Music
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Get Ready to Rock at RendezVan

A high-energy lineup of rock, funk and electronic music fuels this year’s RendezVan festival at Mt. Bachelor
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

Every spring, a uniquely Bend-style celebration unfolds at Mt. Bachelor, bringing together RVers, campers and van-lifers for a long weekend of spring skiing, live music and good times on the mountain. RendezVan returns April 17 to 20, offering festivalgoers the perfect blend of outdoor adventure, après tailgating and live performances against an alpine backdrop. Beyond […]

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Sleepwalking and Making ADM Music with Billy and the Box Kid

The purveyors of “acoustic dance music” celebrate three years at the Volcanic on March 22
Avatar photo by Chris Young

It was 15 degrees outside and the night before Valentine’s Day. I was running late and pretty sure I’d already missed band practice. When I opened the door, the members of Billy and the Box Kid were lounging around the living room. Whiskey-filled colored glasses and quarters were stacked in neat towers before them, ready […]

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‘Half a Hundred Years,’ and Then Some

Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel’s decades-long revival of Western swing rolls on
Avatar photo by Chris Young

“I never thought I’d last a half a hundred years,” bellows the smooth baritone of Ray Benson on Asleep at the Wheel’s “Half a Hundred Years” — not a lot of folks have had this kind of longevity in the music industry. From behind a big white beard, Benson’s answer to his showbiz success is […]

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Central Oregon’s Bluegrass Scene Unites

With eight bands, workshops and an open jam session, The Bluegrass Bend-r showcases the region’s best at the Volcanic
Avatar photo by Chris Young

Austin Quattlebaum plays what he calls “weird-grass. More accurately, it’s probably indie folk with a bluegrass edge,” he explains. He’s been performing in Bend for over a decade — often with James Rossi on fiddle, Josiah Payne on mandolin and Mark Karwan on bass — and always had the desire to create a local bluegrass […]

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Turning Up the Volume for Women

While many are feeling silenced, local women musicians aim to amplify the voices of the marginalized
by Katey Trnka

The past few months have been undeniably hard for many of us. Watching any amount of national news can be both disorienting and panic-inducing as the systems we’ve relied on for our entire lives are threatened by an overly empowered group of (mostly) super-rich, white men. Being from a marginalized community — or at the […]

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BendreTheGiant Wadesinto the Deep End

Bringing fresh funk, soul and jazzy vibes on new EP and to the Silver Moon stage
Avatar photo by Chris Young

Take a quick glance at a photo of BendreTheGiant and it’s easy to see why Ben Estrada goes by this moniker. He’s got a head full of tight brown curls framing his round face, reminiscent of the larger-than-life pro wrestler of yore. And the opening track, “Move,” on his new four-song EP recounts how he’s […]

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Rockabilly Road Warrior

Perennial rocker and revivalist The Reverend Horton Heat returns to Bend on Feb. 26
by Dave Gil de Rubio

When it comes to exploring the 1950s roots of rock ‘n’ roll, you can do a lot worse than to delve into the catalog of The Reverend Horton Heat. Singer and guitarist Jim “the Rev” Heath has been preaching the gospel of that era of music via a slew of albums of original material released […]

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Rock for All Ages

Music Flow students take over the Volcanic stage on Feb. 22
Avatar photo by Chris Young

No matter the decade you grew up in, we’ve all grabbed a broom and played it like a guitar, or sung at the top of our lungs into a comb in front of a steamy bathroom mirror, or shook our head violently while playing the air drums in the back of a car. The common […]

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Swing Into Romance at Sunriver Resort’s Valentine’s Dinner and Dance

Sunriver Music Festival’s annual event offers a gourmet dinner, live swing music and dancing at Sunriver’s Great Hall
Avatar photo by Savannah Mendoza

Love, music and fine dining come together for an unforgettable evening at Sunriver Resort’s Great Hall this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re planning a romantic night out, celebrating with friends or making it a double date, the Valentine’s Dinner and Dance Concert offers a mix of elegance and entertainment. Hosted by Sunriver Music Festival, the annual […]

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Building Community from Behind the Mic

A musical jack of all trades looks to connect people through Open Mic at The Commons
by Katey Trnka

On any given Tuesday evening, you can find Mason James hosting Open Mic at The Commons Cafe and Taproom, a gig he’s proudly managed for about two years. “It’s one of the most humbling and fulfilling experiences I’ve had in my career,” he says. That’s a bold statement for a guy who’s always up to […]

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