SPRING SERIES
Friday Night Music
April & May 2026 Schedule
7:30 PM | Parkview Auditorium
24
APR
Friday Night Music — Buddy Holly Review with Joshua Josué, 50s pop
Just off a successful tour of Portland, Seattle, Eugene, Bellingham and Boise for an unforgettable night of timeless rock ’n’ roll, acclaimed performer Joshua Josué brings his tribute concert honoring Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly to Terwilliger Plaza. This year’s event also marks the album release of Broadcast to the Surf Ballroom — a project in which Joshua completes several unfinished songs by Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly, respectfully recorded and newly brought to life for modern audiences.
1
MAY
Friday Night Music — Jennifer Smieja and Peter Dammann, acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies
Playing Blues, Americana, 70s and Jazz. Performing her originals as well as freshly arranged and restyled covers, Jennifer Smieja brings a distinctively honest and plaintive take on life and love to her finely drawn songs and intimate renditions. Jennifer has also been lending her voice to popular Cajun/zydeco dance bands, performing annually at the Waterfront Blues Fest and the Portland Mardi Gras Ball. Jennifer is joined by Oregon Music Hall of Fame guitarist, and Artistic Director for the Waterfront Blues Festival, Peter Dammann. A Chicago-native with a legacy rooted in the blues, Peter built a formidable career touring and recording with The Paul deLay Band for nearly 20 years. He adds his penchant for Brazilian, classical and jazz stylings to this duo’s evocative repertoire.
8
MAY
Friday Night Music — Dia De Los Muertos with Joshua Josue, Latin/world
Joshua Josué is a bilingual singer-songwriter blending Latin soul, R&B, pop, and rock n’ roll into a sound rooted in emotion and cultural lineage. Raised between Eugene and Los Angeles, his music bridges languages and traditions with a voice that moves effortlessly from intimate vulnerability to full-bodied power. This program will focus on the celebration of Dia de los Muertos.
15
MAY
Friday Night Music — Oregon Koto-Kai, Japanese koto
Oregon Koto-Kai is a group of musicians passionate about playing the Japanese koto. Founded by Mitsuki Dazai in February 2012 with only six members, the ensemble held its first concert that fall. Since that time, the group has grown to 20 members, and they are featured artists at many festivals and venues throughout the Pacific Northwest each year.
22
MAY
Friday Night Music — Grant High School Royal Blues Choir, choral
The Royal Blues are Grant High School’s premier chamber ensemble. The group, consisting of approximately 32 talented high school singers, has been performing within the Portland community, state, country, and around the world for more than 50 years. Their repertoire encompasses a wide variety of styles and eras from Renaissance madrigals to jazz standards, contemporary choral selections to spiritual and folk ballads. The group has toured Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia in the past two decades. Students must maintain a 2.5-minimum GPA and be co‐enrolled in A Cappella.
29
MAY
Friday Night Music — Jas Quintet
Led by James Mason, the three-time winner of the National Swing Fiddle Competition, the quintet is comprised of John Moak, trombone, trumpet, and vocals; David Evans, saxophone and clarinet; Christopher Woitach, guitar; and Pete Lampe, bass. They will perform swing and jazz standards from The Great American Songbook.