There are lots of good reasons to go see live music. You support local artists, stimulate your ears and brain, and, if the fancy strikes, you might burn off some calories on the dance floor.
But it's not all about you, is it? This week, there are no fewer than five opportunities in Central Oregon to check out some bands and kick a few bucks to people or organizations that could use it. Below, find a few words about each show — and perhaps some guidance for that bleeding heart of yours.
SISTERS JAZZ
The fruits of Sisters' strong support of its young jazz players will be on display at 7 p.m. Tuesday when two of the town's finest exports — drummer Justin Veloso and bassist Jared Henderson — return from the New School for Jazz (NYC) and Berklee College of Music (Boston), respectively, to play a benefit for Sisters High School's jazz program. Joining Veloso and Henderson in the band: trumpeter, SHS music director and Jared's dad Jody Henderson, and saxophonist Ian Christensen, who also attends the New School. Expect oodles of “east coast sound” to fill The Barn (68467 Three Creeks Road, Sisters). A donation of $15 (or $10 for students) is suggested, and food and drink will be provided.
High & Dry Fundraiser
The High & Dry Bluegrass Festival is just around the corner, set for Aug. 20-22 at the Runway Ranch east of Bend, where for the past three years, local and regional bluegrass fans and players have gathered to pick and pluck to their hearts’ content. It’ll also be the fourth year in a row that admission has stayed at $10 for the whole weekend. That’s possible because of fundraisers like the one tonight at a house in Tumalo, where Bend-based Erin Cole-Baker, pictured, will put on an intimate, outdoor show of beautiful acoustic music. (Visit www.erincolebaker.com for samples.) She’ll get going around 7 p.m., and a donation of $10 gets you in. In where? Visit www.highanddrybluegrassfestival.com or call Maggie at 541-306-0797 to find out.
Courtesy A. Querio
CELEBRATION OF JAKE VINSON’S LIFE
You may remember the story of Jake Vinson: Bend resident, father, college student and skateboarding enthusiast who died in late June while riding down
Awbrey Butte, where he lost control of his board and hit his head. On Sunday, his friends and family will hold a celebration of his life and a fundraiser for his wife and three kids at Silver Moon Brewing & Taproom (24 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend). “We Got Your Back, Jake” will run from 6 to 9 p.m., and donations will be accepted at the door. There will be live music by Allan Byer, pictured, Pine Lane and Reed Thomas Lawrence, plus raffles for prizes donated by several local businesses and organizations. Most of all, though, there will be time to gather and remember Jake, and help out those who miss him.
Submitted photo
DRINKS ON BEND
Three young Bendites are trying to raise money to buy a water-purification device — designed in part by recent Mountain View High School graduate Ryan Rudnick — for Mumba, Tanzania, where residents risk infection every time they drink their
water. Tonight from 6 to 10 p.m., local rockers The Snag and singer-songwriters Chris Chabot and Tim Bach, plus Eugene’s good-times pop-reggae masters Rootdown, pictured, will perform at the Chrstian Life Center’s amphitheater (21720 E. U.S.
Highway 20, Bend). Tickets cost $7 for students and $10 for adults, and proceeds will go toward the effort for Tanzania, which you can read more about by searching “Rudnick” at www.bendbulletin.com.
Submitted photo
