Kick Off Party and Showcase at The Lantern
Ft. MAITA, The Apricots and Margret Wehr
Doors at 7 | Show at 8
FREE
All Ages
MAITA
Japanese-American singer-songwriter Maria Maita-Keppeler only writes songs she intends to finish, and once the debris has been blown away, the melodies remain — vibrant, sharp, and often heartbreaking. Her project MAITA’s latest LP, want, which was released in 2024 via Fluff & Gravy Records, is all of the above. A razor’s edge look at a relationship in turmoil, the record serves to strip away everything undesired in Maita-Keppeler’s life, leaving behind only that titular word: want.
“The album allowed me this opportunity to be a little more courageous about my feelings,” Maita-Keppeler says. “I grew up feeling very much like the peacekeeper. Now, I have to be really assertive about what I want for myself.”
MAITA's first record, Best Wishes, was released via Kill Rock Stars in May 2020 — but it was bittersweet, as the album came out peak-pandemic and they were unable to tour. As restrictions loosened MAITA began to see the benefit of rave reviews from KEXP, SPIN, FLOOD Magazine, and NPR’s Bob Boilen. They toured the US and Europe and played shows opening for the likes of Mirah, Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers, Typhoon, and garnered featured slots at SXSW and Treefort as well. Meanwhile, the band was working on polishing up their third LP, want, which Maita-Keppeler penned during the isolation of the pandemic. Recorded at Echo Echo in Portland, Oregon in the winter of 2022, the record serves as the most crystallized of MAITA’s works thus far. “We felt like the songwriting had a kind of visceral quality to it,” she says. “I love high highs and low lows.” Through it all, though, runs the theme of wanting. “These songs all explore desire within the framework of a long-term relationship where you're just trying to push and dig deeper,” Maita-Keppeler says. “I feel like not a lot of songs really get to the core of those struggles and how nuanced they actually are.”
INSTAGRAM: @maitamusic
The Apricots
Described as a “sonic heatwave”, The Apricots are an indie-folk-rock band from Portland, OR that thrives on vocal harmony. Their musical inspiration spans across decades; they reference the timeless essence of artists like Paul McCartney, Simon & Garfunkel, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, and weave them together with modern influences like Lucius, Joseph, Julia Jacklin, and Parcels. The result is a genre-blending ride of driving storytelling that will make you swoon one minute and groove the next.
INSTAGRAM: @apricotsband
Margret Wehr
Margaret Wehr is a Portland-based singer-songwriter, session musician, and member of queer folk band, Lo Pony.
Known for her intuitive harmonies and seamless blend, Margaret has made a career out of collaboration. She has recorded and performed with more than 90 bands, including Sleater-Kinney, Y La Bamba, Chris Pureka, Anna Tivel, Jacob Miller, Alexis Mahler, MAITA, Moorea Masa & The Mood, EL VY, Idea the Artist, and Haley Johnsen.
Rooted in an eclectic mix of classical, country, indie folk and pop influences, Margaret's songwriting pairs vulnerable storytelling with dynamic guitar rhythms and intricate fingerpicking, building musical landscapes that feel both intimate and expansive. She approaches the voice not just as a vehicle for lyrics, but as its own fully expressive instrument, navigating complex, ethereal melodies with a quiet precision that highlights the emotional core of her writing.
INSTAGRAM: @margaretwehr