Washington Park Summer Festival

For two weeks in August, Washington Park hosts a series of free concerts at the Rose Garden amphiteathre. This is a great venue for smaller (and larger) musical acts, outdoors with the wafting aroma of roses. Some concerts are better than others. For some reason, the Lions of Batucada are very popular. They are a troupe of percussionists and dancers who specialize in the carnival sounds of Brasilia. Of course, they would sound better if there was an actual Carnivale replete with parade and parties. Here, they sounded like adults who wished they were children in their mom's kitchen, banging pots and pans (I am not the Mean Girl in Portland). Sanyu, a gospel chorus, was much better. Last night, we went to see the Portland Festival Symphony with Three Leg Torso as guests. Good music. A great way to spend an August evening.