Enjoy Free Local Music at Gresham's Summer Concert Series

Enjoying Live Music in Gresham on Mondays

Gresham, Oregon is home to a thriving local music scene. Every Monday night during the spring, summer, and early fall months, the city hosts a weekly concert series known as Gresham Music Mondays. This beloved community event brings free live music performances to downtown Gresham, giving residents and visitors alike the chance to unwind after the workweek while enjoying talented area musicians.

History of Gresham Music Mondays

Gresham Music Mondays launched in 2010 as an initiative to activate downtown Gresham through arts and culture. The free concert series was an immediate hit with the community and became a summertime tradition, taking place every Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm between May and September.

The concert series spans two stages: the Main Stage located at the Center for the Arts Plaza and an Acoustic Stage on the corner of NW 2nd and NE Roberts. Both stages host performances by local bands and musicians across genres like rock, blues, country, jazz, and folk.

What to Expect at Gresham Music Mondays

Gresham Music Mondays offers a laidback, family-friendly atmosphere perfect for relaxing on a Monday night. People from the Gresham community and beyond flock to the event, with attendance ranging from 400 to 600 people each week. The concerts are free and open to all ages.

In addition to great live local music, Gresham Music Mondays also features an array of food carts and downtown restaurants to fuel your evening. There is indoor and outdoor seating available, but many people like to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit back and soak in the tunes. Leashed dogs are also welcome at the event.

Performers at Gresham Music Mondays

Gresham Music Mondays showcases a wide variety of musical talents from across the Portland metropolitan area. Any local musicians can apply to be part of the concert series line-up. Past performers have spanned rock, blues, country, jazz, folk, and other genres.

Some stand-out acts from recent years include blues guitarist Ben Rice, the alt-country tunes of Some Sad Hollow, husband-and-wife duo Tall Jazz, Portland-based rock group The Senders, and Americana singer-songwriter Ryan Oxford. Multi-genre cover bands are also popular performers for getting the crowds dancing.

Getting Involved in Gresham Music Mondays

Gresham Music Mondays is organized by the Gresham Downtown Development Association and sponsored by several local businesses and organizations. There are a few ways community members can get involved with this beloved summer concert series.

Attend the Concerts

The easiest way to show your support is to attend Gresham Music Mondays throughout the spring and summer! Bring your friends, family, lawn chairs, picnics, and leashed pets to enjoy some fantastic free live music in downtown Gresham every Monday evening. Applaud the talented local musicians who are shaping the Portland metro music culture.

Perform Your Music

Are you a local Portland-area musician looking to get some exposure and performance experience? You can apply to play a set at Gresham Music Mondays. Solo musicians, duos, bands, and performers of all genres are encouraged to apply. Securing a performance slot can be highly competitive, so make sure you bring your A-game!

Volunteer

It takes an army of volunteers to produce Gresham Music Mondays each summer. Community members can offer their time before, during, and after the concerts. Volunteer duties include stage setup/teardown, merchandise sales, distributing marketing materials, surveying attendees, managing the green room hospitality area, and more. Volunteers get the perk of watching the shows, supporting local arts, and connecting with their community.

Sponsor the Concert Series

Gresham Music Mondays is made possible in part by event sponsorships from local businesses and organizations. Sponsorship opportunities exist at various contribution levels and can be tailored to meet specific marketing goals. Sponsors receive branding and visibility before, during, and after the concerts in the form of online promotions, print materials, on-site displays, and verbal recognition from the concert stages.

Why Gresham Music Mondays Matters

Beyond just showcasing great local musical talents, Gresham Music Mondays offers several benefits for the community. Here’s why this free summertime concert series matters.

Supports Local Musicians & Arts

Gresham Music Mondays provides a high-profile performance platform for Portland metropolitan musicians while also promoting the cultural arts. The concert series allows performers to impress new fans, market their music, and build their resumes with sets at a popular local event. It also invests in the development of the regional creative community.

Activates Downtown Gresham

The concert series draws hundreds of people downtown every Monday night throughout late spring and summer. This activation through the arts drives patronage to surrounding small businesses like restaurants, bars, breweries, and shops that neighbors might not otherwise visit regularly. It re-energizes downtown Gresham as a vibrant hub for the community.

Encourages Community Bonding

Gresham Music Mondays facilitates community bonding across generations and cultures over a shared love of live music. Families, friends, couples, locals, and visitors come together in an inclusive atmosphere to enjoy talented area performers. There are few greater joys than listening to live music on a summer night surrounded by community.

Gresham Music Mondays has become an incredible community asset that promotes arts, culture, small businesses, and neighborhood bonding every Monday evening in downtown Gresham. Come enjoy some fantastic free local music performances, food cart fare, and laidback summertime vibes at this beloved concert series!

FAQs

When does Gresham Music Mondays take place?

Gresham Music Mondays takes place every Monday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm between May and September.

Where are the Gresham Music Mondays concert stages located?

There are two concert stages - the Main Stage is located at the Center for the Arts Plaza, while the Acoustic Stage is on the corner of NW 2nd and NE Roberts in downtown Gresham.

Who performs at Gresham Music Mondays?

The concert series showcases local musical talents from across genres like rock, blues, country, jazz and folk. Past performers have included Ben Rice, Some Sad Hollow, Tall Jazz, The Senders and Ryan Oxford.

Is there a cost to attend Gresham Music Mondays?

No, the concert series is completely free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs, picnics and leashed pets while enjoying the live music performances.