Cedar Teeth didn't plan to start a band around the campfires that lit up their Oregon youths in the forests of the Cascade foothills that form a clear-cut divide between Portland and the surrounding wilderness.  The genre bending roots troupe owe their inception to bassist Rayson Gordon, who forged a musical link between friends and provided their secret headquarters: a cedar shed on his grandparents' 40 acre forestland on Green Mountain Road. In their new practice space, campfire tunes turned into intricate songwriting and friendships became a partnership. 

Following their 2014 debut album, Hoot, Cedar Teeth built their reputation on stage, whether at festivals like Summer Meltdown and Wildwood, or at clubs throughout the Pacific NW, where they have joined bands like Fruition, Shook Twins, Motopony, Hot Buttered Rum, and Magic Giant. 

On their 2017 EP, Farewell To Green Mountain, Cedar Teeth explore everything from indie rock and grunge to psych folk and bluegrass, reflecting the diversity inspired by their lives on the dividing line of societal opposites.  Produced by Larry Crane (Elliot Smith, The Decemberists), the EP leans heavily on backwood harmony, allowing complex song structures and off-kilter melodies to support tales of love and war and the moments in between. In one sense, Farewell to Green Mountain is a goodbye to both their formative practice space and the vanishing wilderness and community they knew growing up; a sense of loss that makes its way into songs such as "Cancer" and "Mama's Mourning".  But then again, a voice of defiance emerges in songs like "Winter" and "Echoes Grounding", testaments to renewal and resilience in the face of the dying light. 

While their range of sonic interests and influences defy easy classification, it is difficult not to hear Levon Helm, Rick Danko and company, The Band, hollering from the grave. Indeed, imagery reflecting organic flesh and bone, mingling with gnarled old-growth roots music, is what this band is all about.  Call 'em whatever you like: they are harmonizers and collaborators and Cedar Teeth won't let the fire go out.

Website:

http://www.cedarteethband.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/cedarteethband

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CedarTeethBand

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cedarteethband/

The Ballybogs came together in 2017 as a diverse group of experienced musicians and singers who met at the local Irish music session in Bend.

Beginning as a dance band for local contradances, we expanded our repertoire to include ballads and songs. We still play at dances, but also at pubs, festivals, private parties and other venues in Central Oregon.

In addition, we play weekly at local pubs, in "sessions", and also house sessions with other local musicians interested in traditional Irish music. Several members are also involved in slow and tune learning sessions for beginners.

Traditional Irish music consists of not only of tunes and rhythms that are for dancing, but also songs with stories, and melodies that you think you've heard before.

Members of the band are:
Amanda Wrenn, fiddle and vocals
Jason Herzog, bouzouki, whistle and vocals
Michael Long, uillean pipes, low whistle and bodhran
Michele Sims, flute and button accordion
Steve Lundgren, fiddle and mandolin
Jeff Sims, guitar

Website:

http://www.bendtrad.org/the-ballybogs

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/TheBallybogs/

Use'ta Do is a Bend, OR based roots-country and bluegrass band, performing with a nod to great musical eras: acoustic instruments; single microphone; and song choices from pioneers in country, Americana, bluegrass, and even modern takes on pop and rock tunes. Use'ta Do is Joe Schulte (Skillethead, Popcorn Trio, Moon Mountain Ramblers) -guitar, vocals; Bri Schulte - mandolin, vocals; Bill Powers (Honey Don't, Silvertone Devils) - banjo, vocals; Shelley Graham (Honey Don't) - Bass, vocals; and Dave Ehle - guitar, washboard, vocals. With a particular fondness for the music of the Hanks Williams (Sr., Jr., and III), Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings, their joy for music, love of goats, and sense of FUN is inherent in their sets, connecting audiences to music performances like they "Use'ta Do."

The Cascade Highlanders Pipe Band is a traditional bagpipe band consisting of pipers and drummers from the central Oregon area. This group has been in existence since 2014. We play traditional Irish and Scottish tunes for our audiences. Come out and support your local pipe band this St. Patrick's Day!