Coming Soon: Project Pabst 2025
Words by Em Brockway & cover photo by Sam Gehrke at Project Pabst 2024
Simultaneously a blast to the past (or the mid 2010s, that is) and a nod to the future of live music in Portland, the ever beloved Project Pabst has returned for their second post hiatus summer on the waterfront! Produced by Pabst, the festival will be returning to Tom McCall Waterfront Park on July 26-27 as one of the biggest music events of Portland this summer.
Originally a love letter to Portland from Pabst Brewing Company to Portland’s ever thriving hipster scene, the festival has hosted indie rock legends such as Beck, Modest Mouse, and Weezer, proving again and again their devotion to our city. It’s not everyday we get a music festival in Portland that actually speaks to the ever evolving punk, indie and grunge scenes of the Pacific Northwest, and that means Portlanders continue to flock to Project Pabst like moths to a flame year after year.
With headliners such as Iggy Pop and Death Cab for Cutie, we don’t expect this year’s turnout to be anything less than incredible, so let’s take a peek at some of the artists from this year’s lineup that we’re excited for!
Saturday
Iggy Pop – The big headliner of the night, the guy we’ve all been waiting for. Nicknamed “The Godfather of Punk,” Iggy Pop has left behind an undeniable mark when it comes to the history of rock and roll. Vocalist of The Stooges, Iggy has received many awards and achievements over his very long career, been cited as an influence for many influential bands and artists of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and even been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Despite all that though, he’s equally as known for his wild stage presence and ability to perform.
DEVO – This band may be known for their iconic red hats and hit song Whip It, but they’ve truly proven themselves to be all that and more! DEVO delivers fantastically written satire with clever delivery and sick new wave beats concurrently, making them the perfect band to check out if you’re just trying to have fun and not take life too seriously and/or strongly enjoy funky new wave/post punk music from the 80s.
The Damned – Continuing with the theme of punk, The Damned is the true definition of the British punk scene in the 80s. Having explored adjacent scenes such as early hardcore and goth, the band has become an influence for a lot of later punk artists, and truly displayed their range rather than locked themselves inside of a box.
The Chats – To be quite honest, I feel like you can never go wrong with Australian punk, as it’s always hit after hit, and that applies to The Chats as well. Formed in 2016, the rockers have truly found a way to embody that classic punk sound that The Damned pioneered so well and make it their own, and you’ll definitely want to catch them from the pit!
Gustaf – Born in 2020, this art rock band curated both an image and a sound for themselves that truly sets them apart from a lot of bands in the scene right now. They’re punchy and colorful and have a way of making music that just makes you feel like you’re at the function!
Other artists playing Saturday include Mannequin Pussy, The Exploding Hearts, Gouge Away, and Nasalrod.
Sunday
Death Cab for Cutie – As an incredibly influential band out of Bellingham, Washington, getting to see Death Cab for Cutie is going to be a very special moment for us. They truly are one of the most important indie bands of the 2000s and 2010s, and it’s almost difficult to even pinpoint an exact reason why. There’s just something about their music that makes you feel like you’re both insanely carefree yet drowning under the weight of your emotions, but it’s okay, because everyone else listening to the same songs as you also get it. There is simply a collective unity in Death Cab for Cutie that is so important.
Japanese Breakfast – Despite being a beautifully dreamy pop project, Japanese Breakfast has deep roots in the emo scene (as well as deep roots to Eugene, Oregon, coincidentally!) with long time ties to bands such as Foxing, resulting in a lot of deep cutting shoegaze tracks accompanied by a beautiful voice and equally as beautiful instrumentals. They’re the perfect band to stop and see if you need a moment to just take in some music and simply be present in the moment!
Built To Spill – Continuing with the theme of indie rock bands formed in the 90s, specifically in the northwestern part of the country, Built To Spill has released a solid discography in their time as a band, fronted by primary permanent member Doug Martsch. They really are interesting as a project, as Martsch had planned to change the lineup with every album he released under the name, meaning not one release would really be the same. If you like Death Cab for Cutie or Modest Mouse, I guarantee you would like Built To Spill (but if we’re being honest here, you probably already listen to them).
Sam Austins – Sam Austins brings a unique, experimental sound to day two of the festival, stepping outside of the classic boundaries of “alternative music” to create a magical mix of electronic music, funky beats, voice pitching, etc, to his music in a way that pushes the limits to make something entirely new.
Other artists playing Sunday include Cap’n Jazz, Wednesday, Say She She, and Dustbunny.
Buy tickets to Project Pabst on July 26-27th here!
