In 2009, Bend’s homegrown musical talent has stepped up its game, collectively releasing several excellent CDs and touring farther afield than any year in recent memory.

So perhaps it’s fitting that this year’s Homegrown Music Showcase features such a strong lineup: Reed Thomas Lawrence. Empty Space Orchestra. Dennis McGregor. Anastacia Beth Scott. Mark Ransom. Eric Tollefson.

No disrespect to the artists who participated in previous events, but this year, organizer (and Bulletin employee) Tim Schroeder has outdone himself.

“There is a bigger pool of talent to draw from now than in the past,” Schroeder said. “Don’t get me wrong, all our casts have been great. But the arrival on the scene of some awesome new talent in the last year has made it harder to choose who to invite, but the end result is we have a great lineup and the greatest variety of styles.”

Last year’s program was modeled after concerts Schroeder’s old band, the Bond Brothers, used to do in town, in which a house band backed some of Central Oregon’s best songwriters. This year, the Bond Brothers are on hiatus, so the concert will work more like a variety show, with one band following another, although there will definitely be an intermingling of talents.

“We set up everyone’s equipment so we can change artists and bands every song, and people can guest or sit in whenever we want,” Schroeder said. “There will be a few surprises.”

For the second year in a row, proceeds will benefit Bend’s Ronald McDonald House.

Homegrown Music Showcase ; 7 tonight; $15 for adults, $7.50 for children 12 and younger; Tower Theatre, 835 N.W. Wall St., Bend; 541-317-0700 or www.towertheatre.org.

— Ben Salmon