HOOD RIVER — A special evening of music is coming to the Gorge. In collaboration with the Bed Barn’s Church of Music, Jeffrey Foucault and Garrett Brennan will headline a dual-set concert in the historic Rockford Grange on Oct. 25.

HOOD RIVER — After 25 years, Hillstomp, a “Mississippi trance blues” band, are closing the curtain.

When my longtime friend Tom Foxx told me about his son’s new music group, I had the same kind of feeling I used to get when I was music editor at The Washington Times in D.C. and a friend would want me to write about his music group. What do you do when friendship might conflict with honest assessment of musical talent?

In the spring of 1962 up at Ronnie’s Roller Rink, the Smiths took the risk of hiring a live band for the hop, a local combo with a smooth-talking singer named Clark Swayton. Clark and the Upbeats were an immediate hit.