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The Decemberists performing at Wonder Ballroom.

(Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian)

I spoke with Chris Funk last week to discuss his ownership of a Phantom Guitar Works 12-string, but I couldn't let the musician off the line without discussing his many projects. Here's what he's got coming up:

On Friday night, Funk's band Black Prairie will join an all-star lineup at Wesley Stace's Cabinet of Wonders: My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Pink Martini's China Forbes, the Long Winters' John Roderick, Stace himself, Ural Thomas and the Pain, Laura Veirs, Richmond Fontaine's Willy Vlautin, comedian Amy Miller and Funk's Decemberists' bandmate Colin Meloy. The second annual charity event will benefit the Children's Cancer Association's MyMusicRx program -- Funk was also involved in an SXSW event in Austin, Texas in March for the charity. Get your tickets here.

The Decemberists "are finishing a record pretty soon," he says, but it won't be out for a while. "Probably another year or so." In the meantime, the band will perform in Boston and play two "V for Victory" nights at the Crystal Ballroom in May, where they'll do all of debut album "Castaways and Cutouts" and more material to benefit the Victory Academy.

The Decemberists' gap leaves room for some Black Prairie business: the band's next album, "Fortune," is due April 22. The band will headline the Aladdin on May 2 and head out on tour.

Funk's also been donning his producer hat: "I'm producing Sallie Ford's new record," he says of Ford's post-Sound Outside project. "It's been really fun. It's been a band coming alive in the studio because they weren't very rehearsed when they came in.

"And slowly producing a record for Rhett Miller from Old 97's with Black Prairie backing him up," he says.

Not a bad schedule, huh?

-- David Greenwald