Portland’s own The Dandy Warhols are set to join The Oregon Symphony once again for a powerful performance at the inaugural Sounds Like Portland Festival on November 13, 2025, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. For the band, whose music has long defined Portland’s creative pulse, this second invitation to collaborate with the Symphony is both a homecoming and a validation of their lasting cultural impact. “Playing with the Symphony set the bar for how much emotional and psychological power can be achieved with live music,” says frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor. “It set the bar at a level which I viewed as a teenager was pretty much impossible to achieve.”
The Sounds Like Portland Festival celebrates the city’s deep musical roots, featuring performances from The Decemberists, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, and jazz visionary esperanza spalding, with The Dandy Warhols closing out the series in grand fashion. Oregon Symphony Music Director David Danzmayr calls the event “a celebration of Portland’s creativity and diversity.” Fans attending the symphony show will also have the chance to access an exclusive afterparty at The Odditorium on November 14—an intimate event featuring a rare acoustic set with strings. For The Dandy Warhols, it’s a reminder that even after touring the world, nothing compares to playing with their hometown orchestra.