A few images from last week’s Keep Portland Weird festival in France. All photos by Laura Guimond.
Some of the artists who performed at Pompidou Center, April 25, 2012
Mirah and friends at Gaite Lyrique, April 26, 2012
Travel Portland information desk at Gaite Lyrique
Attendees enjoying a cut-out mustache from the event program
Editor’s note: “Keep Portland Weird” is a 10-day series of concerts in France featuring Portland musicians. Read more in the New York Times travel blog.
It’s a five-minute walk from the hotel to the Gaite Lyrique where the “Keep Portland Weird” festival has launched. Four Portland bands (Steven Malkmus & the Jicks, Michael Hurley, Rebecca Gates and the Consortium and Street Nights) played last night and two more (Slimkid3 and Lifesavas) will take the stage tonight.
I am staffing an information table with Kelsey Bunker, the owner of The Jupiter Hotel, who is helping negotiate the French as she lives here half-time. In the hall, about 500 people are milling about, drinking, eating, chatting. Five hundred really nice polite young hip people who are amazed that I am giving out really cool Portland pins (or badges, as they are called here) for free. They love the bumper stickers, too. Again the incredulity at the price: rien — nothing!
Editor’s note: “Keep Portland Weird” is a 10-day series of concerts in France featuring Portland musicians. Barbara Steinfeld is sharing her experiences as she represents Travel Portland at the events.
Departing in two days for the Keep Portland Weird festival in Paris. Do I have everything I need? Pins, bumper stickers, CDs, brochures, maps, fliers, umbrella contact info, functioning iPad and iPhone with international programs installed, USB stick loaded with Portland photos … the list goes on.
Will the bands from Portland playing each night let me join them after the shows for a night out in Paris or will my old clock kick in and send me back to the Best Western to bed? Met with Kristan Kennedy (of PICA) today for lunch at Kenny and Zuke’s to talk about the trip. She has almost as many questions as I do about how it will all turn out. Comforting somehow. We’ll be in it together. Can’t wait to hear the Portland bands in Paris. Stay tuned for the next edition of “An Americanne in Paris.”
