Special Issues & Guides

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Saturday, July 2, 6:30pm – $34
Ween, the genre-crossing group hailing from New Hope, Penn., is known to have a substantial cult following. And perhaps nowhere is that more prevalent than here in Bend, where Ween's 2009 appearance at the Les Schwab Ampitheater saw thousands of Bend fans rocking out to Ween's catchy, experimental rock sounds, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and sometimes ridiculous antics.
Formed in 1984 by Aaron Freeman (Gene Ween) and Mickey Melchiondo (Dean Ween), then 14-year-olds trying to survive 8th grade, Ween gained popularity in the early '90s during the alternative rock explosion, signing with Elektra and releasing their most popular record to date, Pure Guava. The group has since released an unbelievable 17 albums in their 27-year existence, the latest, At the Cat's Cradle, 1992, is a re-recording of a live set in – you guessed it – 1992.

Saturday, July 23, 6:30pm – $63/reserved $33/general admission
With 14 (and sometimes more) members and a penchant for singing in as many as 12 languages during any given show, Portland's Pink Martini isn't shy on ambition.
The “little-orchestra,” as the band sometimes dubs itself, is led by a pair of Harvard-educated musical aficionados – pianist and bandleader Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes – both of whom have made a life's work of studying the history of all the world's music.

Wednesday, August 10, 6:30pm – $59/reserved, $37/general admission
At least once each summer, the Les Schwab Amphitheater plays host to a big name in the country music world. In past years it's been Brooks & Dunn or Willie Nelson, but this time around, the venue is bringing to town one of the genre's most celebrated young artists in Dierks Bentley, an energetic singer-songwriter who brings a modern rock-and-roll edge to his country tunes.
A native of Phoenix, Bentley eventually moved to Nashville, like so many other artists before him, to pursue a music career. But it wasn't until 2003 that he got his big break when his self-titled debut record launched his popularity, landing him plenty of festival appearances and award nominations. Most of that acclaim came from the hook-laden single, “What Was I Thinkin'.” In fact, that debut album helped him win prizes at the CMT Music Awards, Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association Awards. He followed that album up with an even stronger effort, Modern Day Drifter, in 2005. That record, featuring some throwback country influences – including a track with the Del McCoury Band providing the backing – coupled with Bentley's crooning voice, won him further acclaim and cemented the artist near the top of the country music hierarchy.

Friday, August 26, 6:30pm – $39 +$1 to Bend Lapine Schools
The summer concert schedule at the Amphitheater has something for country fans, indie rock fans, folk fans, bluegrass fans, and then there's Ben Harper, who himself offers a little something for everyone. Harper, who has become known for his eclectic style as a musician, mixes blues, soul, rock, reggae, and folk to create an expansive musical resume, sure to impress even the biggest skeptics.
After releasing a limited edition record with folk multi-instrumentalist Tom Freund in 1992, Harper secured a record deal with Virgin Records and released his debut album Welcome to the Cruel World in 1994. For his third album, The Will to Live, Harper introduced his backing band The Innocent Criminals. Harper went on to record with the band as well as going solo and in 2005 met members who would go on to become part of his new band, Relentless7.

Thursday, August 27, 5:00pm – $79/reserved, $40/gemeral admission
As a permanently displaced Minnesotan whose garage is adorned with Minnesota Vikings fan paraphernalia and hockey equipment, I have a special place in my heart for Garrison Keillor. It's not that I like folk music or obsess over the weekly news from Lake Wobegon. It's that as a the son of a life-long Minnesota Public Radio member, I had no choice but to be pulled into Keillor's elaborate fictional world which he spun every Saturday night from the Fitzgerald Theater in my hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Since that time Keillor's variety show has traveled the world, including a stint where he temporarily relocated to New York City. These days he's back where he belongs, in St. Paul, which as most Minnesotans, know is only a two-hour drive from Lake Wobegon. But you don't have to travel 2,000 miles to see Keillor in person.

Tuesday, September 6, 6:00pm – $62/reserved, $39/general admission
Over the past seven years, Ray LaMontagne has – in addition to growing and subsequently maintaining one of the music industry's finest beards – become one of the country's most revered songwriters. With a style that ranges from whispery ballads to dance-friendly rock songs that showcase the talented crew of musicians he's known to gather as his band.
We first had the pleasure of meeting LaMontagne back in 2004 when he released Trouble, a collection of awesomely beautiful songs that made us wonder why we'd never heard from this jewel of the Northeast. Well, as it turned out, that was because LaMontagne had spent most of his 20s working in a shoe factory, tutoring and working other odd jobs before he fully devoted his life to music. But his appeal soon grew as his folk-inspired Americana tunes attracted a loyal following of fans, leading to festival appearances and larger-scale tours. He followed that up with Till the Sun Turns Black, another disc that showcased LaMontagne's excellent crooning.
But in 2008, LaMontagne reached his widest audience yet with Gossip in the Grain, which featured the hit single, “You Are the Best Thing,” a horn-filled track that showed the artist – known for his reclusive nature and residency at a remote farm in Maine – at his most outgoing. This year, under the name Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, he released another more upbeat record that includes a collaboration with a number of great musicians, many of whom will appear with LaMontagne in Bend. Again, LaMontagne is often reserved and known for his privacy, so don't expect a ton of stage banter. But with a voice like his, LaMontagne doesn't need to rely on banter.