Portland-based Far Out West strikes a relentlessly engaging balance between funk-infused rock and a jazz-informed collaboration, making them stand out as one of Portland’s most creative electric quartets to groove their way across the West Coast in recent years. Since the band’s inception in 2016, their high energy performances and upbeat instrumentation continue to raise the spirits of their audiences, one sensational beat at a time.
Following the release of their debut EP, The Good Fight (2018), the group began a residency at local club The Goodfoot Lounge. Since then, the band has completed several regional tours, with performances at notable festivals like Northwest String Summit, Juniper Jam, 4 Peaks Music Festival and the Beltane Music Festival. Throughout this time they also shared stages with heavy-hitters Becca Stevens, Jeff Austin Band, Dirty Revival, World’s Finest, and Jelly Bread. The group completed a live trio recording session at Fremont Recording Studio in early 2020, where they captured a handful of fresh material to tape.
Propelled by the compositions of guitarist and vocalist Liz Chibucos, Far Out West has developed a new repertoire of songs that branch out from the groups’ previous bluegrass influence and lean into the grounded wildness of freewheeling jazz-rock. Their psych-funk outlet harnesses rich, melodic motion and fresh improvisation. Through intentional use of space and rhythm, Far Out West integrates groove-oriented bass & percussion with smoking solos and robust, sultry vocals, a medley that’s sure to tell a story as vibrant as it is nuanced.
Liz Chibucos
Guitarist, Vocalist, Songwriter, Composer
With over a decade of experience as a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, audio engineer and educator, Liz Chibucos has been a major contributor to Portland’s music scene since she moved to the city in 2008. Prior to living in Portland, Liz graduated with a degree in Composition and Ethnomusicology from Bowling Green State University, where she was mentored by jazz pianist Russell Schmidt and audio engineer Mark Bunce.
Post graduation, Liz’s college-turned-professional band, The Student Loan Stringband, began touring nationally and internationally as part of the American Music Abroad program. Between 2008 and 2016, TSL toured 17 countries and played hundreds of shows. The experience solidified Chibucos’ passion and expertise for band leadership, touring, song arrangement and musicianship, equipping her for a rich career in music.
It also gave her a small but life-changing glimpse into the daily struggles and joys of everyday people all around the globe. They deepened her belief in the power of cooperation and solidified her commitment to fight for a more just and equitable world. In 2020, enlisted by Portland musician and activist Sarah Clarke, Liz joined a small group of Pacific Northwesterners to start Musicians in Solidarity, a nonprofit organization devoted to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive music industry.
Inspired by the guitar work of John Scofield, Jimmy Page, and Tony Rice, as well as songwriting behemoths such as Paul Simon, Liz continues to hone her composition and songwriting expertise as Far Out West grows into an unstoppable force.