Story, photos and videos by: Kurt Johnson
Lose Yr Mind Fest 7 is a Portland, Oregon produced music festival that promotes and supports both local and national artists. The fest accomplishes this by partnering with companies based in Oregon. The idea is to cultivate the artistic and musical communities in multiple venues and showcasing some of Portland’s favorite musical talents.
Advertised as a two-night event, it actually involved four nights from Thursday night, September 16th through Sunday night, September 19th, 2021. On Thursday night, the fest began with a Kickoff Party at the KEX media studio restaurant and bar, Dottir featuring the bands Roselit Bones and the Silver Triplits. On Friday night, festivities began with happy hour at KEX followed by performances at the Vitalidad Movement Arts and Performance Center. Friday’s band line-up included Acid Tongue, HELP!, Dommengang, Meatbodies and Acid Dad. Saturday’s show started at KEX for happy hour with DJ Shannon Shaw spinning her collection of vintage 60’s psychedelic rock vynil followed by live music acts.
Over at Vitalidad were Plastic Cactus, The Spoon Benders, The Sleeping Beauties, Scott Yoder, The Death Valley Girls and Deap Vally.
On Sunday night the party moved to Rontoms Lounge and Restaurant for the wrap up party and started with The Yuvees, followed by Death Parade and The Shadowgraphs closing.
Every style of psyche, garage, indie, alt and punk rock was offered during the fest. Additionally, psychedelic light shows augmented and and enhanced the band performances throughout. Light artists included both digital light shows and old-school water-gel systems. The effects were ethereal. The music whipped the crowds into frenzies and the mosh-pits were bumpin’ and bangin’ (This writer has the bruises to prove it, HA!). This writer’s favorite bands over the weekend were The Spoon Benders and The Yuvees. Their performances were tight, polished, hard-hitting and well rehearsed.
The Lose Yr Mind Fest began as a number of local house shows. It generated such a following that it eventually evolved into warehouse parties. This then grew to become one of the larger Portland festival events that it is today. POW MAGAZINE would like to thank the Lose Yr Mind Fest for allowing POW to bring the fest to our viewers. And of course, the bands, artists, vendors, volunteers and corporate sponsors who make the Lose Yr Mind Fest possible. You can see more of the Lose Yr Mind Fest at their website: http://www.loseyrmind.com/
