KALA

The QUIRKS
2025-05-17 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
KALA welcomes THE QUIRKS to the stage, Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm. Tickets $15 online at kalaastoria.com, also available at the door. Doors open at 7pm.
Four longtime members of the Lower Columbia Pacific rock scene come together to form a new band. Keeping the music alive, The Quirks are consolidating original tunes by each band member, and you’ll hear some great blues standards in addition.
The Bond Street Blues Band formed in the late 70’s and fronted by guitarist Joe Patenaude, was an original music staple in the region, and on occasion have gotten together for reunion shows. The Pagan Pancakes (new wave/rock), Ma Barley (reggae), and Bikini Beach (surf) are all significant bands that make up the Quirks crew.
Joe Patenaude on guitar, Lorenzo Carlson on bass, Peter Unander on keys and Tom Peake on drums celebrate this debut show and continuing on to enliven north coast stages. Get in on the spirit of the original Lower Columbia groove.
KALA Performance Space is located at 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503-338-4878. 21+ please.
TICKET LINK

Gordie Tentrees and Jaxon Haldane
2025-04-23 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Gordie Tentrees, an authentic road poet, takes his art across the globe, from North America to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the UK/Ireland, and Scandinavia. With 8 records to his name and the legendary sideman Jaxon Haldane by his side, each of their performances is a unique, never-to-be-repeated experience. Having graced over 1000 stages in 11 countries, their dynamic electric/acoustic show, filled with brotherly harmonies and masterful storytelling, is a must-see. Don’t miss the chance to be captivated by Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane!
Gordie & Jaxon recently recorded a new duo record in Nashville TN with Australian Nashville based acclaimed producer Nash Chambers (Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Archie Roach) which featured Shawn Fichter (Drums) – Peter Frampton, Tim McGraw, Steve Mackey (Bass) – Dolly Parton, Wallflowers and special guests Trey Hensley (Grammy Nominee & IBMA Guitar player of the year) and Charlie McCoy (Harmonica) Elvis, Bob Dylan. It is set for release April 22- 2025 worldwide! For more info on Gordie and Jaxon for to Gordie Tentrees!
Tickets are $25 at the door eve of show. Doors open 7pm. 21+please.
TICKET LINK
WATCH GORDIE AND JAXON LIVE!
“Organic & holistic folk, this is the wild sound of freedom and the freedom to fly” Midwest Record, USA

Matheny Plays Mancini The Henry Mancini Centennial Celebration
2025-04-11 19:30 - 22:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny and the Dmitri Matheny Group honor and celebrate the 100th birthday of famed film score composer Henry Mancini. The jazz quintet dedicates original arrangements of memorable themes from movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Pink Panther, Days of Wine and Roses, and television themes from Peter Gunn, Mr. Lucky, NBC Election Night Theme, Newhart, Remington Steele and so much more.
During his lifetime, HENRY MANCINI was nominated for 72 GRAMMY Awards, winning 20. He was nominated for 18 Academy Awards winning four, honored with a Golden Globe Award and nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Directed by flugelhornist/composer Dmitri Matheny (“one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation”—International Review of Music), the DMG has developed an engaging repertoire and a strong international following. The group’s signature sound pleases both crowds and critics, balancing fresh, original works with familiar jazz classics, hard bop, west coast cool and selections from the DMG’s 12 critically-acclaimed CDs.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Tickets are $25 through February 28, 2025. Tickets are $30, March 1 – April 11, 2025.
KALA Performance Space is an intimate concert venue with beverage bar. Seating is limited to 50 seats.
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DMG PLAYS “PERFECT PEACHES”

The Ghost of Clem Stark
2025-03-21 19:30 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Oregon poet, novelist, gardener Charles Goodrich and local fisherpoets gather Friday, March 21 at KALA to share original poetry and song in honor of Clem Starck who died at spring equinox in 2024. Clem’s poetry – lean, honest, vocational – inspired the first FisherPoets Gathering years ago and Clem became a regular, cherished participant. Through his poetry, Clem, too, will join us.
Fisherpoets Geno Leech, Jon Broderick, Jay Speakman and Moe Bowstern who each spent many agreeable hours themselves at Clem’s table join Charles to read – or sometimes sing – their own work and Clem’s.
Both Clem and Charles, longtime friends from the rural Willamette Valley, have received Oregon literary awards, published a number of poetry collections, contributed to poetry journals, encouraged writers and been read aloud by Garrison Keillor on the Writer’s Almanac (though Clem didn’t care for Keillor’s version of A Brief Lecture on Door Closers). Probably no one passed more pleasant evenings than Charles at Clem’s farmhouse kitchen table. DRAWING BY ROSHEN KOSHEY
Doors open 7pm. Show 7:30pm. 1017 Marine Drive, Astoria. 503-338-4878
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Stunning Rayguns
2025-03-15 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Stunning Rayguns is an innovative experimental rock duo known for their captivating multilayered soundscapes and explorations of psych pulsation and cosmic vibration.
Ren Allen’s intricate drumming style, haunting vocal harmonies and Raymond Martin’s electrifying jagged guitar, synth creations and reverbed vocals weave into a dreamy electronica canvas, inviting the audience to experience a range of sonic possibilities, their live performances constantly challenge the musical norms. Formed in Astoria in the summer of 2023, the band’s influences range from The Cure, Joy Division and Hawkwind to Link Wray and Ennio Morricone.
Guest spots feature NC string bass artist Gregg Skloff and psych folk artist Andy Park.
Doors open 7pm. Show 7:30pm. KALA 1017 Marine Dr. Astoria, OR 503.338.4878
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Singer Songwriter Deb Montgomery
2025-01-17 19:30 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Now residing on the North Coast of Oregon, Deb Montgomery has grown accustomed to dwelling in life’s in-between spaces: her art, much like her life, welds together what the world likes to separate. Her lyrics are spools of vulnerability and grit, her voice is an unwavering paradox of grief and joy, and her presence is a palpable strength in weakness.
Over the course of twenty years and four records, some film credits, and the pleasure of sharing stages with a plethora of amazing musicians, Montgomery has solidified her ability to write and play with unreserved passion. Fluent in the language of mourning and loss, lament and prayer, raging seas and the ache at the heart of things, Montgomery’s music is a river of empathy, coaxing us towards self-reflection and healing.
Deb will be in duo with Seattle cellist Sydney Metcalf.
Doors open 7pm. All tickets held at will call. KALA, 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878
Deb is probably one of the best songwriters out there right now. Her lyrics tell stories, speak of love and pain, but always with devastating eloquence.—Huffington Post
Watch and Here ALLTHE WATER
TICKET LINK!

Cellist Helen Gillet
2024-11-15 19:30 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
A Whirling Dervish of the Cello
One of the most unique, talented and beloved New Orleans artists, cellist Helen Gillet is known for her eclectic palette, which includes avant-garde jazz, French chansons, funk, alternative rock … even the bohemian flair of the Velvet Underground.
Composer, singer-songwriter (Belgian French & English) and looping artist, Gillet’s career has won her awards of Offbeat Best of the Beat, Gambit Big Easy Awards, featured artist at the New Orleans Jazz Museum and has been nominated three times, most recently in 2023, as a rising star in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll.
Over the years, working in New Orleans with musicians of all stripes, from avant-garde jazz and classical to pop and funk, Gillet has developed a singular polyglot style. Gillet’s solo performance is known for its enigmatic quality as she fabricates each song with innovative use of the cello and true mastery of live looping technology. The core of her work is solo performance with live looping, layering cello parts and vocal lines. Rhythmic figures emerge with bowed or plucked ostinatos or a variety of rubbing and slapping on the body of the cello, then enhanced with melodies played or sung in her haunting alto.
Friday, November 15, 7:30pm. Tickets $20.
TICKET LINK
Helen Gillet – RUN (Official Music Video)

Storyteller Will Hornyak
2024-10-26 19:30 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Mostly Grimm!
Storyteller Will Hornyak returns to KALA to bring bone-chilling tales to the stage from a variety of oral traditions. He weaves a wide web of tales into spellbinding, nuanced and beautifully crafted performances.
Will stirs up a heady brew, replete with Welsh sorceresses, Irish gods, Mexican specters and mere mortals like ourselves in search of inspiration, intoxication, healing and rebirth.
“Will weaves a wide web of tales into spellbinding, nuanced, and beautifully crafted performances and takes listeners across a spiritual threshold” – The Oregonian
Saturday, Oct 26 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. 1017 Marine Dr. Astoria. 503.338.4878
Ticket Link

True Life Trio PNW Album Release Tour
2024-10-20 19:00 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
True Life Trio’s music is all about harmony. The fiery voices of these three women spin and interweave, traveling from Ukrainian village tunes, to Greek polyphony to Louisiana two-steps. Bulgaria to the Bayou. On paper, it’s an unlikely combination but in person, it feels just right.
True Life Trio’s singing exudes untamed joy. They met in Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble and soon found their affinity extended beyond Balkan music to the far reaches of Europe and America. Their music is an elixir of ancient traditional songs made new, tasty choral arrangements and inspired original compositions. They have been enchanting audiences in their San Francisco Bay Area home and all across the West for more than a decade with their finely-honed, heart-centered, “concert hall meets front porch” performances.
Their new release “At My Window” is a harmony-driven potpourri of uniquely arranged folk songs, ballads and dance tunes. Brimming with gutsy and colorful vocals, the album is a swirling journey through the lush musical landscapes of Ukraine, Ireland, Bulgaria, Italy, Albania, Sweden, Norway, Greece and America.
Sunday, October 20 at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets $25. KALA is located at 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878
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VIDEO: AUGUST AFTERNOON

HEATHER MAE
2024-09-27 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Heather Mae, the acclaimed social justice singer-songwriter, from Austen, TX fearlessly bares her soul in her music, creating an intimate space of shared vulnerability for her listeners. Her unbridled honesty, both on and off stage, has cultivated a devoted fanbase and garnered recognition, including accolades like the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Artist-Activist of the Year award.

Leading the charge in queer songwriting, Mae is poised to make a resounding impact with both groundbreaking records slated for release in 2024-2025.

Positioned on the cusp of unveiling her upcoming post-pandemic double record, Mae embarked on a mission to address the stark gender disparity for music producers—a mere 4% representation by women. In 2023, Heather Mae rallied a dynamic collective of women and non-binary talents in Nashville, assembling luminaries like producer ZDAN and Lollies, alongside guest artists such as Grammy award-winning musician Allison Russell and the extraordinary duo Sistastrings. Together, they crafted two electrifying albums in two distinct genres, showcasing the unparalleled talent and versatility of women and non-binary music makers.

Friday, September 27 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878
WATCH Be Not Afraid
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Ann Annie
2024-09-22 19:00 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
KALA welcomes Portland-based ambient-classical artist Ann Annie. The project of Eli Goldberg, their stage moniker Ann Annie began as a way for the composer to explore the world of modular synths and ambient music. As the project grew and took form, they slowly introduced various instruments into their compositions – most notably in their new release, The Wind, (June 2024).
The new sound combines aspects of classical orchestra with string and horn instruments, old country guitar twang and the original electronic modulation to form something wholly new. Ann Annie is on a Northwest tour as a trio; Eli Goldberg on piano and modular synth, Blu Midyett on saxophone and Kate Koller on cello, performing dreamy, sometimes improvisational chamber music mixed with atmospheric synth soundscapes.
With special guest singer-songwriter Amos Heart. Members of the Annie Band contribute on Heart’s new release coming out this fall.
Both artists Amos Heart and Ann Annie took 2nd and 3rd place respectively in Willamette Week’s, Portland’s Best New Bands series this 2024.
Show at 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Full Bar. 16+ welcome. Tickets $15. KALA – 1017 Marine Dr. Astoria. 503.338.4878
TICKET LINK
LIVE Joe Hisaishi’s One Summer Day

Jenni Venäläinen and Melkutus Party from Finland
2024-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Kantele player, composer and singer, Jenni Venäläinen and her trio Melkutus Party from Finland have embarked on their first US Tour. Venäläinen, who specializes in many kinds of kanteles from the 5 stringed to 38 stringed Finnish harp, holds a Master in Music from Arts University Sibelius Academy, with a focus on Karelian kantele tradition and improvisation.
Heading several diverse ensembles, Melkutus Party combines old Karelian dance tunes with electronic beats and soundscapes. Described as a hypnotic live experience filled with strong emotions, from overflowing joy to the darkest sides of life she is joined by Janne Strom on electronics and Tatu Viitala on electronic percussion. Their 2023 album, “Melkutus” (which is itself a dance) has received five and four star reviews with radio play around the world.
Wednesday, September 11, 7pm. Doors open 6:30pm. Tickets $20
To View a video please google: Melkutus (official music video)
GET TICKET LINK HERE!

4 Fisher Poets
2024-09-07 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Like all annual festivals, anticipation builds as the date draws near. Anticipation for Fisher Poets Gathering in its glory of 26 years, has yet to subside and continues to spirit and replenish here at the mouth of the Columbia—in relevance and reverie, the last weekend in February.
KALA (Finnish for Fish) welcomes four local FPG luminaries this September to take the stage, a welcome visit at about the half-way point to the gathering. Co-founders Jon Broderick (guitar and banjo) and Jay Speakman (blues harp and vocals) perform well-loved original tunes. Joining the duo, Fisher Poet Rob Seitz, fisherman and owner of the amazing South Bay Wild, family-owned and operated fishing vessel, seafood market and restaurant, and Geno Leech, Chinook fisherman who began writing poetry in the early 90’s and was one of the first of a handful to take the stage in the 1998 origins of the gathering. His inimitable style precedes him.
Saturday, September 7. 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets $15, online at kalaastoria.com.
TICKET LINK: 4 Fisher Poets

FOG HOLLER
2024-08-16 19:30 - 21:30
Fog Holler is a bluegrass band with an edge. What gives them that edge is a topic of hot debate. For some, it’s musicianship – Fog Holler can shred.
The secret, according to Fog Holler, is simply that they write and play bluegrass in 2024, with similar intention but very different context from the genre’s originators. Inspired by a range of influences from The Stanley Brothers to Buck Owens to Meshuggah, Fog Holler breathes fresh life into well worn forms like the murder ballad and the power waltz. They’re lyrics explore themes like mental health, the changing climate, nostalgia, and gender expression.
Described by two-time Grammy Award Winner Cathy Fink as “The next generation of the many shades of grass”, Fog Holler’s captivating tunes and coordinated outfits are quickly enthralling longtime bluegrass fans and newcomers alike.
GET TICKETS HERE!
VIDEO Fog Holler plays “Bone In”
Friday, August 16 at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. All tickets held at will call. KALA is located at 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878.
KALA is an intimate concert venue with beverage bar.

The Peninsula Guitar Trio
2024-08-09 19:30 - 21:00
Three accomplished guitarists, each bringing a unique style and perspective form the Peninsula Guitar Trio. They are George Coleman—exceptional finger-style guitarist, Ken Emo—a classical guitarist who seconds as a surf rocker in Beach Break surf band, and Jason Sheaux—an old rocker who chose to put rock behind him and focus on an amalgamation of blues, jazz and classical.
Formed in 2021 on the Long Beach Peninsula, the trio spent most of 2022 honing their unique sound and balancing their stylistic differences. 2023 was their debut year, and 2024 has proven to be a stellar year, with requests from festival stages and numerous performance venues on the coast.
Together they combine the joy of music, the challenges of three guitars and their synergistic breakthrough style—bringing their take on World Music, and a focus on Latin American repertoire to listeners.
Doors open at 7pm. Show at 7:30pm. All tickets held at will call.
TICKET LINK (On Sale July 30)

STURTZ
2024-07-14 19:00 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
NPR’s All Songs Considered described the band as “a reassuring breath of fresh air that pulls me back to simpler times.” The acoustic quartet – Andrew Sturtz [vocals, guitar], Courtlyn Carpenter [cello, harmonies], Will Kuepper [bass, harmonies], and Jim Herlihy [banjo, harmonies] – is serene and folksy, with melodic vocals soaring over the lower string instrumentals. Sturtz released their debut album You’ve Done this Before in August 2021, and now they are hard at work recording a second album that is set to release in September 2024. When they’re not playing music, you’ll probably find them milling flour, farming, laying in a creek, or eating native foliage.
Back by popular demand!!!!
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Watch FALL SONG by Sturtz

Innocent Alex
2024-07-06 20:00 - 22:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Indie rock band Innocent Alex is fronted by brothers Lake and Evan Jiroudek. On this eve the brothers will be performing as an acoustic duo, joined by pianist Angie Barkley of coastal bands Terracotta Suns and Cherry Choke.
Innocent Alex released their debut album, “No More Heroes” in 2022. Pursuing professional careers in music, the brothers spent years playing, recording, and teaching in Los Angeles, returning to their coastal roots during the pandemic.
Equally skilled songwriters and guitarists as well harmonies with distant reminiscence of the Everly Brothers, and arrangements as multifaceted as the Beach Boys, the Jiroudek bros standout not just locally but as a band representing the best in American indie rock today.
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Tom Letson and The Letdown
2024-06-22 19:30 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Drawing on influence from prewar Piedmont & Hill-Country Blues, Appalachian Mountain Music, and alternative rock, Tom Letson and The Letdown can be heard in the Northwest, up and down Cascadia, at many a venue and festival featuring acoustic roots music, ringing out on resonator guitar and clawhammer banjo, accompanied by his brother on percussion, pouring forth original songs.
Tom Letson is a musician and visual artist who’s been hurlin’ songs into the vast expanse for over 10 years. Early on, he felt a humble calling to follow in the footsteps of musical pioneer Woody Guthrie, setting off to each crack and crevice of the United States by freight train & thumb.
He eventually landed up in Alaska, where he spent the better part of his 20s living remotely, and continues splitting his seasons there. This alternative lifestyle is a key ingredient behind the inspiration of his songwriting.
Tom Letson Tune: Dealing with a Madman
TICKET LINK HERE!
Doors open at 7pm. Show at 7:30pm. Full Bar. 21+ please. KALA, 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria

J.J. Gregg and David Van Auken ••••••••• LUNAR PRAIRIE • South Asian Sitar Meets American Fingerstyle Guitar
2024-05-10 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Drawing from the Fahey school of fingerpicking, David Van Auken’s unadorned guitar arrangements create an apt canvas for J.J. Gregg’s beautifully fluid sitar melodies, evoking a certain joy that permeates the duo’s stellar debut album, Lunar Prairie.
Lunar Prairie mixes Americana fingerstyle guitar with the enchanting sounds of the sitar. With 24 strings between them, J.J. Gregg and David Van Auken guide listeners on a magical, musical journey. Salem-based J.J. Gregg performs lyrical and highly emotive improvisations on sitar, while David Van Auken, a Portland-based fingerstyle guitarist, makes contemporary compositions that extract from early acoustic country-blues traditions.
Their collaborative songwriting is gentle, playful, raucous, contemplative, placid, visionary, unpredictable, and captivating. From lullabies to blues, ragas to tunes, J.J. and David craft an immersive musical experience not to be missed.
Doors open at 7pm, Show at 7:30pm. Cocktails, Beer and Wine. 21+ please.
LISTEN LIVE!
TICKET LINK!

Storyteller Will Hornyak
2024-03-23 19:00 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
TALES FROM THE HEDGEROW Please join us as storyteller William Kennedy Hornyak brings the spirit of a late-night Irish hedgerow gathering to life with stories, songs, poems and toasts in honor of those who educated and inspired the minds and hearts of the people during the brutally repressive era of the Penal Codes (1695-1771).
About the Storyteller

From Irish myths and Russian fairytales to Mexican fables, Oregon tall tales and beyond, storyteller William Kennedy Hornyak weaves a wide web of oral traditions into thoughtful, engaging and beautifully crafted performances.
DOORS OPEN 6:30PM. SHOW AT 7PM. TICKETS $15. AGES 16+ . FULL BAR
1017 MARINE DR. ASTORIA OR. 503.338.4878
TICKET LINK HERE

John Crowley and Jess Lee Falls CD Release Show
2024-03-15 20:00 - 23:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Jesse Lee Falls, an original funk/soul songwriter from Astoria, and John F. Crowley, an original musician and songwriter, will each be performing selections from their new albums, “Leftovers” by Crowley and “CAUTION: FUNKY KIDS AT PLAY” by the Jesse Lee Falls Band.

Falls’ new album is dedicated to Calen Uhlig, his bass player and musical counterpart in the Astoria band The Function (1998-2002). Calen passed away suddenly on October 25th, 2023. The two of them shared the stage for 25 years. This album represents 25 years of friendship, musicianship, and brotherhood.
Crowley’s album, recorded at Big Blue Studio in Astoria, will feature unreleased selections from his 50 years of songwriting and showcase local musicians Dusty Hill, Joe Patenaude, Steve Johnson, Bob Bain, Ray Raihala and Jesse Lee Falls.
Join us at 7pm for complimentary appetizers created by Kathy Patenaude & Friends! Music at 8pm. FULL BAR. 21+ please.
TICKET LINK HERE

The Oyster Crackers
2024-02-16 19:00 - 21:00
The Oyster Crackers are a harmonious folk quartet based on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula and Astoria. Rita Smith, Christl Mack, Bette Lu Krause and Phyllis Taylor offer songs of hope and inspiration, an eclectic mix of Americana, Celtic and original music. They’ve released an original album “Home Grown Pearls.”
NOTE TO TICKET BUYERS: We currently process online tickets with Brown Paper Tickets. In addition, it requires that the buyer go through PayPal. Some ticket buyers will not be able to utilize this process. Please call us at 503.338.4878, and we will process the sale by phone. In the near future we will be using a new ticket service provider. We are sorry for inconvenience it might cause, and thank you for your patience and patronage.
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Friday, February 16 at 7pm, Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets $20. Online at kalaastoria.com. KALA Performance Space is an intimate concert venue with beverage bar, located at 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878

The Chelsea Jazz Trio
2024-01-26 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Spend an evening with the North Coast’s Chelsea Jazz Trio.
Vocalist Chelsea LaFey, guitarist John Orr, and bass player Clarence Robinson perform jazz standards, classic and contemporary, and a little bit of blues. Tickets $15, online and at the door.
Chelsea LaFey is an active performer on the coast adding her warm and expressive vocals to trios and the fantastic Chelsea LaFey and the Saltshakers, a 7-piece band performing Juke joint swing from the 40’s and 50’s.
John Orr is a multi-talented guitarist and songwriter, playing solo jazz gigs on the coast and is just as at home in rock/pop/folk genres, fronting his rock band The Bad Drivers (90’s to 2000’s) and guitarist for Acoustica World Music (2012-2016).
On the bass, Clarence Robinson arrived upon the Seaside coast from the L.A. area. Robinson, originally from NYC, played with the legendary Reggie Workman before studies at the Manhattan School of Music and California Institute of the Arts in Santa Clarita, California, and he’s played with many greats in the jazz world, including associations with saxophonists Carlos Garnett, and Frank Vicari.
Ticket Purchase NOTE: It is no longer necessary to purchase tickets through PayPal when buying tickets at our Brown Paper Ticket link.

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Lauren Sheehan with Steve Cleveland
2023-11-25 19:30 - 22:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
LAUREN SHEEHAN brings her down-home music uptown, mixing old blues, early jazz and roots of country for a bluesbilly-good-time sound. Dubbed “Portland String Queen” by The Oregonian for her multi-instrumental prowess, Lauren is also known for her unforgettable voice and sings like “an angel with horns”, (Charlie Rowley, fan). She tours, teaches at Pacific University, and has recorded 5 CDs played on radio world-wide, including BBC, NPR, and BBKing’s Bluesville. Her music has been catalogued in the Library of Congress, and was recently included on “Sweet Bitter Blues” a compilation CD celebrating living Piedmont blues musicians, produced by Phil Wiggins and Frank Matheis.
On this date Lauren will team up with STEVE CLEVELAND, versatile jazz instrumentalist, on accordion and keyboards. A Portland staple for many years, Steve once lived in Astoria, one of few jazz pianists on the coast and a favorite to hear. Steve performs with an eclectic array of groups including The Sportin’ Lifers, Johnnie Ward and the Sharkskin Revue, Indalo Wind, Linn Street Din, Chata Addy, Jujuba, The Jenny Finn Orchestra, The Hot Club Orchestra and more. He is also the pianist at West Portland United Methodist Church.
Saturday, November 25. 7:30pm. Doors open 7pm. Tickets $20. Will call tickets held at the door. Full Bar. Cabaret Seating.

Ticket Link
Lauren in Performance

The High Highs of Winter - The Oregon King Tides Project
2023-11-20 19:00
The Oregon King Tides Project is a community science effort that recruits volunteers to take pictures that depict the highest reach of the highest tides of the year. Documenting current vulnerabilities to flooding can provide a preview of what could be typical high tides in the future.
CoastWatch Programs Manager, Jesse Jones will share about the history of the Oregon King Tides Project and how participating in community science projects can assist in community planning for safety, public health and more. She will also show high water photos from previous years and point out areas on the north coast where photos are still needed.
The talk will begin at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30.
The event is free.

Harvest Moon Master Storyteller
2023-11-17 19:30 - 21:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
Prepare to be captivated when Harvest Moon, an honored Quinault storyteller and Master Basket Weaver, comes to the KALA stage November 17th. A seasoned performer with decades of experience, Moon uses her voice, facial expressions, and body gestures to bring archetypal characters to life, transporting audiences through a veil of time into ancient realms.
Whether it be a campfire, library space, stage or movie set, Moon seamlessly adapts to her surroundings. She began TV and film work in the ‘90s, starting as a stand in for actress Elaine Miles on Northern Exposure. She’s appeared in 13 films since, including First Cow, Showing Up, and The Dark Divide. Moon was harvesting cedar bark in the woods she when got an audition call for The Dark Divide. “The audition was in Portland. I missed a day of getting cedar bark, but I got the part.”
Moon’s upcoming KALA performance is sponsored in part by the Astoria Visual Arts, and a grant by the Oregon Humanities, as part of the AVA’s exhibit (opening 11/11), Portrait of Eugene Landry, An Artist, A Time and a Tribe. Moon has a familial connection to Eugene Landry. “He was my uncle.”
Harvest Moon will be introduced by special guest author Robert Michael Pyle.
Doors open at 7pm. Show at 7:30pm. Tickets $20. Ages 16+ welcome. General seating. Full Bar. KALA is located at 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878
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WATER THE MUSICAL
2023-11-12 13:00 - 14:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
KALA welcomes ensemble Your Song My Song performing “Water The Musical” Sunday, November 12th, 1pm, an environmental justice-focused children’s entertainment group from the central coast of Oregon that writes music about connecting to the planet. A Free event for kids! Don’t Miss It!
With unique, funky, and original songs and a fully interactive musical show with imaginative puppets, Your Song My Song celebrates the beauty and bio-magic of the third rock from the sun. Get ready to be inspired to dance and also to take action and claim your roles as integral crew mates here on Spaceship Earth!
Meant for kids, but loved by adults, this earthy and off-world musical adventure journeys through funky disco rollerskate jams, spacey dance tunes and sweet jazzy folk tunes. Your Song My Song encourages all to learn from the expertise of their conservation partner, Oregon Shores, CoastWatch, just how you can better become a steward of our planetary home.
Sunday, November 12. 1pm. Doors open at 12:30pm For all ages. A FREE event. Check out some of their great tunes on three albums and a sing-along songbook at yoursongmysong.com
KALA, 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503.338.4878

Uncle Mary Halloween Spook Show!
2023-10-28 19:30 - 23:00 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
KALA Performance Space celebrates the thinning of the veils with Portland Trio Uncle Mary and the Juke Joint Revivalists. Costumes encouraged! Complimentary sweet and savory treats! Plus a few surprise guests.
We’ll hear from Big Mama Thorton, Tampa Red, Louis Jordon, Tommy Dorsey and more—great tunes from the 30’s played with authentic gusto by Uncle Mary featuring their double-bass, washboard, guitar and the sweetest 3-part harmonies. Plus Uncle Mary’s originals with a Halloween spirit like “Blood on the Accordion,” “Stabbah” and “Mr. Milton” based on an original Portland ghost story, and Charles Sheffield’s “Voodoo Workin”.
A Halloween Social Affair!!
Doors open at 7:30pm. Music at 8pm. Tickets $13 online. $15 at the door upon availability. 21+ Please. KALA, 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria.
Tickets for Uncle Mary

What Water Holds: Four Fisher Poets
2023-10-21 19:30 - 21:30 | KALA, 1017 Marine Dr., Astoria, Oregon, 97103, United States
KALA Performance Space is going to be awash with words when four talented Fisher Poets share the stage on October 21st. Tele Aadsen, Clemens Stark, Holly Hughes, and Jon Broderick are familiar names for patrons of the Gathering, and this event offers a glimpse of all the annual fisherpoetry goodness to come in February.
Three originators of Fisherpoets are coming together to help fellow poet Tele Aadsen celebrate the release of her new book, What Water Holds, a collection of essays written in the decade between 2012 and 2023 for the Gathering. “What Water Holds is born of FisherPoets,” Aadsen said. “This book wouldn’t exist without this community. Jon, Clem, and Holly have all been generous mentors and sources of inspiration. I’m honored to share this evening together in the ever-magical KALA, no less. I can’t wait to be in their audience.”
Come celebrate the songs and sounds of the sea with four talented poets working at the height of their artistic powers.
Doors open 7pm. Show 7:30pm. Tickets held at will call. $10 online. $13 at the door. Full Bar. KALA, 1017 Marine Dr. in Astoria. 503-338-4878. Minors okay – 16+ please.
Tickets for FOUR FISHERPOETS

Mary Flower with Doc Stein and Spud Siegel
2023-09-09 19:30 - 21:30
KALA welcomes internationally known and award-winning picker, singer/songwriter teacher, and recording artist, Mary Flower. The Midwest native relocated from Denver to the vibrant Portland, Oregon music scene in in 2004. She continues to please crowds and critics at folk festivals, teaching seminars and concert stages domestically and abroad that include Merlefest, Kerrville, King Biscuit, Prairie Home Companion and the Vancouver Folk Festival, among many.

Flower embodies a luscious and lusty mix of rootsy, acoustic-blues guitar and vocal styles that span a number of idioms from Piedmont to the Mississippi Delta, with stops in ragtime, swing, folk and hot jazz.

Joining Mary Flower in an incomparable trio, is Hawaiian Steel Guitarist Doc Stein; specialist in country, western swing, ragtime and blues on guitar, banjo and dobro. And multi-instrumentalist and mandolin specialist, Spud Siegel, known for his music proclivities in these parts and throughout the northwest.
Show 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets $20.
Tickets for Mary Flower
