It Ain’t Happening (Plus Bonus YouTube Shenanigans!)

A rash of cancellations came in after deadline this week. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s NOT happening:

• Shooter Jennings is NOT playing the WOW Hall tonight.

• Bitch is NOT playing the OUT/LOUD Queer Music Festival on Friday, May 21, at the WOW Hall, though the festival will otherwise go on as planned.

UPDATE: The OUT/LOUD planning committee just issued a statement explaining that Bitch was “disinvited” from playing at the event due to “her transphobic remarks and ongoing conflict with the trans community.” The statement outlines the remarks in question and apologizes to “those who were excluded or hurt by our decision to invite Bitch to play at OUT/LOUD this year.”

• The Random Acts of Funnness event at Petersen Barn Community Center will NOT take place on Friday, May 21.

In other, somewhat tangentially related concert news, the band Isis is calling it quits; their current tour, which includes a WOW Hall show on May 29, is their last. The full text of the announcement is on the band’s blog.

I need something happy to end this post. Or at least something cheerfully random. So here: An Oregon kid wrote a song inspired by Laurie Halse Anderson‘s young adult novel Chains. Then he made a video for it. Would you like your dose of earnest charm for the day? Then watch this.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!