The music of Oregon, the cultures represented in Portland, reflects the diverse styles of the United States music - Native American, Contemporary, Rock and roll, Country, Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Pop, Electronic music, and Hip hop.
However, throughout the years, the state has been isolated from the cultural forces shaping American music. As Oregon's population was more homogeneous and more white compared to the whole United States, Oregon wasn't anable to play a significant role.
Oregon main contribution began in the 1960s, when The Kingsmen and Paul Revere & the Raiders named Oregon as a minor center of frat rock and garage rock.
In the last decade, Oregon has made a unique contribution to American independent music, with a strong indie music scene developing in Portland. The cityis reputated as a hipster mecca and has seen the raise of Decemberists, Gossip, The Dandy Warhols, M. Ward, and the late Elliott Smith. With Floater as Portland's leading example of an indie band.
The state also has a unique rural-urban dynamic, which has influenced the development of local bluegrass, folk, and alternative country music.
Jam bands have a strong presence in the state, dating back to Grateful Dead performances at the Oregon Country Fair, and outdoor music festivals continue to be popular.
Portland's Waterfront Blues Festival is the second largest blues festival in the country. Prominent cultural institutions include the Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Festival of American Music, Oregon Symphony, and Mt. Hood Jazz Festival.