MUSIC LIBERATION
The Free Music Archive
“an interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads.”
FMA is one of my favorite sites on the internet and it amasses an incredible amount of awesome FREE music. FMA is collective effort of (spearheaded by WFMU) multiple non-commercial radio stations, free music friendly record labels, artistic spaces, and just about every great thing under the moon. I am a big fan.
CLLCT
“a family of artists who help each other out whenever they can, and who make music because they love to make music.” CLLCT is amazing. I have been a member of CLLCT since the inception of The Taxpayers and have contributed music prior to the great “shutdown” and since. There are some really great people involved in this community and a lot of interesting music is represented. I highly recommend checking it out.
Internet Archive.org
“a non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library”
Excellent! Internet Archive doesn’t primarily distribute free music, but I was directed to the site through downloading free Plan-It-X music. Stop in, have a little search around. Anyone can contribute, too. Probably one of the most important websites out there.
Creative Commons
“a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others, consistent with the rules of copyright.”
Every/most legal free digital music is licensed through Creative Commons. It’s the jam, support them and keep music liberated!
DIY ORGANIZING & EVENT NETWORKS
PC-PDX.com
“Portland’s guide to local shows”
PC-PDX.com changed my life. Seriously. PC-PDX.com is a not for profit user-driven online show guide and venue resource. Not many shows in Portland fly below the radar of PC-PDX.com, it even lists DIY house shows and their locations. Show pics, videos, fliers, profiles on bands, you name it, it can all be found here.
Do DIY
“a chronicle (of) people hosting &/or organizing DIY events”
Do DIY is a nationwide network of listed spaces, Infoshops, venues, and DIY resources. This is their newest website and I am very excited about it. Clean, concise, informative. Host events or provide resources? Well, join the network ya dummy!
Infoshop Network
“a mutual aid network for infoshops in USA and Canada, maybe beyond.”
The Infoshop Network is an online hub of connecting infoshops all-around using newsletters, infoshop contacts and web addresses, touring artist info, and much more. If you’re an infoshop and like to network/collaborate with other infoshops, here’s your answer!
ZINE/PRINT
IPRC
“one of the only nonprofit self-publishing centers of its kind anywhere in the world.”
Why doesn’t every town have something like this? IPRC offers workspace and access to a plethora of very useful/necessary tools for zine and publishing DIY material, it’s like unground punk-as-fuck Kinko’s. I highly recommend checking them out if you’re ever in Portland.
SCRAP
“a non-profit organization that inspires creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing education programs and affordable materials to the community.”
SCRAP is the best place on earth! It’s the only place I go “shopping” at, I love it! Almost all of USR album materials, fliers, zines, and stationary are purchased at SCRAP. Any crafty, wild material you need to finish a project can probably be found there. In a world of infinite junk, SCRAP just makes sense.
Portland Zine Symposium
“a fun and free event that helps people share their work while exchanging their skills and information related to zine culture”
PZS is one of my favorite events of the year. Every year, zinesters from across the states converge on PSU to share their work and enrich the zine culture. It’s definitely worth the trip out.
