Last Band Standing: The Semifinals
thursday 17
After two grueling months of preliminaries, we've finally reached the semifinal round of Last Band Standing. Performing for a slot in the final showcase are Tuck N Roll, Elliot, Hot Tea Cold, Blowin' Smoke, Still Fear and Mosley Wotta (who will be releasing his brand-new CD at the show). Also, did you know they have $2 Ninkasi beers?! $3/adv, $5/door. 8pm. Boondock's Bar and Grill, 70 NW Newport Ave.Artisphere
friday 18
Hit up the Culture section for a rundown of this first-ever collection of visual and musical artists, food, drinks and other elements of fun. Benefits The Bethlehem Inn. 4pm-11pm. Old Stone Church, 157 NW Franklin Ave.
Empty Space Orchestra, Finn Riggins, Hosannas
friday 18
For a night of wild, creative and partially insane sounds, head to the Rise Up Warehouse for this all-ages show featuring hometown prog-rock heroes Empty Space Orchestra, Boise avant-pop indie rockers Finn Riggins and Hosannas, the spacey Portland act formerly known as "Church." 8pm Rise Up International, 1560 1st Street.
Sisters Wine and Brew Festival
saturday 19
A week before the Bite of Bend, Sisters shows that they can cook and drink as good as their big brother with their own boozy foodie festival. Starting at 11am, wineries, breweries, vendors and restaurants from around the Northwest will be hawking samples of the good stuff. Breweries include Brideport, Ninkasi, local guys Three Creeks and plenty more. Buy tastes individually or pony up for a VIP ticket and get free drinks and grub all day long. Free admission, VIP tickets $60. 11am-6pm. The Village Green, Downtown Sisters.
Relay for Life
saturday 19 - sunday 20
Get your workout in and fight cancer when the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event makes its Bend stop this Saturday. Teams pass the baton for a 24-hour marathon relay and bond while raising money for a great cause... because cancer never sleeps. Begins at 10am. High Desert Middle School, 61111 27th St.
Bend Elks Opening weekend
friday-sunday 18-20
Duh da duhn da, duh da duhn da, duh da duhn da, DA DA DAHN DA DA DA! BASEBALL! The Bend Elks, our very own team of college players on summer vacation, are back in action and are playing their first series of the season at Vince Genna Stadium this weekend. And on Sunday, it's a special Father's Day game where dads get in free. So take dad out to the park for some good ol' fashioned wood-bat, sunshiney baseball. 6:35pm Friday-Saturday, 5:05pm Sunday.
Merle Haggard and The Strangers
sunday 20
The Les Schwab Amphitheater season continues with an appearance by country legend (or god, depending on who you ask) Merle Haggard, who will be playing his time-tested brand of outlaw, I've-been-in-jail-for-so-long Americana classics. Word has it he'll also play some of his newer material, too. Find that cowboy hat (the one your wore to the rodeo last weekend) and get down to the LSA, it's country music time. $59/reserved, $36/general in adv. $63/rsvd, $38/general day of show. 6:30pm. Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr.
USA Cycling Junior, U23, and Elite Road National Championships
beginning tuesday 22
Since it's been a while since we had a large-scale cycling event, the USA Cycling Junior, U23 and Elite Road National Championships are coming to town. There's a big guide in this paper with everything you'll need to know about this event. Tuesday, Jun 22 - Sunday, Jun 27.
KPOV Birthday Bash
wednesday 23
Our local community radio station, KPOB (106.7 FM) is turning five, and in true KPOV style, they're throwing a big party. As one might expect from a station with an excellent musical ear, the party features a solid musical
lineup that's headlined by the oddly named but wildly talented Pokey LaFarge, a St. Louis-based old-timey roots and blues musician who's joined by his band, the South City Three. If you like LaFage and company, you'll almost certainly dig Frankie Fairfield, the banjo plucking throwback folkie. Providing the local angle is longtime Bend favorite,
powergrass outfit Moon Mountain Ramblers.
$5/members, $7/non. Tickets available at KPOV and bendticket.com. 7pm. Domino Room, 51 NW
Greenwood Ave.
wednesday 23
Providing another notch in the Awesome Portland Act belt Bend's been wearing lately, Stephanie Schneiderman hits town as part of her McMenamins circuit. Schneiderman is campaigning to get her act in Lilith Fair, but don't be fooled - her folk-pop sound is more trippy fairy music than background tunes for ASPCA commercials. Free, all ages. 7pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School,
700 NW Bond St.
