Seven piece Funk/Hip-Hop group Grant Street Orchestra is having a party in the hub of Portland’s art and music scene, playing their first 18+ show ever. At 9 p.m. Friday Aug. 27, SPACE Gallery on Congress Street in Portland is going to get a taste of Parkside as the stage will be dressed up as a front stoop from the funky side of town. Grant Street is celebrating the end of an amazing summer with friends, dancing, and playing music one last time before the fall air sneaks through the city.
Headliners Grant Street Orchestra will close out the night in a cavalcade of funk, with help from a handful of special guests. A few new songs will debut, along with an expansion of their already impressive horn section, and DJ Noel Brennan working the turntables!
GSO has invited some friends from the neighborhood to join them in the festivities; The four piece hip-hop powerhouse Sandbag will be taking the stage for some mic control of the utmost distinction. With strong musical and lyrical talents from each member, their sound is the hip-hop voice of Portland.
Jessie Pilgrim and The Bonfire bring a change of flavor to the line-up. Pilgrim is the notorious bad-boy of folk in the Portland music scene with influences ranging from Johnny Cash to NOFX.
The sound-scape duo Powerlines will open the night, handmade instruments and electronics in-tow. Their trip-hop based sounds will set the mood for what is sure to be a long night of live music and dancing.
“This is our last set of the summer and we want to go as big possible with this show – we’re holding nothin’ back,” said Andy Barbo, the lead guitar player for GSO. “The band is really looking forward to this performance in particular because this is going to be our first 18+ show. We’re excited to put on a show for those who can’t get in to our regular performances in town. SPACE Gallery is the perfect place for this crowd and this show.”
Created in the summer of 2008, GSO started as a two-man group consisting of lead MC MINT, and guitarist Andy Barbo, playing songs at open mic nights in Portland using only one microphone, one guitar, and a loop station. Throughout the course of the year they gained popularity and band members. Starting with a the horn section of Geoff Zimmerman and Henry Redman, the group then acquired others to provide a stronger hip-hop feel, adding Peter Eberhardt and Charlie Sichterman for bass and drums, soon after. GSO then took up I-KUE, a second MC, and came out with their very first album, The Parkside EP, in the summer of 2009. GSO continued to play shows all over the Greater Portland area. They will soon be taking a hiatus for the fall to record their first full length album.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Grant Street Orchestra, please contact Andy Barbo at GrantStreetOrchestra@gmail.com or 774-212-1277.
