts of Portland’s live-music experience: parking. Joined by venue leaders Cheri Jamison (Alberta Abbey) and Jimi Byron (McMenamins/Crystal Ballroom), the conversation explores how parking availability influences ticket sales, audience turnout, artist load-ins, neighborhood relati...

In this special episode, Stumptown Soundcheck brings you inside the Arts & Economy Committee meeting of August 12 2025. Councilor Jamie Dunphy introduces “The State of Portland’s Music Economy,” a presentation that examines the scale, significance and vulnerability of the city’s independent music sectorportland.gov. You’ll hear from Grammy‑winning artist Esperanza Spalding, who reflects on the imp...

Portland’s indie heartbeat is loud—but can it keep tempo as the city leans harder into big-league sports? Host Jamie Dunphy sits down with two insiders who live at that intersection: DJ OG One (official DJ of the Portland Trail Blazers) and Jami Duffy (Executive Director, Youth on Record; Co‑Manager, Underground Music Showcase; Denver Cultural Affairs Commissioner). Together they unpack how arena...

For most Portlanders, the city doesn’t start until the workday ends—yet the only municipal employees reliably clocking in after 5 p.m. are cops, firefighters, and 911 operators. Could a dedicated advocate for nightlife, culture, and after-hours small business help the Rose City feel vibrant and safe again? Host Jamie Dunphy sits down with two of America’s leading nighttime-economy strategists: Sco...

Forget the tired “Keep Portland Weird” bumper-sticker: the real action is happening in the neighborhoods you keep cruising past on the MAX. In this month’s Stumptown Soundcheck, host Jamie Dunphy drags the spotlight off downtown and plants it firmly on Portland’s orbital music hubs—Beaverton, Vancouver, and beyond—where guitars are repaired faster than city councils can file another noise-ordinanc...

In this episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Jamie Dunphy sits down with Michael Bracy, co-founder of the Music Policy Forum, to explore the intricate relationship between music, policy, and community-building. Michael recounts his early experiences advocating for artists’ rights with the Future of Music Coalition, sheds light on how policy can both challenge and enhance local music ecosystems, a...

In Episode 22 of Stumptown Soundcheck, we tune in to the raw, unfiltered passion that Kate Becker brings to building and sustaining Seattle-area arts. Once a scrappy rabble-rouser, she’s now the head honcho at the King County Office of Economic Opportunity and Creative Economy. (Yes, that’s a mouthful.) Host Jamie Dunphy teases out how Seattle’s music ecosystem rose from sweaty teen all-ages shows...

In this episode, host and city councilor Jamie Dunphy sits down with Music Policy Council rock star Jesse Valencia to survey the big question: “How can Portland become a true music city?” Listeners chime in on everything from parking solutions to city-led agencies that cut through red tape. They discuss a new all-ages venue project (Friends of Noise FTW!), policy changes (bye-bye, archaic noise co...

In this episode, host Jamie Dunphy engages with newly elected Portland City Councilors Sameer Kanal and Olivia Clark to explore the pivotal role of music in shaping public policy. They discuss strategies to support the local music industry, address subjective law enforcement issues related to noise codes, and navigate the impact of major players like Live Nation on Portland’s vibrant music scene....

In this enlightening episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, special guest host Jesse Valencia welcomes back Music Portland's founder and executive director, Mara McLaughlin. Together, they delve into the pivotal role of Portland's independent music industry in the city's economy and culture, especially in light of the upcoming governmental changes. With Portland's government transitioning to a new struc...

In Episode 18 of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Jamie Dunphy welcomes Jesse Valencia, the newest member of the Music Policy Council, for an in-depth discussion on the vital intersection of music and public policy in Portland. They explore tangible ways policy can support the city's thriving independent music scene, from practical solutions like designating loading zones for musicians at venues to impl...

Despite having more live music venues than other “music cities”, Portland has long been bypassed by tours due to a significant gap in venue sizes. The tide is turning with three new performance venues currently in various stages of planning. But at what price to our music community? Host Jamie Dunphy, Chair of Music Portland's Policy Council, unravels the specifics with co-host Veronica Bisesti, E...

Episode 16: Finding Portland’s Queer Music Scene Host Jamie Dunphy and guest Co-Host Renée Muzquiz delve into Portland's queer music scene. Joining the conversation are dynamic queer performers Karma Rivera and Shrista, who share their personal journeys and struggles as musicians in the hip-hop and comedy scenes. The episode explores the challenges of finding queer-friendly venues and the need for...

In this episode, Jamie Dunphy sits down with Mont Chris Hubbard of AFM Local 99 to discuss the new FTC rule banning non-compete agreements and its implications for musicians. Learn how this new regulation compares to Oregon laws, the specifics of radius clauses, and how it could shape the future landscape for music workers. Tune in for an in-depth look at the intersection of music and public polic...

Join us on this month’s episode of Stumptown Soundcheck as host Jamie Dunphy sits down with Shain Shapiro, the author of "This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your Cities Better" and founder of Sound Diplomacy. Tune in to hear about Shain's insights from his global book tour, and how Portland can integrate music into policy to fuel economic development and community building. You won't want...

In this stirring episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Jamie Dunphy delves into the growing influence of Live Nation in Portland's local music scene and how it could reshape the cultural and economic landscape of this independent music haven. With insights from Amy Maxwell, the seasoned founder of Ticket Tomato, and Kyle O'Quinn, a musician with decades of experience in bands like Portugal the Man...

In this eye-opening episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Jamie Dunphy takes a deep dive into the seismic shifts within the 2024 music industry, with a special focus on the colossal influence of Live Nation. Joined by the esteemed LA Times music reporter, August Brown, they explore how streaming, corporate monopolies, and aggressive business practices have reshaped the landscape of live music. Fro...

Stumptown Soundcheck is your monthly invitation to explore the heartbeat of Portland's music community, with a special focus on the rich, vibrant presence and contributions of Black musicians within the city. This episode, guest-hosted by champion for racial justice reform and music enthusiast, Chrissy Wood, offers listeners a thought-provoking journey through the historical significance, challeng...

Welcome to Episode 10 of Stumptown Soundcheck, entitled "Have Our Stages Really Been Saved?" In this thought-provoking discussion, host Jamie Dunphy explores the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Portland's music scene and dives into whether the legislative efforts, including the celebrated Save Our Stages bill, have truly offered a lifeline to the struggling music venues across the natio...

In today’s episode of Stumptown Soundcheck, host Jamie Dunphy takes you through the incredible landscape of Portland's Music Month. Get a front-row seat to the lively discussions with key figures who shape our city's soundtrack—Meara McLaughlin of Music Portland and Gina Altamura from Holocene! Portland Music Month is not just a celebration of sound but also a vital fundraiser for Music Portland's...