Dakota Theim, Spooky Boys, Katy & the Null Sets, River Gods – 21+

Dakota Theim: A songwriter with a gift for whimsical melodies, breezy productions, and introspective lyricism, Dakota Theim has been a mainstay on the Portland indie underground for years.  His sound is largely inspired by the golden age of FM radio, laden with sunny harmonies and blissed out guitars.  With his latest releases, he is exploring new sonic territory while musing on relationships, identity, and aging, resulting in some of the most endearing songs of his career. 

Dakota’s auteur-like qualities have earned him favorable comparisons to artists like Tame Impala and Mac DeMarco.  He writes and produces all of his own material from his Portland home studio, often times being joined by live band members Ben Bilotti, Alex Werner, Jack Stringer, and Joseph Freeman to round out his recordings.  Together, the band has hosted several sold-out shows in their hometown, and toured extensively across the Pacific Northwest. 

While his productions are often eccentric and whimsical, Dakota’s devotion to the craft of songwriting is what sets him apart.  His songs are meticulously composed, full of left turns and moments of unexpected beauty.  With a steady stream of new content expected for this year and beyond, Dakota finds himself on the verge of breaking out of his local scene and reaching a national audience.

Spooky Boys: “They’re not very spooky.” 
Dripping wet guitars, relentless driving rhythm, and insatiable catchy melodies. Spooky Boys have quickly become the PNW’s favorite indie-surf rock band. The ‘Boys bring a fun and undeniable charisma to their energetic shows that leave crowds no choice but to dance along.

Katy & the Null Sets is the long-time “solo project” of Katy Ohsiek, vocalist and songwriter of Portland disco group Foamboy. The project has taken many forms since its inception in 2015. Katy & the Null Sets has been a solo singer-songwriter act, a collection of iPhone voice memos, elaborate synth pop albums, a ukulele-drummer 2 piece, and now an indie-new-wave 5-piece band of jazz musicians. The unifying element over the years has been Katy’s melodies, lyricism, and unique song forms, which borrow from bossa nova, neo-soul, mid-2000’s indie rock, and modern americana. Currently, Katy & the Null Sets is a full band with regular shows in the Portland area and a new album coming soon.