Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra
friday 18
Ottmar Liebert is one hell of a flamenco guitarist, but you've never heard him correctly until you've taken a listen to Up Close, his binaural recording that when listened to with headphones sounds like you've got strings vibrating around your brain. Pretty intense. Check him out at the Tower with his ensemble, Luna Negra for some high-class sounds. 7pm Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., 317-0700. $28.50/advance, $31.50/day of show.
R3 Preview Show
friday 18
The R3 Festival: Rock Reggae Rap previews their lineup with this show featuring bands that heavily favor the first R of R3's alliterative tagline with local prog-metal heroes (and heroine) Tentareign taking the top of the bill. Also showing off their local skills are beat boxer Dain Stothoff, growling metalsters Symbolic, alt rockers Sons of Dirt, and the hardcore thrashers of Snap Point. Should give you a nice taste before you head down to La Pine for the real deal on August 15-16. 6:30pm. Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave. $8.
David Bowers Colony 3.0
friday 18
We've had a close eye on DBC as of late and maintain that anyone with eardrums and dancing shoes needs to see these dudes ASAP. Bowers and company are the latest featured artist at the Show Us Your Spokes fundraiser series and should sound quite nice outside. 7pm-10pm. $4, $5 if you show up by car. Parrilla Grill, 635 NW 14th St.
Deschutes Dash Weekend Sports Festival
saturday-sunday 19
It wouldn't be a summer weekend in Central Oregon without some sort of large-scale outdoor athletic competition. The Dash features more than 600 athletes battling it out in triathalons, duathalons and good ol' fashioned 10k/5k. This is a good chance to see people actually swimming (not just floating) in the river.
Mosley Wotta
saturday 19
Maybe it's the heat here in our brick oven of an office, but it seems like Mosley Wotta (or MoWo, as the coolest of the cool kids know him) is just about everywhere these days. See for yourself this weekend as the local hip-hop/spoken word artist busts so many cerebral rhymes that your brain splits in half...at least figuratively. 8pm. Silver Moon Brewing Co., 24 NW Greenwood Ave. Free.
Skate Park Fundraiser
sunday 20
Bend's skill-laden skateboarders are itching for a new place to shred and they might have found it in the form of a spot under the Bend Parkway on Division Street. Stealing a page from Portland's sub-freeway Burnside skate park, the Bend edition could very well compete with any other skate spot in the state. To raise some cash for the project, the grassroots movement is premiering Why Wouldn't You, a skate documentary by Dave Hupp. Check out www.dsspbend.com for more on the park. 4pm Silver Moon Brewing Co., 24 NW Greenwood Ave. 388-8331.
Albino!...Squared!
sunday 20
The Bay Area's finest afrobeat collective, Albino!, makes its way back to Bend to funk the skin right off your bones. But since our town has given them some love in the past, the nine-or-more-member band has decided that just one show isn't going to do it. They'll be playing the Les Schwab Amphitheater for free in the afternoon (2:30pm), then returning to really heat things up for two sets at the Summit Saloon and Stage (8pm doors, 9pm show, $10).
Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars Tour
sunday 20
Some of the funny men often heard on the nationally syndicated "Bob & Tom" radio show bring some belly laughs (we hope) to the Tower. The lineup includes jokers Tim Bedore, Bob Zany (yes, that's the Bob from the radio show) and Greg Morton and should be packed with all the hilarious stuff you're accustomed to hear coming out of your car radio. 7:30pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St.
The Real Dirt on Farmer John
tuesday 22
This documentary received the conservation award at last year's BendFilm festival and is screening again at the Tower as part of the Indie Reel series. The film follows the eccentric life of John Peterson, a Midwestern farmer who creates a thriving organic farm despite being the aim of ridicule by neighbors and economic hardships. Part artist, part farmer, Peterson comes across in the film as sort of a poor man's Ken Kesey, but never fails to entertain or inform. 7pm Tower Theatre $10/suggested donation.
Melvins, Big Business
wednesday 23
Turn the dang page and read about these guys...now! All ages. 8pm/doors, 9pm/show. $18/advanced, $20/door. Domino Room. 51 NW Greenwood Ave.
