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Interview with Portland Queer Music Festival’s Samuel Thomas

Samuel Thomas, the man behind the music

Portland may be known for both its music and its queerness but the two have never come together in quite the cohesive way that this Saturday’s Portland Queer Music Festival aims to. A full day and two stages of back to back acts at Red Cap Garage for only 3 bucks is one of the most reasonable prices I’ve ever heard too, in true PDX fashion. Plus, despite the dive drink prices, Red Cap’s bar menu is quite delicious, with that unpretentious but slightly upscale goodness that Portland bars are starting to do so well.

Bands, producers and DJs of multiple genres and genders have come from our own backyards as well as across the country to participate. You can see a lineup of all 30 in an earlier post for just a taste of the days never-ending aural pleasure.

And the man behind it all? That would be Samuel Thomas, director and founder of the Portland FREE Music Project and an organizer of the (nearly) weekly Maricon dance party. This hard workin’ man booked all 30 acts himself. He’s hopeful that the fest will be a success, anticipating over 800 attendees over the course of the day. Here’s what he had to say on the eve of his inaugural summer celebration of queer music.

qPDX: What made you want to start a queer music fest in Portland?

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Portland Queer Music Festival announces lineup

Ever since Homo-a-Gogo left the PacNW for the shores of Cali, there’s been a little queer hole in our music festival scene (and not in any good way). Though it is only one day, the upcoming first of its kind Portland Queer Music Fesitval is chock full of gay goodness for your aural pleasure. The festival features a whopping 27 bands from 3pm to the wee hours and has just announced the official lineup, which I have included below.

In a ridiculously simple but smart and elegant move, the fest will feature 2 stages that will alternate so that each band has time to setup, but you can catch every act without any wait time in between. Brilliant.

With acts from far and wide, encompassing folk, hip hop, electronic and garage rock, there should be something for pretty much everyone. Some of my favorite locals include SistaFist, CJ & the Dolls, and Play/Start and I’ve heard great things about Mattachine Social and Kiss Kill, even if I haven’t made it out to see them. Then there are so many more to discover with names as enticing as I’m sure the performances will be.

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