Jesse Roper / Lewi Longmire at Trout Lake Hall
March 20 @ 6:00 pm
Friday, March 20th, 2026
$20 Advance // $25 Day Of Show
6pm Doors / 7pm Show
All Ages
JESSE ROPER
Based in Victoria, BC, Jesse Roper is a blues/Americana artist with a penchant for writing modern indie-infused blues music and delivering bombastic live performances buoyed by his virtuosic guitar playing. His innate and impressive musical talent has served him well, giving him the flexibility to play with soul icon Booker T. Jones, rock veteran Colin James, blues belter Beth Hart, and Canadian legend Burton Cummings. The stage is where Roper shines. It has been his home since overcoming crippling stage fright during his early twenties. Fear is a part of Roper’s past that barely seems real today – especially when you see the in-concert image of a six-string soldier, hair matted to his face, tearing up the stage, without a hint of second-guessing.
Roper’s last album ‘Horizons’ marked a sonic high point in his career thus far. Working closely with famed JUNO-nominated producer Gus van Go (Metric, The Stills, Whitehorse, Arkells, The Trews, Sam Roberts) on that new collection of songs has pushed Roper into creating some of his best work. “Recording with Gus and Werner F was on a whole new level.
Roper released the first single off his upcoming LP (to be released in late 2023) “Make It All Work Out” on March 29th, 2023. The song charted on Canadian terrestrial and satellite radio throughout the spring and early summer. Now all eyes are on the next release, “Throw This Rope” produced by Gus van Go (Metric, Whitehorse, Sam Roberts Band). The song will be the second of multiple energetic, fresh, soulful and r&b inspired tracks from a forthcoming LP that harkens the voices of JJ Cale, The Teskey Brothers, Ben Harper and others – while maintaining Roper’s strong and unique expression in the genre.
When asked to describe the song, Jesse remarks, “Throw This Rope is about being told how to run your life and career by folks who are currently running theirs aground. I sure don’t know everything and I never will but I’ve been given every manner of advice from folks who have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s frustrating sometimes.”
Jesse is a master at connecting his personal story and experiences to his songwriting – crafting narratives that hit on life’s challenges and eccentricities – but that remain upbeat, engaging and wildly entertaining songs.
Adventuresome doesn’t properly describe Roper as an artist, because when the guitar-wielding dynamo sets out to accomplish something, there’s no telling where his mind will wander, or when his energy will go.
LEWI LONGMIRE
Oregon Music Hall of Fame member Lewi Longmire has built a reputation as Portland’s multi-instrumentalist “go to guy.” In the decades since relocating to Portland from Albuquerque, New Mexico, he’s been included on shows and recordings by many of the Northwest’s finest bands and songwriters.
He’s regularly played with national acts Kassi Valazza, Michael Hurley, John Craigie, TK & the Holy Know Nothings, Alela Diane, Victoria Williams, Dolorean, AgesandAges, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, the Minus 5, Breathe Owl Breathe and Tara Jane O’Neill as well as local luminaries Denver, The Portland Country Underground, Midlo/Pancake Breakfast, Barna Howard, Fernando, James Low, Perhapst (Decemberists), Little Sue, Casey Neill, the Freak Mountain Ramblers, and was an anchor member of Portland’s all-star tribute to the Allman Brothers, Brothers and Sister, as well as the annual local charity tribute to the Band’s Last Waltz concert.
Lewi has taken all the things he learned from working with these fine performers and when not out touring with one of them, spends his time leading a roots rock/americana band of his own, singing his own original compositions and some deep cut songs from some of his favorite artists. This group owes much to the American tradition of good songs played with high energy, deep roots, and an unpretentious sense of fun. Their sound finds the connection between the basement roots feel of The Band, the raspy blue-eyed soul of Joe Cocker, the desert space of Giant Sand, the “without a net” deep space improvisations of the San Francisco ballrooms, the punk abandon of The Stooges and the quiet contemplation of Neil Young playing solo.
Helping achieve this are THE LEFT COAST ROASTERS, a band of stalwart Portland musicians. Bill Rudolph (bass and vocals) played with the Crackpots and Little Sue for years, driving their home crowd into an energetic frenzy with his low tones. Ned Folkerth (drums) has toured the world over with many groups, including the midwest’s Pinetop Seven and Portland’s own Caleb Klauder Band, always laying down the perfect groove to cure whatever ails ya. Dan Eccles (guitar) has most often been seen in the band Richmond Fontaine or backing up local rock legend Fernando, as well as recording and producing records for local friends.
