The Playlist — Things to do May 15-18, 2025

by ,

A Note from the Instigator....

Live Music  ✅  Trivia ✅  Comedy ✅  Art ✅

This weekend’s events check all the boxes—from dancing to live music and testing your trivia smarts to laughing through a local comedy show or soaking in some art. Which will you choose?

 — Carlee, The Instigator

Hear Story & Tune Duo 6 to 8 p.m. May 15 at Chemeketa Cellars. Scroll down for more info.

Thursday Highlights

Test your knowledge at Trivia Night, 6 to 8 p.m. May 15 at Stomp by Croft Vineyard, 5475 River Road South, with trivia host John Croft, third generation of Croft Vineyards and trivia wizard. 6 person group maximum per table. Winning team receives a $50 Stomp gift card. Full menu of pizzas and small plates from the kitchen and wines by the glass and bottle will be offered. RSVP at 503-364-3085.

Take in an evening of live music with Story & Tune Duo featuring Aussie singer-songwriter Ben Grace and Californian poet Karyn Thurston. Driven by folk-Americana’s long history of lyrical storytelling, the harmony-driven duo’s songs are a unique blend of heart, ache, and laughter, all grounded in the unwavering belief that belonging is an essential human right. 6 to 8 p.m. May 15 at Chemeketa Cellars. Wine, beer, cider and charcuterie platters and light bites are available for purchase. Free and open to all ages.

Raise a glass (and some money) for Pints For Pups starting at 5 p.m. May 15 at Santiam Brewing. In partnership with 4 All Muttkind, meet cuddly pups, set up adoption appointments and get information about fostering a rescue. A portion of pint sales go to the cause.

The Gordon Lee Quartet featuring John Nastos — jazz, 7 p.m. May 15 at Christo’s Pizzeria.

The Salem Poetry Project presents the poetry of Paint & Write the Town, 7 p.m. May 15 at Bush Barn Annex, 600 Mission St SE. For the past eight summers, writers have joined visual artists in creating works inspired by gardens, parks, wineries, and other locations around Salem as part of Paint & Write the Town, an annual art and poetry-making event that takes place at various locations throughout Salem. The featured readers are followed by the Infamous Open Mic: 3 poems or five minutes whichever is first. 

Chemeketa Community College’s 2025 Student Art Show opened May 14, in Building 3, Room 122 on campus. The show is an annual opportunity to uplift and celebrate the art community at the college. Stop by during the opening week, until May 20, and cast a vote for the community choice award.

Thursday is Trivia Night at Checkpoint 221. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. and it’s free (but tips for your host are encouraged.) All ages welcome. Get there early to grab food and drink then test your knowledge.

Take part in Taproot Karaoke,  9 p.m. every Thursday at Taproot Lounge & Cafe, 356 State St. 

This weekly newsletter is free...because we want you to get out and play!

Help us keep it that way. Click here to buy us a coffee ☕ Every sip is appreciated! ❤️ 

Bike to Work

Celebrate Bike To Work Day this Friday, May 16. Pop by The Bike Peddler between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Friday to get in on some sweet bike commuting action. They will have free coffee and donuts — plus limited edition Bike To Work Day stickers (!!!) — to pass out to super commuters while supplies last.

Watch

Tippy Toe Dance Studio presents Theory in Motion, a dynamic performance that blends ballet, contemporary, and hip hop, inspired by the world of music theory. The show captures the power of different musical modes through expressive dance, while telling a deeper story through original film shorts by local artist Ben Mah, 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE. Click here for tickets.

Stroll

Visit Open Gardens at Gaiety Hollow and experience the home Garden of Elizabeth Lord & Edith Schryver, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17 (and 31), at 545 Mission St SE. 

Adopt

In addition to Pints for Pups on Thursday, you can meet and greet pups from 4 All Muttkind, 2 to 6 p.m. May 17 at Ratchet Brewery. There will be puppies to play with, beer to drink (for those 21 and older) and tacos to eat, plus learn more about the rescue and how you can volunteer.

Laugh

Imprompt-U! A Guided Crowdwork Comedy Show is a chaotic show about the most important people in comedy.... Y-O-U, the audience. Patrons will be given a card upon entering the theater with a dot drawn on the back of only some of them. When the show starts, you'll look at the back of your card. If it has the dot, congratulations! From the comfort of your seat, you get to answer pre-written questions ranging from the generic (What do you do for a living? Where are you from? How did you meet who you're with today?) to the specific (Marvel or DC? What would you do for a Klondike Bar?) and everywhere in between. The comedians will be doing the asking and making the funny -- all you have to do is talk about yourself! And who doesn't love to do that? 7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Infinity Room.  $12 online/$15 at doors. All ages show but material will not be clean. Click here for tickets.

Laugh Some More

Jamal “Prophit P” Coleman is a versatile entertainer known for his nationwide tours. A skilled rapper, he became the first rap instructor at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. His comedy career began as a sound technician at Ontario Improv, where his coworkers encouraged him to try stand-up. Jamal quickly became a headliner at The Improv clubs and founded the successful Silly Ass Comedy Tour, 9:30 Friday, May 16 at Infinity Room. $15 advance, $20 at doors. 21+ show. Click here for tickets.

On the Big Screen

Reel Rock 19 showcases three world-premiere climbing films spanning disciplines, characters, and continents: a heartfelt story of second chances in love and climbing on Squamish’s legendary Cobra Crack; an outrageous 18-day big wall epic on Patagonia’s towering Torre Central; and the pursuit of a lifelong dream—a 5.15 first ascent—made possible by an unlikely partnership, 7 p.m. May 18, at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre, 191 High St NE

On Stage

Pentacle Theatre presents Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie — Amanda Wingfield, a faded remnant of Southern gentility, now lives in a dingy St. Louis apartment with her son, Tom, and her daughter, Laura, who has a physical handicap and debilitating shyness. The father has left home: Tom supports his mother and sister with a shoe-factory job he finds unbearable. When Amanda convinces Tom to bring home from his workplace a “gentleman caller” for Laura, the illusions that Tom, Amanda, and Laura have created in order to make life bearable collapse about them. Directed by Jeff Sanders. See the show 7:30 p.m. May 15-17, 22-24, 29-31, and 2 p.m. May 18, and 24-25, at Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave NW. Click here for tickets.

KMUZ Theatre Talk airs at 9 a.m. the first and third Fridays of the month at ⁠KMUZ 100.7 and 88.5 FM ⁠in the mid-Willamette Valley, on the KMUZ mobile app and wherever you get your podcasts.

This weekend at Salem Cinema...

MUSIC

the eggbaby and friends locale — rap, 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 16 at The BAD Space, 2572 19th St SE. Click here for tickets. $15. All ages welcome. 

Salem Big Band Senior Prom is a night of nostalgia and fun, 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 16 at Center 50+, 2615 Portland Road NE. Click here for tickets.

Jason Beard's BRING JOY Performs Paul Simon's "Granceland" — Join founding member of Poor Man’s Whiskey, Jason Beard, and his talented ensemble for an evening of original music that blends bluegrass, rock, blues, and psychedelic grooves, The night will feature a special second set: a bluegrass-infused interpretation of Paul Simon’s iconic Graceland. With frequent guest appearances by vocalists and songwriters like Jimbo Scott and Sarah Larkin (The Real Sarahs), Bring Joy's live performances promise high-energy, collaborative artistry and heartfelt celebration. 8 p.m. Friday, May 16 at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre. $20. All ages. Click here for tickets.

Molly Martinka — 5 to 7 p.m. May 17, at West Hills Vineyards, 4785 Salem Dallas Hwy NW

Live Music: Mark Seymour & Friends — a combination of acoustic, electric, and bass guitar creating intricate instrumental interplay and silky smooth vocal harmonies of songs from the last 60 years, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 17 at Ankeny Vineyard. $5.

Saturday Música: Orvil Ivie — 1 to 3 p.m. Sat, May 17 at Cória Estates, 8252 Redstone Ave SE.

Multi-instrumentalist country singer-songwriter Maggie Baugh just launched her Entertainers Heart World Tour, and she's coming to Salem's Historic Grand Theatre, 7 p.m. May 17 Marking Maggie’s global debut as a headliner, her tour is backed by a new rock-infused sound and upcoming sophomore album. It follows breakout performances at the Grand Ole Opry (twice now!), The Tonight Show and Kelly Clarkson Show on tour with Keith Urban, plus a run of viral success (40M+ views) for her “Finish the Lick” TikTok series showcasing her multi-instrumentalist skills. 8 p.m. May 17, at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre. Tickets start at $30. Click here for tickets.

Delgani Quartet presents Repertoire, a concert program selected by the audience. After sending a survey to subscribers asking what they wanted to hear, the results are in. The winner was Shostakovich Quartet No. 8, with Beethoven as a close second. The quartet selected Beethoven Op 59/1, the ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet, and then Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte to start off the show. 3 p.m. May 18 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Tickets are $30 adults; $5 student; Free for youth 12 and younger. Click here for tickets.

On Going Events

Discover Chemeketa's Planetarium — The current show Two Small Pieces of Glass is a full dome presentation that follows two teenage students who learn from an astronomer how telescopes work during a star party. It also examines how these optical instruments have improved in the last 400 years and what great discoveries were made with them since the time of Galileo. It also includes a brief introduction to the night sky over Salem. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. every Friday through June 6 in Building 2, Room 171 on the Chemeketa campus off Lancaster Dr.  Use the blue parking lot. For more information, call 503-399-5248

Salem Saturday Market featuring a rotating line-up of 150 vendors selling local produce, hand-made products and more, is now open for the season. Shop 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through October in the parking lot at 865 Marion St NE. salemcommunitymarkets.com

Traveling Wheelz hosts Open Skate —and it's Retro Steampunk Night — starting at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at The Mad House. Learn more here.

Seat up for the Super Casual Saturday Salem Bike Ride on Saturdays. Meet at the bottom of Soap Box Derby Track at Bush Park at 11 a.m. Wheels down at 11:30.

Plus Explore Art

On exhibit at Salem on the Edge

Such as...

Stefani Art Gallery showing modern, contemporary, and abstract art from local and internationally-recognized artists, 305 Court St NE | stefaniartgallery.com

Local artist Jesus Escobar has work on display at Best Goose Bar and the Salem Public Library.

  • New Energy: New Work by M. Shoki Tanabe and Adam Zeek at Level 2 Gallery on the Second Floor at Salem Convention Center | 503-589-1700, oregonartistsseries.com (See an extension of this exhibit in the Art Hall at the Salem Public Library)
  • See Curious Untamed Blooms by Dayna Collins, a vibrant floral series in oil and cold wax, and a delightful collection of birds and mixed media work by Lisa Laser, at Salem on the Edge, 156 Liberty St NE | salemontheedge.com
  • Persistent Voices | Six Artists Perspectives is a powerful exhibition of six artists who center their art practice on the complexity of being human, especially the social, political and personal experiences and ramifications of living as a female in our time, at Salem Art Association, 600 Mission St SE | salemart.org
  • Special feature of the work of co-op members Dee Hendrix, mixed media painting, and Jean Lea, acrylic and watercolor, at the AiA Gallery, 444 Ferry St SE | AiAArtGallery.org
  • Nancy Floyd: For the Love of Trees at Hallie Ford Museum of Art, 700 State St | 503-370-6855, willamette.edu/arts/hfma

Click here for a full list of what's on exhibit this May.

Got an event? Submit it here.