Music

A Bend vacation makes even the quietest heart sing, so get your whole body grooving with some live music.

Bend boasts one of the hottest music scenes in the Pacific Northwest, with hip music festivals, intimate pub stages, and sounds that sweep from the soft lilt of a cello quartet to the thunder of classic rock.

Summertime sets the stage with the Les Schwab Amphitheater attracting gobs of Grammy-award winning talent. The Dave Matthews Band, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Alabama Shakes, The Decemberists, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, and the Steve Miller Band have all graced the stage, giving concertgoers a chance to kick off their shoes and dance in the cool grass as sunset lights up the Deschutes River.

For a more intimate experience, check out the Clear Summer Nights series at the Athletic Club of Bend, which has hosted acts ranging from The Shins to John Butler Trio to Marc Cohn.

Music festivals abound in Bend, with the 4 Peaks Music Festival boasting four stages, four days of music, and four-gajillion miraculous moments showcased against the backdrop of snow-capped Cascade mountains. Camping passes go fast for this family-friendly festival, so plan ahead.

Is country music more your style? Oregon Spirit Distillers offers a summer concert series that’ll have you kicking up your boots and knocking back some of the best craft liquor around. Giddyup!

For visitors on a budget, catch free tunes at events like Munch & Music, Bend Summer Festival, and Bend Fall Festival. You’ll also find oodles of live music at breweries along the Bend Ale Trail, so click through Visit Bend’s event calendar to see what’s happening.

Get your culture fix during the Bend A Cappella Festival at the historic Tower Theatre, or scope out offerings from OperaBend, High Desert Chamber Music, or the annual jazz festival held at the Oxford Hotel.

No matter what you pick, you’ll head home with music ringing in your ears and a heart singing along with the melody.