Seven Portland Artists to Watch in 2025

Sick of your algorithms roping you back into the same eight songs you never want to hear again? It’s time for new music for a new year, from Portland’s very own songmakers.

We asked a few Willamette Week writers to weigh in on who we should be keeping an eye (or an ear) on in 2025. From an American primitive folk guitarist (and charangist) to heavy rock-’n’-rollers, here’s who you should be listening to this year.

Sad Boy Union

Since the trio’s first show two years ago, Sad Boy Union’s boisterous, punky live sets have covered everything from the trials of late-stage capitalism to abortion access to Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta.” 2025 promises more songs on “things [they’re] angry about plus a couple fun ones,” but with a heavier, more forceful sound. Their second full-length, due out by early summer, will draw listeners in with their unapologetic takes on injustices and mythical creatures in equal parts. Before then, be sure to catch the three-piece at Swan Dive on Jan. 9. Katie Trnka

Leo Moon

While Portland rock band Blitzen Trapper was touring all over the U.S., wrapping their year with both an induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and an appearance on Live Wire Radio, their drummer, harmonizer and harmonicist Brian Adrian Koch was busy growing his solo project, Leo Moon. In fall 2024, Koch recorded Leo Moon’s debut album, The Fool, which he calls “a prophetic, tragico(s)mic cycle of urban prairie folk tunes.” In addition to his golden vocals and story-filled songwriting, Koch is an award-winning actor (he just won Best Actor at the Toronto Arthouse Film Festival for his role in Ian Berry’s Marry, Fuck, Kill). Looking forward to more performances and his debut solo album, which is, as of today, unsigned. Labels: start your bids. Michelle Kicherer

Kavaface

Tongan American rapper Kavaface makes the kind of methodical, drums-agnostic hip-hop that earns comparisons with disciplines like chess, fencing and flower arrangement: the sound of a sharp mind thinking hard and planning its next move. Often working with his brother Saia Kuli, who records fractured indie rock as Guitar, Kavaface has crafted a shaggy, literate persona for himself; he drinks Maker’s Mark, reads Karl Marx, and evokes his native Portland with the sharp wit and keen eye of a born writer. He’s been prolific since releasing his first tape in 2019, and he’s grown progressively sharper with no signs of slowing down. Daniel Bromfield

Time Rift

When charting the underbelly of Portland’s extreme metal scene, look no further than the calendars of The High Water Mark and Twilight Cafe. For a more accessible, melodic approach to hard rock, though, it’s Time Rift who is poised to blast a flaming arrow over 2025 with the Jan. 17 release of their upcoming album, In Flight. Minimalist and savant guitarist Justin Kaye and double-bass dinosaur rock drummer Terrica Catwood remain the core of Time Rift. New vocalist Domino Monet has given the group a new lease on life since their previous singer, Levi Campbell, was drafted into Danava. For a quick taste, try the lyric video for “Follow Tomorrow.” Nathan Carson

William DeLee

The byline on William DeLee’s Bandcamp page and social media accounts is charmingly simple: “guitarist, etc.” It also befits the humble nature of this enormously talented artist. His three-track cassette Improvisations for Guitar and Charango, released earlier this year via Bud Tapes, is an enchanting listen that explodes the sepia-toned American primitive finger-picked approach to his chosen instrument into spectacular, colorful explosions of notes and drones. Having seen him perform live, I can confirm that DeLee is only gaining in strength and creativity since he made that tape, which makes the prospect of new recordings—which the young musician says are already in the works—that much more enticing. Robert Ham

Swiss Army Wife

The return of post-lockdown live music unleashed a seemingly limitless flood of young emo bands in Portland, of which Swiss Army Wife is one of the most traditional—and one of the best. There’s an exquisite yet knowingly over-the-top masochism to a lot of the best emo music, and these four young punks nail it. If you enjoyed Taking Back Sunday bleeding on your shirt and then apologizing for it, you’ll love Swiss Army Wife twinklers like “CFCF,” from their 2023 debut album, Medium Gnarly, which features lines like “beat me to death with a Rickenbacker/while telling me it’s the tone you’re after.” The band is currently in the process of recording a second LP and has been sharing updates on social media, with the band’s official Twitter account stating they’re “leveling up in a big way.” Daniel Bromfield

Ruby Friedman Orchestra

When you hear Chimes After Midnight by the Ruby Friedman Orchestra, due June 13, you will need: a warm winter coat for the musical bursts that bring a chill to your skin, plus some sort of sob rag for the tales of lost souls, broken dreams and outsiders you will meet in these 10 cinematic songs. Oh, and don’t forget your air banjo, air viola and air trombone. The weep factor comes from tracks like “From the Storm,” a rootsy, robust and haunting number that swoops in to some vocal “take that, Kate Bush” territory. The new album was recorded with the supervision of Friedman’s blind French bulldog Clovis in her Northwest Portland apartment, which is very bordello-chic and complements her retro-glam style (she’s not exactly a shrinking violet). Every song is like an enchanting, thrilling, dark, rousing mini-movie. The “Orchestra” is made up of loads of Portland musicians, notably Ben Landsverk of Low Bar Chorale and Wonderly, who co-wrote much of the music and contributes mightily on viola, violin, banjo, upright bass, piano and guitar. It’s a knockout. Libby Molyneaux