Swing Venues in Portland, OR

Blind Ox Taphouse is a friendly, community-rooted neighborhood craft beer bar in North Portland's Overlook neighborhood, occupying the former Untapped bar space at the corner of North Interstate Avenue and North Skidmore Street. Opened by Genevieve and Eric West and business partner John Maxwell McInroy in 2021 as their second location, the Interstate taphouse keeps things straightforward and unpretentious: 36 rotating taps of local craft beer, cider, wine, and kombucha, a small cooler stocked with more than 50 beers and ciders to go, outdoor seating with heaters on the front patio, and a warm neighborhood bar atmosphere that makes it a natural gathering point for the surrounding residential community. The beer program is entirely Portland and Pacific Northwest focused, with a knowledgeable staff that can guide any patron toward the right pour. Live music and open stage events have been a part of the Interstate location's programming since opening, with a weekly Tuesday open stage previously running from 6 to 9pm featuring 15-minute slots across all genres, hosted in-house and supported with a 4-channel PA. The venue is also one MAX stop away from the rest of North Portland's bar scene, with the Yellow Line stop directly across the street making it one of the most transit-accessible taphouses in the city. The Blind Ox Society subscription program offers members recurring access and perks for regular patrons.

The Blue Diamond is Portland's paramount blues joint and one of the most beloved neighborhood music bars in the Pacific Northwest, a low-lit and lovingly decorated room on NE Sandy Boulevard where live blues, R&B, jazz, and soul fill the stage five nights a week and have done so for years running. The walls are adorned with murals of jazz and blues legends who look on approvingly while the next generation of Portland musicians carries the torch, and the dancing crowd on any given night is exactly the kind of diverse, multigenerational, music-first audience that every blues bar aspires to attract. The kitchen is a serious operation producing Southern-inspired comfort food that consistently earns its own praise alongside the music, with standout dishes including jambalaya, catfish dinners, cheese-stuffed meatballs, bacon-wrapped dates with blue cheese crumble, and Brussels sprouts finished with balsamic that have been described as revelatory. The bar program pairs well with the food, running craft beers, smooth cocktails, and wine in a room that is intimate enough to put every seat close to the music. Regular performers and series include the Rae Gordon Band, Kevin Selfe's Sunday jam night, Fenix of Fenix Rising, Kivett Bidnar, Syco Billy's String Band, Stump City Soul, Soul Cookin', the Bottleneck Blues Band, and many more from Portland's deep blues and R&B community. Recent special events have included NW Women Rhythm and Blues tribute shows honoring Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and Etta James. The owner is herself a resident musician whose grit, determination, and kindness are cited by regulars as the soul of the place.

Bossanova Ballroom is the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Portland, Oregon. Our venue has hosted concerts and events for subculture and arts communities since 1907.

Operating since 1974, Portland Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor arts & crafts market Oregon. Located in Portland’s historic Old Town, the market is one of Portland's most popular destinations.