Set in our very own city and in well-known venues that we pass by all the time, is Brian Craig Hinderberger’s original short film that he hopes will become a series. “Song of Sunset” is a brilliant little nugget that features not just Bend and not just songwriters, but the entire ecosystem of open mics, live stages and the creative drive to entertain and share. Featuring three local singer-songwriters and gorgeous Central Oregon scenery as you’ve never seen it before, this cinematic piece will premiere at the Volcanic Theatre Pub on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7pm.
More than a short film premiere alone, however, attendees will also get to experience a Nashville-style songwriter’s circle featuring artists from the documentary. Eric Leadbetter, Erin Cole-Baker and Joel Chadd will circle up, sing, collaborate and create something special, live and fleeting.
the Source: What inspired you to make this short documentary?
Brian Craig Hinderberger: Back in January, I made the first documentary I had made in a while, and I wanted to go through A to Z of the process, of just coming up with a plan and then eventually getting it to distribution. So when I completed that for the first film, I wanted to learn how to sync music. And I’m a musician in Bend, so I thought this would be a great time for me to do some work synching music and connecting with my fellow songwriters out there. The other thing that inspired me was gratitude. You know, one time I was playing on a stage in the early spring and there were just a couple of people in the venue. Most people would say, oh, this is pretty small potatoes here… but in my mind I thought, how cool is this, that I get to be a part of these peoples’ day? They just got off work and they made a point to come out and enjoy a slice of life with me, and how grateful I should be. And that’s what really changed my mindset and became the catalyst for this idea of exploring why small stages really matter in our lives, and how small venues matter.
tS: When did you first perform publicly?
BCH: I first performed actually at the M & J Tavern, and that was the reason I wanted to include them. It was really cool to learn that Joel Chadd, who I interviewed in the documentary, his first time performing was also at the M & J Tavern. He was plagued by stage fright, and I was plagued by very little talent [laughter]. So, yeah, the M & J was the very first place I began to break out of my shell and to start to develop my skills as a musician.
tS: It was great to learn in the film about the rich history of the M & J.
BCH: Yeah, it was pretty wild and you know it’s amazing that Mike [Martin] and CJ [Hitchcock] at the M & J, they’re just such treasures there who have really created a living room for our community and they maintain that role. You know the M & J was founded in 1946, so it’s really cool to see how they have maintained that vibe there.
tS: Can you describe the event that will be taking place at the Volcanic Theatre Pub for the premiere?
BCH: The vision for it really came from a combination of live music and cinema. When I approached Eric Leadbetter, I said, this is a way to really bring a 360-degree production together, where we have a story with the artist featured in the film, and then the artists will do a traditional Nashville-style songwriter’s circle. I don’t know if you’ve ever been a part of one of these, but it’s a very intimate experience. It’s an experience that you don’t get at other productions. You are sitting with the musicians, and they are telling a story, and it’s a raw, human, around the campfire experience. The artists will either play with each other or sit in the background while another artist plays solo. I just thought it would be a cool format to have a film about the musicians and then to bring them to life on the stage. I think it’s going to be a very memorable night for people.
tS: That sounds really amazing. What do you love about the music scene in Bend?
BCH: I love our scene, in general. We have such an incredible amount of talent, musicians, supporters and venues. It’s a very rich and connected, supportive community. There was a time when Bend was like a child growing up, and it seems like we are young adults right now, as a town. And our scene is really fueled by the venues that make it a staple part of their experience to have music, and that’s who I wanted to shine the spotlight on. These taphouses, these small little mom and pop wineries who sacrifice their budgets to make community matter in their neighborhood are so important.
tS: I read that your film has already received some awards and nominations, so what are your wildest dreams for “Song of Sunset?”
BCH: I would love to keep it going, and I would like to make this a series. I’d like it to be the golden shovel in the ground and make it an annual or semi-annual experience where we interview more artists and more venues. And not just in Central Oregon, but anywhere and make it into a series where we discover great talent, great venues and continue the tradition of live music combined with cinema. I really think that music in general is a story that everybody can connect with everywhere, and the small stage matters just as much, if not more, than a big stage.
Song of Sunset Film Premiere and Songwriter Circle
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7pm
Volcanic Theatre Pub
70 SW Century Dr., Bend
$20-27 at the door
This article appears in the Source September 11, 2025.
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