‘We’re really becoming a music destination’: Summer concert season kicks off early at Hayden Homes Amphitheater

(Update: Adding video, comments from staff, Greg's Grill GM and fans)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- With just about perfect weather Tuesday, Bend's Hayden Homes Amphitheater opened its busy summer concert season early this year.

The first band Tuesday night is LCD Soundsystem, and Kathryn and Natalie drove 14 hours from Alberta, Canada to Bend for the event.

Natalie said, "We love the band LCD Soundsystem! So they've been a bucket list band for us, for both of us for a lot of years. We've missed them at Coachella, and so we finally get to cross that off the list."

Its just one of more than 50 shows for the 2024 season, showcasing variety of genres -- rock, country and pop.

Old Mill Marketing Director Beau Eastes said, "It shows the diversity in the genres of the music we've got this year. I think we're all really excited to kick the year off with a bang."

The riverfront venue, upgraded in recent years, will host artists including Riley Green, Portugal the Man, and Vampire Weekend. 

Concertgoers can expect a new bike rack section and different food trucks, like the Bob. El Sancho, Zydeco and Dump City Dumplings are back again this year. 

Across the river at Greg's Grill, you can dine and take in concerts from the patio.  

General Manager Andreas Gregoriou said, "Sold-out concerts -it's about $100 per person spend on the night just to sit. So they just come in and they spend that $100 per person. And then on other concerts where the demand isn't as high, it's just, come down and enjoy it, like you would any other night."

This concert season is expected to be the busiest yet at the amphitheater with more than 50 shows this year, compared to 46 last year. 

Eastes said, "We've always been known for bikes and beer, right? Which are two things that I love. But we're really becoming a music destination."

Natalie added, "We can see the theater and the disco ball over there. So that's really exciting. It's just a gorgeous day to wander around and drink and get stoked for the show."

You can buy your concert tickets at the Ticket Mill - above J. Jill, or at the box office, and get more information at bendconcerts.com. The next concert is Riley Green on Saturday.