Emily Logan is at the helm of Portland based wonder Urban Wildlife and she steers quite a ship. Flawlessly navigating through multiple instruments, harmonic layers and subtle effects, Logan stays on course. That course is a smooth folk sound that never gets stale. Perhaps more impressive than her continually fresh sound, Logan manages to always remain fluent in emotional undertones without being weighty or bleak. The end result will be presented at the Secret Society this Friday night as Urban Wildlife celebrates the release of their self titled album. Patrons that evening will also be enchanted by the talented Anna and The Underbelly, who is perhaps one of my personal favorite gems in the Portland folk scene. She is always engaging and never precious, a difficult task that she pulls off with charm. Rounding out this impressive bill will be Cait Olds. Her album Prison Town is heartbreakingly beautiful and haunting, just like an old prison town tends to be. This Friday at 8:30 pm the doors will open and only $5 will get you into all the magic. – Joy Pearson

If you are looking for an amazing way to spend your Friday night be at the Laurelthrist Public House at 9:30 for the CD release party of John Amadon. The new CD entitled The Bursting Sheaf is an absolutely wonderful album, firmly rooted in classic sounds and blossoming with a fresh modern outlook. From the driving instrumentals of the opening track, “Saltwater Crocodile,” to the final notes of “Dream Your Dream Alone,” this is the kind of album you can play at any social gathering without having to skip a single track. An incredibly well balanced and diverse CD, The Bursting Sheaf is one you are not going to want to miss, so make sure you are at the Laurelthirst on Friday show your support for John Amadon! – Cory Huennekens

Pheasant is friendly, just five guys making music in Portland. They impress rock that is down-home, with the lamentations in the breadth of Matt Jenkins’s voice narrated by the compelling trumpet of Matt Mooney (two Matts are best!). What opens up are enduring jam sessions that could be a soundtrack down a long highway with your windows down, past mountains down the coast. The band’s second release, Gravel Beach, has prevalent bass and speedy drums that are more spy getaway than neighborhood indie. The title track is a story of escaping the the "po-lice", multiple tracks breakout into classic guitar solos and back-up vocals overlap in harmonies. Celebrate the release of Gravel Beach with Pheasant, with Fanno Creek and Summer Cannibals at Doug Fir Lounge on 3/28. Pheasant will also be playing a free, all ages in-store performance at 7pm at Music Millenium same day. – Brandy Crowe