thursday 20
Fermentation Celebration
BEER—A beer walk that includes samples from EVERY SINGLE CENTRAL OREGON BREWERY, as well as live music by Truck Stop Gravy and Cody Beebe and the Crooks. With 20 breweries in the area, participating in the celebration seems like the least we can do. 5-10 pm. Old Mill District, 520 Southwest Powerhouse Dr. $20 (includes silipint and drink tickets).
friday 21
Larry and His Flask
MUSIC—Fresh off their first European tour, folk-punk crazies Larry and His Flask will play their ONLY hometown show of the summer with the smokin' hot Slaughter Daughters and bluegrass prodigies Grit & Grizzle. This is also the first "Backstage Show" at LSA, and a benefit for Rise Up. 6:30. Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. Doors open at 6. $8.50.
friday 21-sunday 23
4 Peaks Music Fest
MUSIC—In life there are good versions and crappy versions of most things—dank and schwag. While it's easy to pick on bluegrass, the kind you'll find at 4 Peaks is high-quality Alaskan thunderfunk. Don't miss Greensky Bluegrass, Head for the Hills, and, for a twist, MarchFourth Marching Band. Starts Friday, 1:30 pm. Rockin A Ranch, 19449 Tumalo Reservoir Rd. $125 (advance price for three-day pass).
saturday 22
Metalfest
MUSIC—With bands like End of All Flesh, Damage Overdose, Thorns of Creation and the Beer Slayers ... well, this metalfest is gonna be awesome. That's all. Wear clothes you don't care about. 2:30 pm (yes, 2:30 pm). The Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave. $8.
saturday 22
Deschutes Brewery's 25th
BEER—Holy Black Butte Porter—Deschutes is 25?! Bend's oldest brewery is still one of its best. Celebrate on the grassy lawns of Drake Park with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and other family-friendly bands, local foods and entertainment worthy of a Deschutes pairing. 1-9 pm. Drake Park. Free!
sunday 23
Bite Week
FOOD—With an entire week of events, Bite of Bend kicks off today with an eminently useful seminar from Brian Tremayne of Primal Cuts. Tremayne will teach every which way to slice, dice and use a pig. You'll come away with an entire summer's worth of recipes, from learning what parts produce the best pulled pork to which parts should stuff your sausages. 3 pm. Cascade Culinary Institute, 2555 NW Campus Village Way. $55.
sunday 23
Sallie Ford
GREAT MUSIC—Stated simply: Sallie Ford has a remarkable voice—one that screams like Janis Joplin (that is, pitched operatically perfect to the high notes) and growls with the bass lines. It takes a good band to match that range, and the Sound Outside does just that with bold, big-noted surf guitar chords and booming rockabilly kick drums. 2:30 pm. Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. Free.
tuesday 25
Oregon Bach Festival
ORCHESTRA—A Los Angeles ensemble formed of members of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra, the L.A. Philharmonic, the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and the California Institute of the Arts is keeping baroque alive, playing music by J.S. Bach. LEGIT. Expect a trio sonata, Couperin's "Mysterious Barricades" for solo harpsichord, and a concerto by Vivaldi. 7:30 pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St. $21 advance, $28 door.
wednesday 26
John Prine
LEGEND—Sometimes, legendary singer-songwriter John Prine can sound as epic as Frank Sinatra filtered through Johnny Cash; other times, as simple as a (very talented) uncle picking guitar ditties, sweet and naughty, from the front porch. A true treasure. (Don't be late: The enchanting Carrie Rodriguez, an Americana act, opens.) Doors open at 6 pm for 6:30 show. Athletic Club of Bend, 61615 Athletic Club Dr. $38.
wednesday 26
Pickin' & Paddlin'
BOATS AND BLUEGRASS—Local paddlers' favorite outdoor music series kicks off with wicked-fast bluegrass from Pitchfork Revolution. The concert will benefit the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance. Music starts at 5 pm. All ages. Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe, 805 SW Industrial Way. From 4 pm-7 pm, check out Tumalo Creek's demo boats with paddling experts. $5, free for kids 12 and under.
