Sonya Tomlinson

Latest Articles

Who’s running for mayor? (Yes, already!)

Hats in the Ring Dept.
Here's an early holiday gift from us to you: A new election to start thinking about! (You can thank us later.)
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 01, 2010

Fresh bedrock

Probing Dessa's multifaceted persona
Dessa Darling could never be limited to one area of interest to devote her passions — an author, lyricist, singer, teacher, philosophy-degree holder and lover of linguistics who cuts off and donates her hair to children in need every time she releases something big.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | March 08, 2010

Two: An Original Music Series

Music Seen
Port City Music Hall's Two Series two-dollar cover, two-dollar drafts from 8 to 11 pm.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | February 10, 2010

Review: Out on the town

Music Seen
Bars and clubs everywhere, 2009
By JEFF INGLIS | December 22, 2009

Christmas time travel

About Town
When I needed a bit of help getting into the holiday spirit last week, I decided to kill a bunch of birds and seek that seasonal boost while checking a Portland landmark off my list and getting a history lesson at the same time.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 16, 2009

So you think you can dance?

Soul Clap at SPACE
One of the few things that heats up a winter's night more than a dance party? A dance competition . Yes, you heard right.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 02, 2009

Music Seen: Roots and Tendrils

Worth the drive
Belfast as a destination just got more desirable with the addition of Roots and Tendrils. Nestled downtown, the light from the plate-glass windows and lush landscaped front lawn complete with brilliant colored chairs and lawn sculptures invite anyone heading down to the stone's-throw-away waterfront to peer inside.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | September 02, 2009

Music Seen: [dog] and [pony]

Coming to a computer near you, anytime
Let's face it — it's hot, we're poor, and we're lucky to be stealing our neighbor's wireless. When you can't muster the energy to go out in these dog days of summer you can go to the best attended venue not only in Portland, but worldwide: the Internet.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | August 26, 2009

A decade of song

10 years of the Portland Music Awards
It’s been a decade since the Portland Phoenix and the Portland music scene first joined up to celebrate the best in local music. Here are some highlights from this year’s party, and some artifacts we dug up from the archives.
By MARGO ROY, CLIF GARBODEN, JOHN MARSHALL, LISA CRAIG, MATTHEW ROBBINS, SONYA TOMLINSON, JEFF INGLIS, AND JENNIFER KEARNS | June 11, 2009

From the mouths of innocents

Modern poverty
It has become an unwelcome reality, living from paycheck to paycheck and worrying about job stability, but what about being born a guiltless young person growing up with a drug-addicted parent, no job skills, and no home?
By SONYA TOMLINSON | May 13, 2009

Hogfarm Studios

Music seen: February 28, in Biddeford
Biddeford's Hogfarm Studios is a multi-media art space that occasionally serves as a small venue.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | March 12, 2009

Music seen: Tony McNaboe

Live at The Big Easy, February 10
By the time you, dear reader, lay eyes on this, you will have one last opportunity to catch Tony McNaboe's month-long Tuesday-night residency at the Big Easy, which — according to his prediction on week two — is "only going to get better."
By SONYA TOMLINSON | February 19, 2009

Music Seen: Anticon's 10th anniversary

Knitting Factory (Manhattan), December 18, 2008
Sure, Ray LaMontagne is huge and the Rustic Overtones saw their national time, but there is something to be said for a record label co-founded by Mainers that is more than a decade old and can still sell out the Knitting Factory in New York City.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | December 31, 2008

On street level

As Katrina hit New Orleans, filmmakers went to work
It is impossible not to wonder how Louisiana might have fared after Hurricane Katrina, had Barack Obama been in office a term sooner. There are so many questions about what went wrong and how it could have been handled differently, which have gone unanswered for more than three years.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | November 19, 2008

Seven Sirens

Music seen at SPACE Gallery, November 14
SPACE Gallery showcased a "Seven Sirens" all-lady lineup last Friday, in front of a packed house.
By SONYA TOMLINSON AND JEFF INGLIS | November 19, 2008

Atmosphere

Music seen at the Station, October 17, 2008
Atmosphere’s audience hasn’t changed in years.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | October 22, 2008

Picnic + Homecoming

Music seen at Lincoln Park and SPACE Gallery, September 13, 2008
We’ll hope that both of the first-time ever events that took place last Saturday will return annually, and be as successful in the future as their debuts.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | September 17, 2008

The Scrapes

Music seen at SPACE Gallery, August 14, 2008
There is definitely a large niche in Portland that is unwittingly missing out on the fun to be had with the Scrapes.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | August 20, 2008

Cerf-Volantes

Music Seen: The Dooryard, August 4, 2008
At its climax, those emotions were fully realized as Frederick broke into a three-part harmony, nearly screaming repeatedly, “Ready or not.”
By SONYA TOMLINSON | August 05, 2008

Boondocks + Pore + Juba

Music seen at Empire Dine and Dance, June 27, 2008
Anyone in their late 20s and early 30s can appreciate what a golden era the ’90s were for hip-hop, R&B, and dancehall.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | July 02, 2008

Cougars kill Cobras

Music seen at SPACE Gallery, May 17
Music seen at SPACE Gallery, May 17.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | May 21, 2008

’80s night

Music seen at Bubba’s Sulky Lounge, May 2, 2008
Do you know what the Number One single was the day you were born?
By SONYA TOMLINSON | May 07, 2008

Susan Werner

Music seen at Stone Mountain Arts Center, February 8
She sang improvisational songs about converting vintage cars to hybrids, and turned familiar show tunes into pro-Obama ditties.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | February 27, 2008

Boot, we’re just not that into you

Troubleshooting
Getting the boot off of your car, or avoiding it entirely, has never been easier.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | November 20, 2007

McNallica heads to nationals

Road trip
But even Mainers who attend will get to see new material, as she has a serious practice regimen.
By JEFF INGLIS | August 08, 2007

Casco Bay Cabaret

Music seen at SPACE Gallery, July 27, 2007
Pissed off my dates, but I managed to catch some highlights.
By SONYA TOMLINSON AND CHRISTOPHER GRAY | August 01, 2007

Facing the music

Sage Francis answers Mainers' questions
It’s well known that Sage Francis has a reputation of slightly unapproachable.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | July 11, 2007

Amy Winehouse

Music seen, at the Avalon, May 7, 2007
I saw at least a dozen people I knew from Portland at the Amy Winehouse show at The Avalon in Boston earlier this month.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | May 23, 2007

Saying the unspeakable

Filmmaker calls out hip-hop’s latent misogyny and racism
Former quarterback turned activist Byron Hurt brings to light gender-stereotyping views in mainstream hip-hop culture and those perpetuating them, in hopes that light will prove cleansing.
By SONYA TOMLINSON | May 23, 2007

Air guitar competition

Music Seen, at SPACE Gallery, April 28, 2007
For those wondering how the Air Guitar competition went down — the event was beyond sold out.
By SONYA TOMLINSON + JEFF INGLIS | May 02, 2007