thursday 4
Home Free
MUSIC—Imagine "Glee" gone country, add the punch of reality TV, and you've got the gist of Home Free, season 4 winners of a the a capella competition show "Sing Off." The Minnesota-based group puts its own spin on country favorites with a depth and complexity that makes it easy to forget the backing band is just vocal chords. 8 pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St. $20-$30 in advance, $5 more at the door.
friday 5
First Friday
ART—Take a stroll downtown filled with art bites and booze samples. Make sure to swing by Crow's Feet Commons, hosting a slew of great events including Base Camp Studio's painting marathon and On Ensemble, forward thinking taiko (Japanese ensemble drumming) artists. Bishop's Barber Shop will host work from the Source's artist of the month, Portland's Bettina McEntyre. 5 pm. Downtown Bend. Free.
friday 5
Dirty Revival Collective
DANCE MUSIC—So many horns. Mixing soul and funk and vocals that resemble a less-seasoned and jazzy version of Gladys Knight, Portland's Dirty Revival Collective has an unmistakable groove. If you're not convinced, the collective has a song called "Baby Making Factory" that will easily change your mind. 9 pm. Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave. Free.
saturday 6
Backyard Farm Tour
FARMS—While many people picture the lush Willamette Valley when they think of agriculture, Central Oregon has an abundance of farms providing produce, meat, and dairy. The 5th Annual Backyard Farm Tour is a one-day marathon event, spanning six hours and 17 farms. Farm tourists pick up a map and hit the road for a self-guided exploration. 10 am-4 pm. Maps available at Central Oregon Locavore, 1216 NE 1st Street. $10.
saturday 6
Yogis Unite
YOGA—For the fifth year, yoga lovers and wannabe yogis alike converge in the Old Mill District to bend, breathe and simply be—a great excuse to get out of the sweaty studio. In the evening, Oregon's largest yoga festival celebrates with a bring-your-own-instrument jam session. 9 am-2 pm. Bikram Bend, 805 SW Industrial Lane, free. 6-9pm. Bhuvana Beat Lounge, 5 NW Minnesota Ave., $5.
saturday 6
Orquesta Monte Calvo
MORE DANCE MUSIC—It isn't too often that an Afro-Latin dance band twists its snaky, danceable world-music grip around Bend. Corvallis' Orquesta Monte Calvo mixes traditional and modern music styles from Peru and Colombia—Psychedelic Cumbia, Chicha, Samba, funk and more 9 pm. Volcanic Theatre Pub, 70 SW Century Dr. $6.
saturday 6
BOATS—Like a sanctioned drag car race on the water, the annual end-of-summer, engine-roaring High Desert Showdown is open for any and all boat drivers, although we highly recommend more than your 15 horsepower fishing dingy if you want to keep pace with the 170 mph speedboats. 9 am. Haystack Reservoir, Culver. $10 for spectators.
sunday 7
Great Duck Race
RUBBER DUCKY—Although each yellow rubber ducky looks identical to the other ducks, the minor differences in manufacturing flaws, buoyance, and, of course, catching the right current and not getting caught in the weeds, makes all the difference for the 25th running of the Great Duck Race. 1:30 pm. Drake Park. Each duck costs $5.
tuesday 9
Author David Talbot
WILDERNESS—September marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, through which Congress designates protected wilderness areas across the nation. As part of its Know Wilderness series, the Deschutes County Library presents retired Director of Oregon State Parks David Talbot reading from his memoir, "The Cabin: A Tandem Memoir of Life in the Wild." 6 pm. Downtown Bend Library, 601 NW Wall St. Free.
wednesday 10
Casey Neill and The
Norway Rats
GREAT MUSIC—Deceptively peppy, Casey Neill and The Norway Rats crank out infectiously catchy songs. But really, their music is so much more: intricately crafted and complicated with layers of moaning guitars, gypsy accordions, tinkling pianos, pounding drums, and adorable hipsters crooning and harmonizing. Is it wrong to want to pinch them? 7 pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis, 700 NW Bond. Free.
