“Apes Tapes is coming.”

One year ago this clandestine tag line, dashed on a poster with a simple icon of a cassette tape, managed to stir up a lot of buzz for a label that was yet to ever put out a release. A launch party, 11 releases featuring 20+ local projects (including limited run tapes that will likely never be reissued) and one whirlwind year later – Apes Tapes is still coming. Coming for your tape players and every man, woman and child.

More importantly, Apes Tapes’ first birthday marks an obvious coming of age. Continually exploring what it is to be an artist and an artist-run label, walking the fine line between musician and businessperson, maximizing quality and quantity, often with little-to-no money – the label is as much a project as the music itself. It is the epitome of the DIY Portland music scene, and that’s what makes Apes Tapes important. Like a lot of other great labels in this town, this collective wasn’t started to ever make a bunch of money, it was started so that a bunch of friends with a bunch of projects could put out a bunch of music.

To celebrate this simple fact and appreciate our longtime fans, as well as our newest ones, we wanted to throw a party so that everyone still knows the Ape has got your back. Here’s what you need to know:

APES TAPES SHOWCASE (ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!)

ONUINU
ADVENTURES! WITH MIGHT
VANIMAL (Reunion performance)
XDS
PEGASUS DREAM

With special mini sets by 3 surprise artists AND a surprise DJ.

Holocene | November 17th | 5$ | 21+

This event will also mark the release of (and first chance to get your hands on) the third installment of the Mixed Ape. This third edition is a compilation of 16 different top-shelf local artists including: Adventures! With Might, Vanimal, dopebeds, Onuinu, Pegasus Dream, Queen Leaf (formerly Housefire), Rico All The Time, Summer Ono, XDS, Grandparents, Death Songs, Aan, Youth, And And And, Support Force, and The Tomorrow People.

The first 25 people through the door will receive appreciation bags containing a variety of special little angel pokes from the label and featured bands – including, but certainly not limited to, free music from Apes Tapes and the bands that are playing the show, as well as limited edition screen printed tote bags, and other special prizes.

Just remember who loves ya, baby!

-The Great Ape