The Dalles Hoot Rises
By Robin
The Dalles, Ore., March 9, 2026 — Mark the date in your calendars, folks: March 7th, 2026. This was the weekend the inaugural Dalles Hoot Music Festival, organized by The Dalles Overground, officially rocked our stages, our hearts, and our minds.
It felt like the start of a new era for our town, one built on collaboration, support, and the pure, loud joy of live music.
I started my weekend at Wines on 2nd. The house was full, the air thick with infectious energy and a sea of familiar faces. It was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits after a long, frustrating work week.
Wines on 2nd - Friday The Dalles Hoot 2026
While there, I ran into an old friend, Zora, who I’d interviewed on the podcast before. She was lit up with excitement, standing with her parents and soaking in the tunes. That’s the magic of this community; showing up often feels like a family reunion where there’s always a kind-hearted person ready to listen. I remember thinking to myself, “This festival is so uniquely The Dalles, and I love it.”
Power Chords and Pow Wow Punk
Hungry and exhausted, my partner and I headed over to River City Saloon as they were prepping for the late-night sets. Watching the "wheels" of a festival turn is a sight to see plaid shirts scurrying around with mics and cables. Then, the food arrived. If you’ve heard our podcast, the staff warned us about their homemade specials, and they weren't kidding: the ribs on coleslaw with homemade hot honey were, by God, absolutely amazing.
By Saturday, the energy had shifted to the Granada Theatre. I walked in during the second half of 1876, a "Pow Wow Punk Rock" band. I was met with a literal wall of sound epic guitars, thundering drums, and that unmistakable punk grit that makes you want to move. I’ve been to the Granada many times, but never like this. The pit was a swirling mass of dancers, and the booths were packed.
Looking around, the "only in The Dalles" vibe was on full display. To my right was my friend Kara, our local DA (and one of the event sponsors); to my left, another friend who leans a bit more "anarchist"; behind me, some guys I knew from volunteering with the Boy Scouts. Seeing people from such vastly different backgrounds together, nodding their heads to music rooted in the Indigenous culture of the land we occupy, felt profound.
I caught up with the band outside as they packed up. They were genuinely happy to be playing for us. I’ll admit, I had a bit of a crush on the bassist, but when I tried to say hello, only some weird, shy British-sounding mumbles came out.
A Cultural Turning Point
Then came the headliners: The Vandoliers. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t done my homework, and I was not prepared for the blessing that is this Texas country-punk ensemble.
The Vandoliers Headline The Dalles Hoot 2026 at The Granada Theater
Lead singer Jenni Rose stepped onto that stage and simply owned the room. As a trans woman fronting a high-octane band in the country-punk scene, her presence was like a comet entering the atmosphere. Her voice had the soul of an angel and the bite of a punk legend.
As someone who often feels the weight of the world’s harsher opinions on how trans people should live, watching the warm, welcoming acceptance from The Dalles audience moved me to tears. It felt like a cultural turning point for our community. The musicianship was relentless, the performance was art, and the joy in that theater was tangible.
More Hootin?
We finished the night back at River City Saloon for the final shows. The vibe was reminiscent of the old Hood River days for that establishment high energy, packed with locals, and pure community. Members of The Vandoliers even made their way over after their set. Jenni Rose was kind enough to sign my boob a signature that, I’ve decided, I am never, ever washing off.
I couldn’t make the Sunday songwriter sessions at the Herbring House, but scrolling through Instagram today, the clips of the Songwriters Circle looked like the perfect, intimate end to a wild weekend.
If this was just "Year One" of The Hoot, I think we’re in for something truly special in the years to come.
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