Kai Frueh, a Corvallis native now based in Bowling Green, OH, is a pianist and birder who will bring a very unique concert to The Meteor Lounge in West Linn at 7pm on June 20. Describing himself as a "collaborative musician and interdisciplinary artist who blends new music, environmental themes and birdsong into chamber, ensemble, and immersive solo performances," Kai forms one half of the Frueh Brothers duo (along with his brother, violinist Ben Frueh).
In addition to being obsessed with music, he is obsessed with birds, and the West Linn concert is just the first in an ambitious summer program in NW Oregon this year. Not only is there the opportunity to hear Kai's music, in West Linn on June 21, as well as in Corvallis June 27 and in Lincoln City July 10, but he will also put his expert-level birding abilities to use and guide a birdsong walk at the incredibly birdy Powell Butte Nature Park in east Portland. Complete details are:
1. Summer Solstice Bird Concert with Kai Frueh
Meteor Lounge
2015 8th Avenue West Linn, OR 97068
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Doors open: 6:45 p.m.
Concert begins: 7:15 p.m.
Sponsored by Bird Alliance of Oregon as part of their Bird Days of Summer.
Tickets required. All seating is General Admission.
Fee: $25 members / $35 non-members
Student/youth fee: $15
Proceeds will go to supporting Bird Alliance of Oregon’s programs.
2. The Bird Days of Summer: Intersection of Birdsong and Music — Birding at Powell Butte
Powell Butte Nature Park
16160 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR
Sunday, June 21, 2026
8am – ~ 10:30am
Sponsored by Bird Alliance of Oregon as part of their Bird Day’s of Summer.
Join musician and birder Kai Frueh for an exploration of the birds of Powell Butte Nature Park. This walk will focus on the songs of our feathered friends which Kai uses in his musical performances.
We will move at a relaxed pace with frequent stops to enjoy the musicality of birdsong and discuss intersections of birdsong and music. With a mixture of habitats including grassland and forest, we will get to experience a lot of birdsong and enjoy birding by ear. Participants of all experience levels are welcome!
Registration required
3. Kai’s Bird Concert sponsored by Mid Willamette Bird Alliance
Good Samaritan Episcopal Church
333 NW 35th St, Corvallis, OR 97330
Sunday, June 27, 2026, 7pm PDT
This will be a one-hour immersive bird-themed concert combining Kai’s two biggest passions: music and birds. In this concert Kai explores many different ways composers have drawn inspiration from birds in their piano works spanning from the early 1700s all the way through today. The concert will include works by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Amy Beach, and Olivier Messiaen, as well as pieces written specifically for this program by Brad Balliett, Julia Tchira, and Thomas Meinzen. The musical experience is enhanced with many of Kai’s field recordings, compiled to recreate a natural soundscape in the concert hall. This concert promises to be an unforgettable experience, delighting bird fanatics and music lovers alike.
Free Admission – donations appreciated
4. Kai’s Bird Concert as part of Seven Cape Bird Alliance Osprey Days
Lincoln City Cultural Center, Lincoln City, OR
540 NE Hwy 101, Lincoln City, OR
Friday, July 10, 2026 7pm PDT
Same program as #3
Concert tickets and registration for the bird outing are available at his website, linked to aboved. Watch NW Reverb in the weeks to come for an interview with Kai, which will be conducted as we bird some of his favorite spots in his hometown of Corvallis, as well as a review of the Lincoln City Concert.
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