Easyfolk Fest Returns for Its Third Year, Moving to Downtown Portland as a New Non-Profit

PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Easyfolk Fest, Portland's love letter to its independent music community, returns for its third annual celebration on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, 2026, with a new home in the heart of downtown: the historic Dolores Winningstad Theatre. This year marks a milestone for the festival, which is now a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, deepening its commitment to the local artists it was built to champion.

"Year Three feels like a homecoming and a leap all at once," says founder Joe Sanchez. "We're bringing Easyfolk Fest downtown to one of Portland's most beautiful rooms, and becoming a non-profit means every seat we fill goes right back into supporting local artists and keeping this music within reach. I can't wait for people to hear these seven acts in this historic venue."

Fest Schedule

• Friday, September 18 • Doors 6:00 PM • Music 7:00 PM
• Saturday, September 19 • Doors 5:00 PM • Music 6:00 PM

Dolores Winningstad Theatre • 1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205 (Portland'5 Centers for the Arts)

Buy Tickets! Single-Day tickets ($35) and 2-Day Fest Passes ($55) are available now at easyfolkmedia.com/fest.

2026 All-Local Lineup

Opening night, Friday, September 18, belongs to three of the city's most quietly captivating songwriters: the warm, wandering fingerpicking of Rebecca McDade; the fearless, bone-rattling introspection of Liney Blu; and the bittersweet, cinematic Americana of Jason Lenyer Buchanan.

The Saturday, September 19 finale spans the full range of what folk can mean: the quiet precision and truth-telling of Mitch Whitaker; the ethereal, haunting soundscapes of Essie & The Hum; the playful, explosive pop of Kenzy Peach; and the genre-defying electricity of Idea the Artist.

A New Chapter

Easyfolk Fest's new 501(c)(3) status roots the festival in its mission: putting independent artists on a professional stage with the sound, lighting, and care their work deserves, and keeping live music accessible to the whole community. As a non-profit, the festival can now accept tax-deductible donations to support local talent and keep ticket prices low for years to come.

About Easyfolk Fest

Easyfolk Fest is a genre-blurring, community-centered music festival based in Portland, Oregon, celebrating the creative pulse of the region through soulful performances and meaningful connections. Founded by Joe Sanchez, the festival is a love letter to local talent, offering an inclusive stage where artists and audiences come together in shared discovery. Now a 501(c)(3) non-profit in its third year, Easyfolk Fest makes its downtown debut at the historic Dolores Winningstad Theatre. Learn more at easyfolkmedia.com/fest.

Media Contact
Joe Sanchez | Easyfolk Media
[email protected]
easyfolkmedia.com/fest

Social: @easyfolkmedia (Instagram • Facebook • TikTok • YouTube)

SOURCE Easyfolk Fest