What WE’RE About
We’re a group of friends who love Portland’s music scene and believe it deserves a festival like this. That’s why we volunteer our time and energy to make Summer Shred a reality.
Festival Organizers
Wylie Gibbins
Ever seen Wayne’s World 2? Wylie did in middle school, and ever since, he’s dreamed of starting a music festival. Now, with Summer Shred, that dream is becoming a reality!
Wylie has years of experience organizing music festivals, having served as President, Administrative Director, Production Director, and Finance Director for PDX Pop Now from 2016 to 2019. He knows what it takes to bring a community-driven event to life. In addition to festival organizing, Wylie is a lifelong guitarist and has played in multiple bands around town since moving to Portland in 2012.
When he’s not securing vendors, handling permits, and fundraising for Summer Shred, Wylie runs Gibbins Kaplan Development (www.gkdpdx.com), a real estate development firm focused on workforce housing in East Multnomah County. In his free time, he enjoys live music, skiing at Meadows, backpacking, writing and recording music, and traveling.
Alan Rahi
Alan is a professional musician and educator with a career spanning multiple bands and recording projects in Portland. As a music educator, he recognizes the power of a well-crafted song to inspire and connect people.
Beyond his work as a multi-instrumentalist—playing piano, synth, guitar, and drums—Alan is actively involved in the music community, regularly volunteering at Pickathon and teaching at Vancouver Music Academy. Since the pandemic, Alan has cultivated a passion for event production through ongoing porch concerts, showcasing up and coming local bands.
Mike ward
Mike is a Portland native & avid music festival fan, especially ones that are free, local, & DIY. He's worked as a filmmaker & video editor for the past fifteen years, including several years volunteering on the film crew for @pickathon . Outside of work, when he's not playing tennis or watching movies at the Hollywood Theater, he's proud to help with the design of Summer Shred's poster, website, & promo materials.
Nick Bruns
Nick is an avid music fan, drummer, festival goer, and promoter of all things that bring people together to enjoy life, especially through the communal sacrament that is live music. During the day in festival off-season, Nick is a high school math teacher. Nights, weekends, and summers, Nick can be found dancing country 2-step at shows around town, up in the mountains getting dirty, or behind a drumset pushing some bounce and vocal harmonies, but always seeking to bring those around him deeper into the groove.
lauren kaltsas
Lauren is a creative & community builder with a draw to live music & a background in Communication, event planning, & nonprofit work. At 16, she toured internationally with her school jazz band as the vocalist & while she's a little rusty these days, she's grateful to be involved in the music scene once again. Outside of Summer Shred, she is the event planner for @thursday.portland bringing pdx singles together each week.