Free Outdoor Concerts at The Old Church Concert Hall
Three Thursdays in September | 5–8 PM
Join us outside The Old Church Concert Hall for TOC September Sessions, a free outdoor concert series featuring artists from a variety of musical traditions. Held on three late-summer evenings in downtown Portland, these gatherings invite neighbors, downtown workers, visitors, and music lovers to experience live music, discover new artists, and connect with one another in the heart of the city.
Presented beneath TOC's historic porte cochère, September Sessions reflects our commitment to creating free opportunities for people to gather around music and culture.
Sep 10: Jazz Night: Calysta Cheyenne & Sarah Clarke
Known for her warm tone, heartfelt phrasing, and captivating stage presence, Calysta Cheyenne has enchanted audiences with her interpretations of the Great American Songbook for years. For this performance, she will present a blend of original works and beloved jazz standards, joined by Robin Fey on guitar and Laurent Nickel on bass.
Sarah Clarke is a songwriter and vocalist, born and raised in Portland, Ore. Known for her power, range and dynamic performances, Sarah exudes a subtle mastery of her craft that leaves her audiences craving more.
Sarah gained widespread recognition touring North America with her band Dirty Revival, San Francisco based soul, psych-rock band Con Brio, indie-rock Grammy winners Portugal. The Man and has continued to wow audiences as the newest full-time member of the Colorado based funkateers, The Motet. When not on the road, Sarah can be seen with the funk unit Outer Orbit, which draws from the best of Portland’s deep pool of talent (featuring various band members from Ghost Note, Allen Stone, Gino Vannelli and more) as well as having performed alongside artists such as George Clinton, Ghost Note and many more.
Sarah’s intention is to elevate the music both on and off the stage and she throws everything she’s got into everything she does.
Sep 17: Bluegrass Night: The Josh Cole Band w/ Blue Flags & Black Grass
For more than 25 years, Josh Cole has been a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest bluegrass community. Known as the "Elvis of Portland Bluegrass," he has served as President of the Oregon Bluegrass Association and continues to host Music From the True Vine on KBOO-FM, the longest-running bluegrass program west of the Mississippi.
Blue Flags & Black Grass brings acoustic American roots music and intricate instrumentation inspired by the string bands of the 1920s and '30s.
Sep 24: Latin Night: Caicedo & Eviana
Presented in collaboration with Venezuela's Voice in Oregon.
Paul, Eric, Andres, Eviana, and Vicco are Caicedo, a Portland-based band whose friendship has become a central part of their music. The project began in Guadalajara in 2013 and took its current form in March 2022, following the pandemic.
At the heart of Caicedo is a love for pop nostalgia. Their music brings together reggaeton, pop, psych rock, dream pop, and Latin and tropical rhythms, creating a sound they call Tropical Dream. It draws from the records, sounds, and memories that shaped them while leaving plenty of room for where they are now.
For Caicedo, the connection between the five members is just as important as the music itself. What started as a project has grown into a friendship, and that friendship has become the thread running through everything they make.
Eviana is a multi-hyphenated artist and singer-songwriter whose music moves freely from acoustic to R&B and soul. Her songs, many written in her bedroom across different chapters of her life since she started taking music seriously during the pandemic, feel handmade and raw: intimate enough to sit with, catchy enough to keep your head bopping. Her 2023 EP, Evolution of Love, explores the many forms love takes throughout a lifetime, from self love to family sacrifice to the messy in between of a relationship.
_________
Paul, Eric, Andres, Eviana y Vicco son Caicedo, una banda de Portland cuya amistad se ha convertido en una parte fundamental de su música. El proyecto nació en Guadalajara en 2013 y tomó su forma actual en marzo de 2022, después de la pandemia.
En el centro de Caicedo está el amor por la nostalgia del pop. Su música reúne reggaetón, pop, psych rock, dream pop y ritmos latinos y tropicales, creando un sonido que ellos llaman Tropical Dream. Su propuesta parte de los discos, sonidos y recuerdos que los marcaron, pero también de lo que son y viven hoy.
Para Caicedo, la conexión entre sus cinco integrantes es tan importante como la música. Lo que comenzó como un proyecto se convirtió en una amistad, y esa amistad se ha vuelto el hilo conductor de todo lo que hacen.
Eviana es una artista de muchas facetas y cantautora. Su música se mueve libre entre lo acústico, el R&B y el soul. Sus canciones, muchas escritas en su cuarto a lo largo de distintas situaciones de su vida desde que empezó a tomarse la música en serio durante la pandemia, se sienten hechas a mano. Lo suficientemente íntimas para sentarte con ellas, lo suficientemente pegajosas para que no pares de mover la cabeza. Su EP del 2023, Evolución de Amor, explora las muchas formas que toma el amor a lo largo de la vida, desde el amor propio hasta el sacrificio familiar, pasando por ese "en medio" bien confuso de una relación.
Free. All ages. Everyone welcome. Seating is limited. Bar service available with ID.