Picks

Ellen Waterston Book Launch
wednesday 29
The executive director and founder of the Nature of Words is releasing her new book, a collection of essays entitled, “Where the Crooked River Rises, A High Desert Home” at this event. If you want a sample of Waterston's fiction, check out her short story in this week's special Fiction Issue.

Little Shop of Horrors
wednesday-saturday 22-25
We had the chance to check out the opening night of Little Shop of Horrors and can say with no reservations that it's downright delightful. The musical numbers are extremely well done, the set is incredible and the acting is as solid as anything we've ever seen here in Bend.

I am Indie Open House
thursday 16
With both BendFilm and the Future Filmmakers' 72-Hour Shootout quickly approaching, take this opportunity to find out from the filmmakers what it takes to make an independent film on a dime. Check out high-end video equipment (stuff that puts our flip cameras to shame, for sure); ask the filmmakers questions about their films, careers, and the industry itself. All ages welcome. 5:30pm. Rage Production's Studio, 20727 High Desert Ct, Ste 5.

TJ Grant
wednesday-sunday 8-12
This front man of Seattle act, If Bears Were Bees, goes solo to show off his super-smart songwriting skills that he couples with an incendiary wit and rapid-fire vocals. He's playing for five days straight in some places you typically wouldn't find music. Wednesday: Boneyard Beer, Thursday: Parrilla Grill, Friday: Bend Brewing Co., Saturday: Rockin' Dave's Bagel Bistro, Sunday: 10 Barrel Brewpub.

The Ascetic Junkies
thursday 2
Go. See. This. Band. After big shows at the Silver Moon and the Bite of Bend, there is reason for our region to love this Portland-based pop and indie folk act. Fronted by Kali Giaritta and Matt Harmon, the band excellently blends Americana sounds with a modern and poppy edge. Erin Cole-Baker Band opens. Free! 7pm. McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St.

Bonnie & Clyde ends sunday 29 If you read last week's paper, you learned from Suzanne Burns' review that Bonnie and Clyde is one of the stronger musicals to hit Bend in some time. The two-person play is closing this weekend, so if you haven't had a chance to see Jessica and Jeremy Bernard depict the infamous couple, jump on it. Plays Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 6pm. $20/regular, $17/students, seniors, groups. Thursday, Aug 26. Bend Performing Arts Center, 1155 SW Division St.

Sunriver Music Festival
thursday 19 – saturday 21
Now in it's 33rd season, the Sunriver Music Festival still presents quality classical music in a phenomenal setting. This is the second year the festival conducted concerts in Bend, but this weekend all of the concerts take place at the historic Great Hall at Sunriver Resort. Thursday features Chinese pianist Di Wu; Friday and Saturday bring Classical Concerts III and IV, and the Saturday concert features an all-Beethoven program. 7:30pm all three nights. $30-$60, 18 and under $10. Great Hall at Sunriver Resort, 1 Center Dr, Sunriver.
The Northstar Session In-Store 
Performance

friday 20
Los Angeles-based band The Northstar Session plays rootsy folk-rock with a neo-country feel, so all in all it's something everyone can groove to. The band has garnered comparisons to Wilco, The Black Crowes, The Wallflowers and others, playing vintage rock and roll. The band recently released a new EP, Winter Collection. Northstar plays a 21 and over show at Silver Moon later in the night, but for the U-21 crowd they'll rock out at Ranch Records. Free, 5pm. Ranch Records, 831 NW Wall St. $5, 9pm. Silver Moon Brewing Co, 24 NW Greenwood Ave.

Show us Your Spokes – Franchot Tone
friday 13
Franchot Tone is best known around town for his sound production work at Rage Films and his collaborations with Reed Thomas Lawrence. He's also the guitarist in Culver City Dub Collective, but now he's stepping out on his own with his solo project. The sounds are poppy and sunshiney and will go nice with the setting sun in the Parrilla parking lot. $5. Benefits Commute Options. 7pm. Parrilla Grill, 635 NW 14th St.
Munch and Movies: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
friday 13
With the weather as nice as it's been in the last month, who wants to go inside to watch a movie? Um, nobody. Luckily, this event lets families throw down a blanket in a park and take in a free flick. The chosen film is the animated Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in which, as you may have guessed, food (including meatballs) rains from the sky like rain. Film starts at dusk. 6pm. NorthWest Crossing's Compass Park.

Michael Franti & Spearhead, Flobots
thursday 5
The show, a big faction of Bend's live music, that fans have been waiting for is finally here as the benevolent Michael Franti and his band return to the LSA, this time joined by indie hip-hoppers Flobots. See the On Stage column for more. 6:30pm. Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Dr. All ages. $37 plus fees.
Dar Williams
thursday 5
This poppy folk artist has been touring the country for almost 20 years now, all the while creating excellently crafted songs with a distinct sound that has since been the calling card of the New York-based artist. She's also known for her social and environmental activism, some of which can be heard in her passionate songs. Reserved seating: $29 & $37/adv, $32 & $40/day of show. 8pm-10pm, Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St.

Deschutes County Fair
wednesday 28-sunday 1
It's that time of year again – it's time to expand your gut, get your wallet ready to buy some new farm animals and bask in the carny goodness that is the Deschutes County Fair. Whether you go for the rides, the food or just the insane people watching, you'll want to block a good chunk of time out of your week for this. Each night features a musician of varying degrees of popularity (read our open letter to fair headliner Weird Al Yankovic in the Sound section) including freakin' Styx – as in “Mr. Roboto”! Also, there's a rodeo. So, pretty much the best five days of the year. $9/daily, $17/season pass. $6/children and seniors daily, $11/season pass. Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond.