The Bluegrass Bend-r

Open Jams in the Courtyard 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Live Bands 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm 

$30 for 6 bands! ($40 Day Of)

The 2nd Annual Bluegrass Bend-r will be a one-day mini bluegrass festival taking over the Volcanic Theatre Pub on March 7th. It will feature a blend of the top local talent and regionally touring favorites. There will be open jams in the afternoon, and live bands all evening. Buy your tickets in advance and get 6 bands for only $30!

The Bluegrass Bend-r is sure to be a bender of a good time, bending the genre of bluegrass in beautiful Bend, Oregon!

Schedule:

4:00 - 6:00 - Open Bluegrass Jam in the Courtyard (Weather Permitting, Inside Goodlife if not)

6:00 - Doors

6:30 - 7:00 Johnny Bourbon on the Bar Stage

7:00 - 7:45 Midnight 45 on the Main Stage

7:45 - 8:15 Broken Top Bluegrass on the Bar Stage

8:15 - 9:00 Quattlebaum on the Main Stage

9:00 - 9:30 Pete Kartounes on the Bar Stage

9:30 - 10:45 Crying Uncle on the Main Stage

10:45 - 11:00 MEGA JAM (Acoustic on the Floor)

Featured Main Stage Acts:

Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - Widely recognized as one of the most exciting young bands in acoustic music, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band plays a unique mix of bluegrass, Dawg (David Grisman music), jazz, and modern originals. Brothers Miles and Teo Quale are joined by bassist Andrew Osborn and 2023 National Flat Pick Guitar Champion Ian Ly, all outstanding musicians of the vibrant California bluegrass scene. Founded in 2016 as a Duo band, Miles and Teo formed the bluegrass band in 2017, and since then, they have continued to make waves in the world of bluegrass and acoustic music. In 2024, the bluegrass band celebrated their debut at the Grand Ole Opry, and in 2023, they received the International Bluegrass Music Association's Momentum Band of the Year award. The band was also honored to perform for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame’s induction of their hero, David Grisman.

Quattlebaum - Quattlebaum doesn’t just play music—he conjures it, bending time and space. His banjo can whisper like a secret or roar like a freight train, while his voice haunts the wind like a ghost in the pines. Armed with a banjo, cello banjo, and guitar, his performances blend storytelling, humor, and raw energy. Whether strutting across the stage like a lanky heron or unleashing shreddy banjo licks, Quattlebaum commands attention, weaving tales of river ramblings, backroad haunts, and wild-eyed wanderers. His voice—gritty, soulful, and unfiltered—rides the line between raw vulnerability and raucous revelry, pulling audiences into a world where bluegrass, folk, and cosmic country collide. With the addition of James Rossi on the fiddle and Josiah Payne on the mandolin, their captivating performances take audiences on a ride.

Midnight 45 - If you love the glass-shattering power of high tenor bluegrass voices and perfect harmonies, look no further than Midnight45. This powerhouse band features some of the most outstanding vocal and instrumental prowess you will hear in the Western US. Based in Central and Western Oregon, Midnight45 specializes in bluesy vocal-based deep-groove bluegrass music with a solid traditional approach. They perform traditional & contemporary bluegrass, featuring original material as well as traditional country duets.  

Featured Acts on the Bar Stage:

Pete Kartsounes - Based out of Bend, OR, Pete Kartsounes has been bringing people together around the globe with his award-winning songs, guitar wizardry, and smoky voice for over three decades. His eclectic and heartfelt music is medicine for all. Pete is known for his captivating and diverse live performances, weaving tales of life, love, connection with nature, and adventure through song and story.

Johnny Bourbon - Johnny Bourbon is a lifelong poet and musician who honed his skills writing & performing in various alt-country and punk rock bands from the age of 17.

Broken Top Bluegrass - Broken Top is a Central Oregon-based quartet featuring Sonja Bohr (Fiddle), Vern Johnson (Bass), Garret Leon (Mandolin), and Maxx Lopez (Guitar). With a combined trifecta of traditional tunes, bluegrass, and Primordial Oozegrass, Broken Top seeks to create a new original sound intertwined with the traditions of stringband music. The Primordial Oozegrass sound combined what the quartet has learned from bluegrass song structure with dark fantasy lyrical concepts.