Brace yourselves, music lovers! As it kicks off its third year, Cascade Equinox Festival is preparing for its most electrifying edition yet, making its triumphant return to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond this September. Celebrated for its diverse programming and captivating experiences, the festival takes an exciting, fresh direction in 2025, pivoting toward a […]
Sound Stories & Interviews
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“I Hear Thunder”
Tab Benoit coming to the Tower Theatre
It’s the kind of music industry story that dates back to the earliest days of regional rock ‘n’ roll — but with a twist. In the early ’90s, aspiring Cajun roots-rock musician Tab Benoit signed his first music industry contract. Barely out of his teens, he had no idea he was locking himself into a […]
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Bryan Bielanski Loves Tacos and Bend
North Carolina’s galivanting troubadour is bringing his Super Happy Fun Time to Bend
Catching Bryan Bielanski in one place can be a difficult feat. He is on tour about 49 weeks a year, playing shows all over (and I mean ALL over) the U.S. and Europe. As a one-man band, he is on a mission to bring his Super Happy Fun Time albums I-IV to as many people […]
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Allah-Las Brings the Sand, Sun, and Sounds of SoCal to Bend
This L.A. band wants to make you move and keep everybody happy
Los Angeles rock band, Allah-Las, will play the Volcanic Theatre Pub on July 11. I spoke with singer and guitarist Miles Michaud about shaking the “surf rock” label, more world tours than he can count, and what we can do to destroy The Algorithm. the Source: You guys have been around the world a lot […]
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Pink Martini's 30th Anniversary Tour
A musical cocktail of melody and charm
Imagine this: It’s 1943, and somewhere in Nazi-occupied Europe, a group of young people huddles around a crackling radio, desperately tuning through static to catch the forbidden sounds of swing. The penalty for being caught? Imprisonment, or worse. But the music—oh, the music—was worth the risk. While many musical genres found their audiences in the […]
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A Joyful Evening with Lake Street Dive
It could be the best show you see this summer
Lake Street Dive plays the type of music that makes you want to dance, sing, clap, and cry, all because it sounds so damned good. I spoke with keyboardist and vocalist Akie Bermiss about the band’s intention to create joy even when it feels like the world is falling apart. We also talk about Star […]
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35 Years and Going Strong
Barenaked Ladies performs in Bend on June 28
Over the past 35 years. Barenaked Ladies has left a considerable mark on pop culture. Dip into the band’s canon and you’ll find songs that plug into generation-spanning sitcoms ranging from ’90s behemoth “Friends” (“Shoe Box”), appearing as a guest band on “90210’s” fictional Peach Pit After Dark nightclub (they played a three-song set that […]
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Northern California's The Musers Are Having a Good Time
This eclectic, fun folk group is coming to the Commonwealth Pub
How to describe the Musers in one sentence? Let me try: They are a quirky, uber-talented band of middle-aged hippies from Northern California who want to change the world one smile at a time, while having the best time doing it. Their songs and entertaining music videos range the gamut from silly and sweet to […]
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Getting to Know Bend's Own Disney Composer, Dave Metzger
With "Frozen," "The Lion King," "Moana," "The Tonight Show," and much more to his credit… Dave is a musical powerhouse
Whether you have children or not, you have almost definitely heard the song, “Let It Go,” from the movie “Frozen.” Guess who orchestrated it? Dave Metzger. How about the Broadway version of “The Lion King?” Again, Dave. And then there’s “Mufasa,” the prequel to “The Lion King” that came out last year? He was the […]
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Albert Lee is Going to “Lay It Down”
The British rock guitarist is coming to the Tower Theatre
Over the many decades Albert Lee has been strapping on an axe, he’s earned the nickname Mr. Telecaster. As one of England’s pre-eminent country-rock guitarists, Lee has been plugging in with his trusty Fender as a member of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band, doing a five-year stint as a sideman for Eric Clapton and as a musical […]