Bend Roots Revival: Schedule and more

Something has happened in the Bend music scene over the course of the past six years. Venues have opened. Local bands have found national touring success. Young bands have appeared in the area. And it's no coincidence that it was six years ago that the Bend Roots Revival was born.

The brainchild of local musician Mark Ransom, the annual end-of-summer music and arts festival has gone from a few pop-up tents in the parking lots of Parrilla Grill and the Victorian Café (which is hosting Thursday's Night of the Dead kickoff party) to a big gathering at the Century Center that features 100 bands over the course of three days. This year, Bend Roots has teamed up with Bend-based nonprofit Rise Up International, a clothing and humanitarian organization, to continue the influence of this community gathering, which is still as free as it was six years ago.

While Ransom and Rise Up's Jesse Roberts are working on expanding the music education arm of Bend Roots, they say they aren't looking to make the festival any bigger, despite its rapid growth.

"This is as big as it's gonna be. We're going for quality not quantity and we have this dialed in to the point that there's no one on stage that shouldn't be there," says Ransom.

That said, there are nevertheless some improvements and additions at this year's festival. For one, the opening of Good Life Brewing's beer garden has given Bend Roots space for a stage on its expansive stretch of grass. They're also donating plenty of beer, which helps offset costs of the festival. Also, other businesses that have arrived in the Century Center - the grounds of which are provided at zero cost by owner Dave Hill - providing venues at places like Backporch Coffee and Volcano Vineyards.

There are plenty of well-known return performers like Empty Space Orchestra, MOsley WOtta and Moon Mountain Ramblers, but Ransom has kept the lineup fresh, giving different bands shots at the headlining slots. Also, this year's lineup features more jazz sounds than we've heard before, likely expanding the scope of the Bend Roots audience. And that's a good thing, keeping with the community vibe of this all-ages event that Ransom insists is fueled by the artists themselves.

"It's the will of all the artists to make it go on. We provide the platform for them, but from there, we let it happen naturally," says Ransom. -Mike Bookey

Out of Towner to Watch: Pete Kartsounes Band

Pete Kartsounes should feel at home while here in Bend. With strong ties to both the hills and community activism, every summer the acoustic-folk musician from Colorado hikes a good chunk of the 483-mile Colorado Trail in support of children with cancer. Kartsounes (pronounced: cart-sue-nes) spends the better part of the warm season hiking the trail and playing shows along the way. The money he makes from the concerts is donated to children and their families through the nonprofit Hike 4 Cancer, which he co-founded.

Quite a service, given that his shows must attract a sizeable crowd. The experienced singer/songwriter has shared a stage with some of the biggest names in the industry, like the Jerry Garcia Band, North Mississippi All-Stars and Del McCoury Band. Kartsounes' albums also include multiple appearances from fellow Colorado bluegrass jam bands Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain Sting Band. And Kartsounes' original tunes have earned him plenty of awards, too, including winning runner-up in the 2009 Telluride Troubadour Competition. If you miss him at Bend Roots, the Pete Kartsounes Band will be playing a free gig at McMenamins on Wednesday, Sept. 28. -James Williams

Welcome to Ramblerland

The Moon Mountain Ramblers, the band we've often dubbed a "powergrass" outfit have been as integral to Bend Roots success as any other act, playing for each of the six years of the festival. While the band is indeed taking to the stage once again, they're also lending their expertise to the public, while also bringing along plenty of their friends to create "Ramblerland." This indoor venue will be occupied by members of MMR, who will be giving workshops, including drum lessons from Dale Largent and a violin session from Jenny Harada Wasson.
"This is a living, breathing example of the educational aspect of this festival and this community," says Roots founder Mark Ransom.
Check out the schedule for the performances and workshops at Ramblerland this weekend. -MB

The Autonomics Climb up the Bend Roots Ladder

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Bend Roots Revival is that it allows local music fans to see the year-by-year progression of some of our local acts. Case in point, some might remember Empty Space Orchestra playing a mid-day set a few years ago, but headlining the late night showcase last year.

This year, the band to watch is The Autonomics, the trio of young Bendites who moved to Portland last year to push their bluesy rock to the next level. They also started on a small side stage, but last year opened up for MOsley WOtta's big headlining gig with a set that had festival goers running down onto the floor of the venue to get a better look and listen to frontman Dan Pantenburg's epic guitar riffs.

Sure, they were just a trio of young punks when they got their first Bend Roots invite, but this year, they're one of the headlining acts, closing down the outdoor BIGS stage on Saturday night (8:15pm) with what's sure to be a ripping set of tunes, including cuts from their impressively well-done EP, Hot Doom. This will be one of their biggest shows, so don't miss it. - MB

BEND ROOTS: THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, 9/23

BIGS Stage

7-7:30pm Mai

7:30-8:30pm Moon Mountain Ramblers

8:30-10pm Tone Red

Casey's Corner

6:30-7:30pm Brad Tisdel with Victor Johnson

5-6pm Two/Thirds Trio

Dave's Garage

6-6:30pm Third Seven

7:30-8:30pm Dela Project

Good Life Stage

5-6pm Prairie Rockets

6:30-8pm Brooks Robertson

GoodLife Tasting Room

9:30-11pm Felly SmithCentury Stage Ballroom

9:30-11pm River Pigs

11:30pm Flying Kites

Ramblerland

11-11:30pm O Sugoi

Saturday 9/24

Back Porch Coffee House

10-10:45am The Mc G's

11-11:45am Midyne

12-1:30pm Stern, Shipe, Ransom, Dave Z

2-2:45pm Tim Coffey & Friends

3-3:45pm Kathy Marshall

4-5pm Gary Fulkerson

BIGS Stage

11:30-12:30pm The Trouble

1-2pm Franchot Tone

2:30-3:30pm Sweet Harlots

4-5pm Pete Kartsounes Band

5:30-6:30pm Tyler Spencer

7-8pm ESO

8:15-9:45pm The Autonomics

Ramblerland

11am-12:45pm Schulte's Kids

1-1:30pm TBA

1:30-2:30pm Dale Largent Drumshop

2:45-3:15pm 3 Up 2 Down

3:45-4:45pm TBA

5-5:30pm WVMS Roots Rock Band

5:45-6:15pm The Code

6:30-7pm DKD Power Trio

10:30-11pm Raise the Vibe

Casey's Corner

12-12:30pm Organic Music Farm

1-1:30pm Aisea

2:15-2:45pm Hold up the Sky

3:30- 4:15pm Victor Johnson

5-6pm Boxcar String Band

Dave's Garage

11:30am-12pm Stan Roach

12:30-1pm Arridium Rock Duo

1:30-2:15pm Dream Symphony

2:45-3:30pm Broken Down Guitars

4:15-5pm Hilst and Coffey

6-7pm Z Band

Good Life Tasting Room

9:30-11pm Leif James

GoodLife Stage

9:30am Yoga

11-11:30am Noah Connor

12-12:30pm Music for the Soul

1-2pm Rich Hurdle &Crescent Jazz

2:30-3:30pmJohn Shipe

4-5pm Consider the Fox

5:30-7pm MOsley WOtta and Friends

Century Stage Ballroom

9:30-10:30pm Your Birthday

11pm Richard Taelour & Stronghold

Sunday 9/25

GoodLife Stage

9:30am Yoga

12-12:30pm The Woods

1-2pm John Miller

2-2:30pm TKD Demo

2:30-3:30pm Josh Garrels

4-5pm Pitchfork Revolution

5:30-7pm Anastacia

Back Porch Coffee House

10-10:45am TBA

11-11:45am Steve Arnold & Friends

12-1:30pm Anastacia, Beland, Mosley and Leif

2-2:45pm Dan Shanahan

3-3:45pm Bill Valenti

4-5pm Truckstop Gravy

Ramblerland

11am-12:45pm Schulte's Kids

1-1:45pm Victor Johnson Business of Music Workshop

2-3pm Fiddle Workshop with Jenny Harada

3:15-3:45pm RJ Emick

4-5pm Didj-Master Tyler Spencer

5:15-6:15pm Mai and Joe's Pickin Party (Workshop)

6:30-7pm Sometimes Why

BIGS Stage

11:30-12:30pm Ubuntu

1-2pm Wild Rye

2:30-3:30pm Smudge

4-5pm Second Hand Soldiers

5:30-6:30pm Excellent Gentleman

7-8pm Mark Ransom & The Mostest

8-9:30pm Brent Alan & His Funky Friends

Casey's Corner

10-11:30am The Gospel According to Mark & Patrick

12-12:30pm Rand Burke

1-1:30pm Canaan Canaan

2:15-2:45pm Eddie Stern

3:30-4:15pm Allan Byer

5-6pm Downhill Ryder

Dave's Garage

11:30am-12pm Poor Man's Roses

12:30-1pm Phil Page

1:30-2:15pmRuss Pennavaria

2:45-3:30pm Greg Botsford

4:15-5pm Karma Surgeons

6-7pm Jazz Brothers