Shows of the Week: Alan Sparhawk’s New Album Is a Curiously Affecting Reflection on Grief

Friday–Saturday, Jan. 17–18

The headliners at Portland’s Folk Festival this year say as much about how American folk music has changed over time as how its virtues of accessibility, authenticity and anti-authoritarianism have remained steadfast. Rainbow Girls are an acoustic harmony trio performing comedic, topical songs; hardly a new thing, but it’s still disarming to hear the name “Brett Kavanaugh” sung so gorgeously. Meanwhile, Olive Klug has found the biggest audience for her folk songs through TikTok, joining a rising crop of neo-troubadours for whom the internet is just a new kind of oral tradition. Ticket sales benefit Sunstone Way and MusicPortland. McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside St. 5 pm Friday, 1 pm Saturday. $40 per day, $70 for a 2-day pass. All ages.

Saturday, Jan. 18

Alan Sparhawk never set out to be a solo artist, but the death of his wife and collaborator, Mimi Parker, in 2022 led to the sudden end of Low, one of indie rock’s great partnerships, and Sparhawk’s solo debut White Roses, My God. Even by the standards Low set on their final two albums, the distortion-drenched Double Negative and Hey What, this is an odd one; Sparhawk sings through chipmunk effects through most of its runtime, and the beats wouldn’t be out of place on a Taio Cruz single, but this is one of the strangest and most curiously affecting reflections on grief to come out in some time. Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi Ave. 8 pm. $25. 21+.

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Arooj Aftab’s voice is like a brush dipped in black ink, and you can imagine calligraphy appearing in the air as she sings. Drawing her lyrics from Urdu poetry both classical and modern, the Pakistani American singer has been up for several Grammys and won rave reviews for her lush and almost woundingly beautiful take on spiritual jazz. Her newest album, last May’s Night Reign, features an all-time opener in “Aey Nehin” and collabs with everyone from Afrofuturist poet Moor Mother to alt-rock trickster god Elvis Costello. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave. 7 pm. $30. All ages.