Music for the Masses
Music for the Masses
Hayden Homes Amphitheater’s impressive launch to summer 2025
By: Amanda Bird-Zimmerman
Assistant Marketing Director/Community Engagement Lead
Summer concert season is officially on, and looking at the schedule I can’t help but wonder, is there such a thing as going to too many concerts? I find the memes about concerts highly relatable. Like how attending a concert is more effective than therapy, or how my hobbies include going to concerts and also thinking about the next time I will be going to a concert. I especially identify with the idea that life is too short – buy the damn concert tickets. As well as don’t come to me for advice – we’ll end up at a concert.
How lucky are we that this summer at Hayden Homes Amphitheater there is a setlist for every mood, for every day of the week, for every phase in life, inspiration for every road trip, and even for those who claim they “don’t really listen to music.”
We launched our season with an impressive seven shows in eight days and music that spanned from James Taylor’s folk harmonies and the legendary vocals of Sting; to the face-melting bass lines of Khruangbin, Brad Paisley’s classic comedic country, and a psychedelic jam set with Goose that took a surprise disco turn that’ll forever be imprinted in our bones. Let’s not forget about how The Black Keys’ figuratively set the place on fire with an evening of strategically placed hits, my personal favorite was the extended “Tighten Up,” and then the next day Leon Bridges serenaded us with his smooth R&B swagger while grooving in golden snakeskin boots. Swoon.
On to shows nine and ten with Mumford & Sons who, not to brag or anything, launched their North American tour right here in our backyard! They haven’t been on the road in five years and selected our town as the perfect place to reunite with fans. It was perfection, indeed. When the first few chords of “I Will Wait” came out of the speakers fans went wild and got even wilder when Marcus Mumford decided to run through the crowd while everyone sang “Ditmas” at the top of their lungs. When I close my eyes, I can see the sea of lights in the crowd and feel the conviction in Marcus Mumford's voice when he belted “Believe.” In that moment I felt as though he could feel my heart and was reading my mind. I know my experience was not singular. A catharsis of this caliber at a concert is definitely more effective than therapy. Except I’m at work, is that even allowed? That’s a conversation with my boss for another day...
Fans aren’t the only folks ecstatic to be at these shows. Sting commented more than once how special this place is and about the beauty of the Deschutes river. The lead singer of Goose said he was enjoying himself so much that he plans to move to Bend. Then there is Leon Bridge’s tour who shared that their experience was so enjoyable it felt more like a day off than a show night. To me, that is a testament to our broader community and the collective positive and inclusive energy that’s brought into the venue. Add to that the venue staff - which boasts an 85% return rate year-over-year - whose guiding values are kindness and compassion. What else? We’re blessed with a picture-perfect natural landscape, an intimate 8,000-person venue with incredible sightlines to the stage, local food vendors curating fresh, locally sourced munchies, and I can say with full confidence that there is no such thing as going to too many concerts.
That said, here are a few upcoming shows to put on your radar:
Sunday, June 15: Peter Frampton
Sunday, June 22: Earth, Wind & Fire
Wednesday, July 2: Lake Street Dive
Wednesday, July 23: Dropkick Murphys & Bad Religion
Tuesday, Aug. 5: My Morning Jacket
Sunday, Aug. 10: LCD Soundsystem
Friday, Aug. 15: Trampled By Turtles & Shakey Graves
Saturday, Aug. 30: Japanese Breakfast
Wednesday, Sept. 10: Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts
View the full concert lineup HERE. Remember, life is short. Buy the damn concert tickets.
