MusicFestNW is a multi-venue music festival that takes place every fall in Portland. Founded in 1995 as North by Northwest and renamed by Willamette Week in 2001, MusicFestNW has become the third largest indoor music festival in the U.S. with more than 150 bands across many of Portland’s most popular music venues. Main venues include the Roseland Theater, Pioneer Courthouse Square, and the Crystal Ballroom.
Running from September 3-8 this year, MusicFestNW continued on Wednesday night with performances by electronic artists XXYYXX and CHVRCHES at the Roseland Theater, followed by Deerhunter at the Crystal Ballroom.
XXYYXX tends to his electronic turntables midway through his set. XXYYXX performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Deerhunter drummer Moses Archuleta is framed through the giant chandelier in the Crystal Ballroom. Deerhunter performs at the Crystal Ballroom during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Vocalist Lauren Mayberry performs midway the Scottish group’s opening set. CHVRCHES are a Scottish electro-pop band from Glasgow, formed in 2011. CHVRCHES performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Deerhunter performs at the Crystal Ballroom during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
A pair of fans raise their hands in unison as CHVRCHES singer Lauren Mayberry works through the band’s third set. CHVRCHES performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
XXYYXX gestures towards the sellout crowd before beginning his 45-minute set. XXYYXX performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Marcel Everett, better known as XXYYXX, is an electronic musician and producer from Orlando, Florida. XXYYXX performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
CHVRCHES singer Lauren Mayberry acknowledges the sellout crowd at the Roseland Theater between sets. CHVRCHES performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Teiarra Jackson, second from right, takes in her first XXYYXX shows among an estimated sellout crowd of 1,200 people at the Roseland Theater. Jackson, a sophomore student at the Art Institute of Portland, arrived early to secure her place at the front of the stage. XXYYXX performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
CHVRCHES vocalist Lauren Mayberry performs during the Scottish group’s opening set. CHVRCHES performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
CHVRCHES singer Lauren Mayberry works through the band’s third set. CHVRCHES performs at the Roseland Theater during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Deerhunter vocalist Bradford Cox breaks into the group’s first song in the packed dance hall at the Crystal Ballroom. Deerhunter performs at the Crystal Ballroom during the second night of MusicFestNW, a six day Portland-based festival attended by over 34,000 people. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)