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The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association End of Summer Big Band Royale Jazz Collective Big Band + NoPo Big Band Thursday, September 10, 2026 - 7pm The Ruins, Hood River FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE End of Summer Big Bands Royale: Hood River's Jazz Collective and Portland's NoPo Big Band at The Ruins HOOD RIVER, OR – Two big bands. One stage. On Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Jazz Collective Big Band of Hood River joins forces with Portland's acclaimed North Portland (NoPo) Big Band for the End of Summer Big Bands Royale, a showcase concert at The Ruins in downtown Hood River. Two full horn sections. Two rhythm sections. A night of swing you won't hear anywhere else — performed under the open sky inside the walls of a century-old fruit cannery. The Royale is a listening showcase, giving both ensembles room to stretch out across the swing-era standards and contemporary big band writing that define their books. The evening culminates in a combined finale putting musicians from both bands on stage together. 'Two bands from two sides of the Gorge, one stage, and a sound you only get when you put that much brass and rhythm on the same stage. It's the right way to close out summer and open our season,' says Michael Paul, Jazz Collective Director. The Royale opens the Jazz Collective's 2026–2027 concert and dance season, which continues with Moonlight Over the Gorge at Cascade Locks Pavilion on October 23, My Funny Valentine — Sweetheart's Dance on February 14, Generations in Swing with The Dalles High School Jazz Band on April 3, and Full Bloom Swing on May 2. Event Details: What: End of Summer Big Bands Royale Who: Jazz Collective Big Band and NoPo Big Band When: Thursday, September 10th, 7–9 PM, doors at 6:30 PM Where: The Ruins, 13 Railroad St, Hood River, OR 97031 (outdoor venue) Format: Showcase concert — no dance floor Tickets are available at the door or gorgeorchestra.org after September 1. Adults $15, students/youth FREE (HS & college students show ID at the door). Also, $5 tickets are available at the door for SNAP card holders through the Arts for All program. About the Bands: The NoPo Big Band is Portland's premier jazz ensemble dedicated to performing standards from the 1930s to the present. Under Musical Director Scott 'Herm' Anderson, the band has become a cornerstone of Portland's jazz scene. Before relocating to Portland in 2021, Anderson spent 22 years performing at Chicago's most prestigious venues alongside Howard Levy (Béla Fleck), Pat Mallinger, and Marquis Hill. His original project, the Nia Quintet, has released three albums praised by Jazz Times and Cadence Magazine, and he has performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival and France's Blues Passions Festival, and with Akira Tana, Rufus Reid, Tim Hagans, and Fred Hersch. The Jazz Collective Big Band, part of the Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association (CGOA), represents the finest jazz talent in the Hood River area. Under the direction of Michael Paul — who joined as Lead Trumpet in 2017 and took the podium in 2021 — the ensemble has grown into a regional powerhouse. Paul brings over 15 years of professional experience as a trumpet player and Musical Director with major cruise lines, along with training at the University of North Texas. He also performs with the Southwest Washington Symphony and with the NoPo Big Band, forming a direct musical bridge between the two ensembles on this bill. The Jazz Collective continues CGOA's mission to 'Connect, Inspire, and Create' through the power of live music. About The Ruins: Housed in a 100-year-old fruit cannery in downtown Hood River, The Ruins is an open-air venue where weathered brick, overhead string lights, and a full professional sound system have made it one of the Gorge's most distinctive cultural destinations — and a favorite spot to hear live music under the stars. The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and presenting musical performances of the highest quality in the Columbia River Gorge region. With a commitment to artistic excellence and education, CGOA brings the joy of music to audiences of all ages.