‘HONK! PDX’ fills Lents Park with lively music

INCLUDES HONKIN’ FUN & WACKY TUNEFUL VIDEO | Realize why organizers moved the first day of their two-day band festival to outer East Portland this year, and see what fun it was for both the participants and the audience …

The music is hot, but the feeling in the park is ‘chill’, as the HONK! PDX festival is underway in Lents Park.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

What a fun surprise it was last year, to learn about the HONK! PDX festival of bands, who presented concerts in several locations of downtown Montavilla at the start of summer.

>> To see our story last year, “HONK! takes over Montavilla”, and our video, CLICK HERE.

So, we were delighted when the organizers asked us to help draw attention to their HONK! Portland festival this year – held in Lents Park for the first time, on June 8.

In the information booth is volunteer Gloria Carpincho, who plays with the band Tacomarama helping a Director of Operations “Ripley!” .

“As you’ve noted, this year is number two for HONK! PDX,” confirmed a Director of Operations “Ripley!” – who asked that an exclamation mark (!) be used with the name.

“Last year, our ‘Day 1 venue’ was in Washington Monroe Park in inner Southeast Portland, next to Revolution Hall,” Ripley! recalled. “The event day was held with burning hot temperatures, in the middle of a grass field, with no shade.

“The wonderful thing about our concerts this year is being out here in Lents Park – where all three of our musical concert areas have shade for people to sit under, out of the sun; so it’s just perfect.”

In this southern area of the park, the Neon Brass Party plays and entertains …

.. while the audience, sitting in the shade, enjoys their energetic show.

The topography of the land in the south end of Lents Park kept the lively music performances isolated from one another; yet the three performance areas were all still located within an easy stroll.

Many of the guests brought lunches and beverages to enjoy while listening to the music.

See, and hear, excerpts of some of the bands playing this year:

Finally, in Portland
“It’s been a little bit of a ‘difficult road’ to get Portland to ‘get on board’ with having a HONK!,” revealed Ripley!

“It started in Massachusetts in 2008; and for years, it’s been in Seattle, Boston, Austin, and Detroit – but finally, with the help of different members of this group, we have encouraged people enough to be a part of it, and to start it up here in Portland,” the musician/organizer related.

Ripley! is also a musician, and plays with the Chaotic Noise band out of Seattle.

Playing at the Mountain Stage area is another great band, uniquely named The Fighting Instruments.

In the Garden Stage area, it’s the band called Jesters.

What’s a HONK!?
“To describe it, I would say that it’s an event where brass bands and drum lines are coming together in the spirit of marching, activism, or general happiness about music,” Ripley! expressed.

“Instead of going to a club or venue – likely a place where you wouldn’t take your family – you’d pay $10 just to get in,” Ripley! continued. “Or, when you come here for free, sit in the grass with your kids, and have a great time.

“So, here we are, out of doors, we’re [musically] ‘blasting it out’, and people are in great moods today, including our volunteers and everybody,” he rhapsodized.

In the “backstage” area, volunteers keep food and beverages coming to feed and hydrate musicians and volunteers working throughout the day. “Actually, we’ll feed anyone who’s hungry,” one of the volunteer chefs remarked.

The 8-Bit Brass Band takes their turn in the spotlight – the sunshine, in the distance – while the audience enjoys their vivacious music.

“So, this year, it’s just perfect,” Ripley! enthused. “Being under the trees, being helped by a lot more volunteers – and we have even better food – even though last year’s seemed hard to match – for our bands and volunteers.”

It’s RAY!, ready to serve cool Italian sodas to thirsty guests.

Keep your eye on our Community Calendar as the summer season starts, so you won’t miss the HONK! PDX festival promised in 2025. For more information about the organization, see their website: CLICK HERE.

>> On our Front Page: Located in the information canopy, it’s Portland neighbor and volunteer Amanda Cross showing off one of the official HONK! PDX banners.

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