If you asked ten strangers in Bend what they love most about our summers, odds are good at least half would list concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheater.
Few experiences are more magical than dancing barefoot in the grass with the stage bathed in pinky-orange sunset while music ripples off the Deschutes River.
Sunsets are amazing at the Les Schwab Amphitheater summer concert series!
This season’s lineup is more exciting than ever, with the venue’s first hip-hop headliner (The Roots), some fresh new sounds like Jason Isbell (one of the premiere Americana voices in the country right now), and some musical legends like the B-52s and Robert Plant.
Suffice it to say, it’ll be a fantastic season of music. Here’s what’s on tap for the summer of 2019:
- Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit + Father John Misty with Special guests Jade Bird (June 9)
- The Roots (June 15)
- Rebelution with special guests Collie Buddz, Durand Jones & The Indications, and DJ Mackle (June 23)
- Michael Franti & Spearhead + Ziggy Marley (June 27)
- Lyle Lovett and his Large Band (June 29)
- Trombone Shorty with special guests Son Little (July 5)
- Slightly Stoopid with special guests Tribal Seeds, Matisyahu & HIRIE (July 13)
- B-52s with special guests OMD and Berlin (August 10)
- Avett Brothers with special guests Lake Street Dive (August 13)
- Josh Groban (August 20)
- CAKE (August 24)
- Gary Clark Jr (September 14)
- Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters (October 3)
Tickets are still available for all shows, though that could change at a moment’s notice as folks make their summer plans.
So what do you need to know to enjoy an awesome concert season? Here are a few dos and don’ts.
DO pay attention to seating rules
Not all concerts have the same rules when it comes to seating, so it’s crucial to check the event details before you show up at the venue.
Make sure you bring your low-profile chair to the concerts that allow it for a comfortable concert experience.
Low-backed chairs (no more than 33 inches from the top of the chair to the ground) are permitted for all shows except the Avett Brothers this year.
For the second year in a row, no blankets, towels, or yoga mats of any shape or size will be permitted. It’s partly to prevent the sprawl that happens when people show up with a couple king-sized comforters and a belief that they’re entitled to a vast acreage of prime seating, but mostly it’s a safety issue. Every minute security spends digging through your rolled up blankie to find contraband crackers is a minute they won’t spend watching for legit security issues. It also slows down lines, and none of us want that. Please leave blankets and towels at home.
Fortunately, the good folks at the Les Schwab Amphitheater have purchased a limited number of towels they’ll loan out free of charge, so you won’t have to plant your butt in the grass if you don’t want to.
DO buy tickets in advance. Odds are good some of these concerts will sell out. If there’s a show you really want to see, check the concert lineup here and follow the links to buy tickets in advance.
Starting next week, the Ticket Mill will be an unmanned info kiosk where you can grab maps and brochures, but it’ll no longer be the spot to buy tickets. You can do that right across the street at Grafletics Sportswear, where they’ll have tickets for all the season’s shows.
DON’T buy from scalpers. Seriously, guys—that’s a recipe for getting hosed and losing your money.
DO hit Will Call for last-minute tickets. If you decide to risk it and not purchase tickets ahead of time, you’ll score a slight discount if you hit the Will Call booth right outside the venue instead of the Grafletics on the day of the event (though they’ll still cost slightly more than they would have if you’d bought in advance). Will Call opens at 4 p.m. before most shows begin.
DON’T think you can lurk outside the venue and poach the show for free. Back in the early days of the Les Schwab Amphitheater, thrifty folks parked their lawn chairs on the sidewalk outside the venue so they could listen for free. Unsurprisingly, artists who’d busted butt to actually get paid for their talents did not appreciate this. Several complained to the powers-that-be, and the powers-that-be listened and banned the practice (totally do-able, since the Old Mill District is private property).
The bands put on an incredible show at night!
Despite some initial grumbling, a funny thing happened. The promoter for some super-duper-famous artists (*ahem* Dave Matthews Band and Phish) got wind of the new policy and called the Les Schwab Amphitheater folks. “So I see you’ve decided to start being a real venue,” he reportedly said. “In that case, we’d like to play there.”
That’s right, folks—all those big-name performers we’ve been seeing lately? Many of ‘em wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the ban on concert poachers. Respect the artists and their crews, pay your ticket fees, and enjoy the show.
DO expect to have your bag searched. This is part of the process when you enter the venue, along with having your chair measured. You should also be prepared for additional security like metal detectors, wands, and/or physical pat-downs at some shows. Make it easier on everyone by not bringing too much stuff, and by leaving any of the following items at home…
DON’T try to bring this stuff to the concert. Blankets, towels, recording devices, drugs, weapons, cigarettes, outside food or drinks, umbrellas, Frisbees, or farm animals. And again, check the listing for your specific concert to find out if it’s one of the shows restricting things like strollers or chairs. Know before you go by checking here.
DO bring an empty, refillable water bottle. It can get hot out there, so I always pack my trusty Hydro Flask for any concert. You’ll find several fill stations around the venue, which makes it handy to fill up before the show starts.
DO support the Take Note initiative. A few seasons ago, the Les Schwab Amphitheater got serious about making themselves a sustainable venue through the Take Note Initiative. They installed more water fountains and encouraged reusable drink containers. They stopped selling single-use water bottles. They ensured all vendors use compostable glasses, plates, and utensils, and they implemented an amazing recycling and waste management program.
My favorite component is the reusable Silipint pint glass that you can buy for $20. It comes with one free drink, and after that, every wine, cocktail, beer, or cider purchase is $1 off if you use the cup. They’re good from one season to the next, so make sure to dig last year’s Silipint out of storage or buy a Silipint Base Cup, which offers the same benefits for wine and cocktails.
Many concerts at family-friendly.
DON’T think Oregon’s marijuana laws let you toke at a concert. Sorry, guys, but that’s not how it works. You can’t blaze up in public, so don’t even think about smuggling your joint into the venue. For more info on how the law works, go here.
DO check the weather before you go. Temperatures can drop quickly in the high desert, so even if it’s 80 degrees when you head to the venue at 5:30 p.m., it might be bitterly cold at the end of the encore. Bring a sweater or jacket, and possibly a hat or gloves if it’s a late-spring or early-fall show.
My fellow four-eyed friends would also be wise to bring prescription sunglasses to wear as the sun arcs brightly over the west side of the stage. Make sure you also have your regular eyeglasses so you can see after the sun goes down.
DON’T eat at home before you go. I used to do this in an effort to save a few bucks but realized after years of drooling over other people’s food that it’s better to buy dinner at the venue. There are plenty of delicious options that won’t break the bank, and the venue takes great care to ensure there are always vegan and gluten-free options.
DO bring cash. Many of the food vendors accept credit, but some don’t, and the beverage booths move faster with cash. There’s an ATM in the venue, but you’ll pay a fee to use it. You’re better off snagging a couple $20s from your own bank’s ATM before you head in.
DON’T drink like a moron. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read this blog post. Most folks at the concert have paid a lot of money to enjoy the music—not to have drunk jerks spilling beer in their laps and shouting at each other over the music (I know, surprising!)
That said, it’s totally cool to enjoy a drink or two at the show. The beverage tent always has a couple mixed drinks available like lemon drops and on-the-rocks margaritas, plus a few different beer options from 10 Barrel. You can also purchase wine by the glass or by the bottle, and selections from Naked Winery include a surprisingly diverse array of reds and whites. Keep in mind that bottle sales stop at 8 p.m., so plan accordingly and buy early if you want a bottle of vino to share with friends.
DO take advantage of ride sharing. If you’re drinking at the concert, don’t drive. Period.
With Uber and Lyft and local taxi services in abundance, there’s absolutely no reason to risk your life or someone else’s.
There’s a brand-new pickup/dropoff station this year near the LSA Rock on the west side of the river. This is for rideshare vehicles and cabs, and is pretty handy since it’s covered and right off the river trail. It’ll make things nice and easy when trying to connect with your Uber driver.
Even if you aren’t drinking, it’s a good idea to carpool or use alternative forms of transportation like biking or walking. Skipping the hassle of parking will get you through the gates a lot quicker.
Dancing is welcomed, but make sure you’re in areas with other dancers and not blocking views of those wanting to enjoy the concert sitting.
DO pay attention to what others are doing. Each concert has its own special setup. Some have roped-off areas of reserved seating surrounded by general admission and dancing areas off to the side, while other setups feature a huge sea of general admission areas and a big free-for-all dancing spot up front.
Watch what other folks are doing and follow suit. If you want to shake your groove thing, join the existing sea of dancers instead of creating your own boogie zone in front of folks who want to sit. If you want to sit, don’t plunk your chair down behind the dancers and snarl at them to sit down.
Which brings me to my final item on your list of things to bring…
DO bring common sense, courtesy, and respect for the artists and each other. Enough said.