Park Songs

Putting on a concert in the park in late September in Eugene normally means things might get rained out. These days, however, event organizers must add social distancing guidelines and wildfire smoke to their list of concerns.

This weekend, two free concerts in the park take those risks: a concert of jazz, funk and soul originals from brand-new Eugene trio Alobar at Washburne Park, and a program of classical vocal music with vocalist Laura Wayte and pianist Nathalie Fortin at Lafferty Park.

What’s more, each show highlights music influenced by the COVID-19 lockdown back in March.

Alobar, in fact, might not even exist if it weren’t for the pandemic, says guitarist and Eugene Weekly contributor Jade Yamazaki Stewart.

The band’s drummer, Alden Mcwayne, a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, chose to ride out the lockdown in Eugene after the school moved all its classes online. Stuck in the same place and with little to do, the trio of high school friends — including Alden’s brother Dana McWayne on keyboards, saxophone, and vocals — started playing music together again for the first time in years

The trio comes from an improvisational background, Yamazaki Stewart explains, with strong international influences, and the band’s songwriting process is collaborative.

“We’ll be practicing, and I’ll come up with some riff on the guitar,” Yamazaki Stewart says. “Alden will make a beat for it. We’re not too stuffed into any specific roles.”

After working up a setlist, and with Eugene venues closed during the pandemic, Alobar chose to play safe, socially distanced live shows at Washburne Park. The turnout has been great, Yamazaki Stewart says.

The musicians return to Washburne Park at 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 26.

Like Alobar, Eugene-based classical soprano Wayte and pianist and collaborator Fortin also had to turn to an unconventional performance venue this summer: Wayte’s front porch.

At that show, Fortin and Wayte performed a program ranging from sea shanties to works from German composer Giacomo Meyerbeer. Wayte is known locally for singing with the Eugene Opera, the Oregon Mozart Players, the Oregon Symphony and the Eugene Concert Choir.

“About 35 people turned out and sat on the sidewalk while we performed on the front porch,” she recalls. “I felt very emotional, because it was nice to be performing and it was also nice to see my friends and neighbors. It was also strange because I couldn’t see any of them.”

Rounding out the performance was a series of original Cole Porter parodies that Wayte calls “COVID Temper Tantrums,” complaining about and laughing at the current pandemic situation: humor as a form of stress relief.

“The songs are ridiculously funny and wonderful in their original form,” she adds, but by changing the words, Cole Porter’s trademark wit is now directed squarely at COVID-19.

“I have a lot of fun with them,” Wayte says.

Wayte and Fortin will reprise their show, with a free performance Saturday, Sept. 26, at Lafferty Park in Eugene.

“Normally we perform in concert halls and house concerts,” Wayte says, “but that is all unavailable to us since last spring, so this is our COVID-era house concert. It is so wonderful to get out in front of an audience again.”

As far Alobar, they’ve also started working on a debut EP, recorded at the home studio of Don Latarski, a recording artist himself and head of guitar studies at the University of Oregon,.

“We’re taking advantage of this time when we’re all together again,” Yamazaki Stewart says. “I’m happy we’ve had that experience.”

Weather permitting, Alobar performs 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 26, at Washburne Park; FREE, all-ages. Laura Wayte and Nathalie Fortin perform 5 pm Saturday, Sept. 26. at Lafferty Park; FREE, all-ages.

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!