thursday 24
Round two of the semi-finals continues this week with performances by Klever Kill, Blackstrap, Tall as Rasputin, Absofreakenlutly, Eric Tollefson and the World's Greatest Lovers and Empty Space Orchestra. Top two vote getters go on to the finals! $3/adv, $5/door. 8pm. Boondock's Bar and Grill, 70 NW Greenwood Ave.
Show Us Your Spokes - Jukebot!
It's about that time when Bend turns back into bike central with the Show Us Your Spokes series. Grab your cruiser and pedal down to Parrilla, where a legitimate Bend super group will be rocking the burrito joint. Jukebot!, a local all-star band with members coming from Sofa Kings and the now-defunct El Dante, join forces for some self-described "Raw-some Rock." Raw-some, indeed. $5, 21+. 7pm. Parrilla Grill, 635 NW 14th Ave.
USA Cycling Road Racing National Championships Block Party
friday 25
Hey, have you heard that Bend is Bike Town USA? Really? You have? Well so has USA Cycling, who chose Bend to host the Road Racing Nationals. This party with a ridiculously long name features jammy beats from locals The River Pigs and Brent Alan & His Funky Friends. Rub elbows with cycling gods when the champs get their awards at 9:30. 4pm-10pm, Minnesota Ave, Downtown Bend.
2nd Annual Beer Run
saturday 26
Beer? Running? Beer running? Yup. That's the gist of this event, which brings two Bend pastimes together for the second year in a row. The run requires the imbibing of two brews per mile during the run, then another one at the Bite of Bend finish line. See Bite of Bend guide in this issue for registration. Must be 21. $25 registration fee. 12pm Saturday, June 26. Downtown Bend.
Bend Pride
saturday 26
Celebrating our community's biggest day of diversity, Bend's LGBT community and their many friends will be out, about and proud at their annual festival in McKay Park this Saturday. Produced by the Human Dignity Coalition, Bend Pride features food, art, body painting and stilt walkers, as well as local music including beats from MOsley WOtta. There's also belly dancing and hula hoops. 11pm-5pm, McKay Park. 166 SW Shevlin Hixon Drive.
Empty Space Orchestra Play Summer Sundays
sunday 27
Every year, at least one of the Summer Sunday free concerts at the LSA is played by a local act, and this year the slot goes to Empty Space Orchestra. After a year playing around the Northwest, it's nice to see the instrumental prog-rock act get themselves up on the big stage. Free. 2pm. Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr.
GBH, Outernational & Knocked Out Cold
wednesday 30
If you've been feeling the need to tell the man to shove it, it's probably because GBH is headed to town. This OG hardcore English punk band has been a pioneer on the punk scene since they formed in 1978 and have steadily been rocking and influencing bands like Rancid since. Joined by likeminded punk bands Outernational and Knocked Out Cold. $12/adv, $15/door. Tickets at Bendticket.com, Ranch Records, TicketsWest.com. Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave.
Bite of Bend
saturday-sunday 26-27
This issue is dripping with Bite of Bend coverage, including a complete guide, so study up on the annual weekend of food, drink and live music. The music lineup is as strong as ever, with a performance by March Fourth Marching Band as well as Rubblebucket, the zany East Coast act that we profiled in this week's Sound section. Also, there's more food than you can shake a gastric bypass at. Downtown Bend.
Steve Earle
tuesday 29
Yeah we had Merle Haggard here last week and Willie Nelson is on the slate for September, but damn, how cool is it that country rock badass Steve Earle is playing in Bend? But... it's sold out. Still, read more about Earle in the On Stage column and if you have tickets, well, luuuuuucky! 8pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St. Sold out.
Acorn Project
tuesday-thursday 29, 30, 31
Whether or not you're a fan of this Bellingham-based jam band who's made a habit of stopping in Bend, you have to admit the idea of a three-day residency at McMenamins is super cool. So if you're looking for a place to dance next week, you'll know where to go. Free. All ages. 7pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St.
