Fresh Riffs at Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Check out what’s new at Oregon’s largest outdoor music venue

Written by Amanda Bird-Zimmerman

Summer in Bend sounds like this: a fizzy cold drink in hand, the rush of the Deschutes River at your back, rolling laughter from friends, and the band you’ve waited all year to see playing your favorite song like they’re playing it for you.

We are 13 shows in with approximately 40 more to go. While many things remain the same, like our incredibly kind staff, dedication to sustainability, one-of-a-kind Deschutes River setting, awe-inspiring sunsets, and our deep, deep passion for curating top-tier live music experiences, a few items have changed. And for the better. To help with your concert-planning we’ve unpacked several notable mentions below:

First things first, quench your thirst with the $10 Local Draft Beer Special at the Draft Beer Tent near the middle of Food Vendor Row. Every show, from the time gates open until the opener takes the stage, they’re pouring local draft beers for $10! Enjoy great beer with native roots, like 10Barrel Brewing Co., Crux Fermentation Project, Boneyard Beer, Worthy Brewing, Sunriver Brewing, and even Bend Cider Co.

If you like a good treasure hunt, keep your eyes peeled for the hidden $5 can bucket. Before every show our Assistant Food & Beverage Manager stashes a batch of $5 cans at one of the bars near the stage. Hint: it won’t be a flavor found anywhere else in the venue. Happy hunting.

Prefer something fruitier, or even frozen? Meet your new dance partner, The Slushie Shack. It’s right next to the Draft Beer Tent and offers rotating daily flavors. So far, the standout flavors have been Piña Colada, Lemonade, Strawberry Lime, and Margarita. Plus, you can make any frozen drink a cocktail spiked with Tito’s Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Casa Noble Tequila, or Buffalo Trace Whiskey!

The Slushie Shack is also stocked with classic snacks. No notes. Currently, we’re hooked on the house-made sweet and salty popcorn, but you could stash your pockets with a bag of Doritos, Cheetos, Sour Patch Kids, and always a crowd pleaser, Red Vines.

Continuing down the line, behold the new Pizza Cart! Because honestly, what’s better than perfectly baked dough topped with melty cheese and a mountain of veggies or pepperoni? With a little Hot Honey Drizzle or a Big Ranch, it gets even tastier. Two people could probably split a pizza, but there are no rules about sharing here. So, get your pizza and go, baby!

Dig the heel of your Doc Marten, Vans, or cowboy boot into the ground, spin around 180 degrees, and spot the Main Bar. Make note of the add-on shot and beer special for when you need a refill. Closer to the stage? Look slightly right to find the Disco Bar, pouring higher-end spirits for their add-on shot special.

One of our favorite things is to dance barefoot on the lawn while peeping the Sisters' peaks catching the last of the evening light. When it’s time to rest those feet, Crazy Creek Chairs are the move, and yes, we have them right here in the venue at the Guest Services tent near Main Gate. Nothing says “pro concertgoer” like walking into every show with your own seat. The tie-dye option was basically made for Widespread Panic and Goose. Just saying.

The Guest Services tent is also where you can find special ticket promos for upcoming events, like the $35 all-in tickets to select shows happening now. We’d tell you which shows, but stopping by to find out is half the fun.

All that said, remember that the best prices on tickets to Hayden Homes Amphitheater can be found in-venue at the Guest Services tent, or at the Ticket Mill in the Old Mill District open seven days a week, weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also find Crazy Creeks and other venue merch at the Ticket Mill, too.

Now, to the main event. A few of this summer's first-time Bend performers have been making serious noise. Here's who to know:

AJR with Izzy Escobar
Wednesday, July 8

Re-envisioning what pop can be in the 21^stcentury, AJR unassumingly emerged as a hit-making outlier and one of the biggest indie bands in the world. Songs like “Bang!,” “Weak,” and “Sober Up – feat. River Cuomo” cemented them as part of the modern zeitgeist.  Not to mention, they remain one of the “500 Most-Listened to Artists” on Spotify. From the “Neotheater” era all the way through “Burn The House Down” and “The Maybe Man,” expect a theatrical, high-energy show that feels like it was made specifically for you and everyone else in that crowd who gets it.

Levity & Tape B
Saturday, July 18

Two of electronic music's most explosive forces are joining together for a massive summer tour, slated to drop their high-energy, beat-driven sound in Bend soon. The tour marks a defining moment for both artists as they continue their meteoric rise from music festival favorites, we’re looking at you Electric Forest, to full-scale headliners. Over the course of three sets, they'll deliver a collision of cinematic production, modern basslines, and throwback pop energy. Did we mention all the lasers?! This is the collab the EDM and bass scenes have been waiting for.

The Strokes with The Garden and ÖLÜM
Tuesday, Aug. 25

Fresh off massive performances at Coachella and Bonnaroo, The Strokes keep rolling all summer with headline sets at Outside Lands, Japan’s Summer Sonic 2026, and Hayden Homes Amphitheater (wink wink). Since their 2001 debut album "Is This It," featuring smash hits "Last Nite" and "Someday," The Strokes' beloved discography has defined the sound of a generation. Their seventh studio album, "Reality Awaits," was produced by the inimitable and wildly creative Rick Rubin. The band teased us with its first single, “Going Shopping," and to say the stoke is high for this show is an understatement. Let’s go!

Dominic Fike
Thursday, Sept. 3

First discovered by the world through a collection of demos on Soundcloud recorded at home while on house arrest, Dominic Fike’s rise has been meteoric to say the least. Fike has been praised by everyone from The Fader to The New Yorker as “the future of pop music” for his fusion of hip-hop and sun-damaged rock that has spawned collaborations with the likes of Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, Kenny Beats and more. “Euphoria” fans know him as Elliot. Music fans know him as one of the most compelling live performers of his generation. Either way, this one will hit different under the Central Oregon stars.

ROLE MODELwith Samia
Wednesday, Sept. 9

Genre-blurring rocker ROLE MODEL launches his fall tour right here in Bend, Oregon! The performance closely follows the debut of his highly anticipated new album, "Chuck Timely & The Hourglass" dropping early August. The album's first single "High Hopes 3000" has already raised the bar on the success of his breakout hit "Sally, When The Wine Runs Out," and has surpassed all expectations. We recommend you catch him before the rest of the world does.

Bleachers with The Linda Lindas
Sunday, Sept. 20

Jack Antonoff is the man behind some of the most celebrated albums of the last decade, and yes, maybe Taylor Swift's BFF. As the frontman of Bleachers, his 11 Grammy Awards and production genius translate into live shows that are genuinely anthemic. Hits like "I Wanna Get Better," "Don't Take The Money," and "Rollercoaster" are the kind of songs The New York Times calls "life-affirming pop rock." and right now, we could all use a night of exactly that. If you love The 1975, early fun., or that big emotional 80s-inflected sound done right, Bleachers is your show.

Whether you're a first-timer or a HayHo regular, summers like this one don’t come around twice. The new eats, the frozen drinks, dancing barefoot on the grass, the Sisters’ peaks on the horizon, it all adds up to an experience that's hard to put into words and even harder to miss out on. So, a word to the wise, life is short, buy the dang concert tickets!

To view the full summer lineup, visit Bendconcerts.com.

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