‘Battle of the Bands’ to be focus of 2023 concerts
The Oregon Jamboree kicks off its Tune It Up Tuesdays starting June 6 in the parking lot behind the Rio Theatre.
This is the third year for the event, which will feature regional up-and-coming artists, on Tuesday evenings through the month of June.
The events will open at 5 p.m., with the first band going on at 6 p.m. for an hour-long performance, followed by a half-hour break and then the second band at 7:30 p.m. (Those performance times may be somewhat flexible.)
The event will focus on the “Battle of the Bands” this year, said Oregon Jamboree Executive Director Robert Shamek.
“We’re doing it a little different this year,” he said. “Last year we did the Battle of the Bands as the opening act, followed by a headliner. We had so many requests for the Battle of the Bands, we’re going to do two each night.”
He noted that one slot in the lineup of Deschutes Stage performers is reserved for the performer(s) who gets the most votes in the Battle of the Bands from audience members.
So, who’s appearing on June 6? Shamek said that would be determined later this week.
“We have a whole list,” he said Monday. “We haven’t chosen any of them yet. Next week the roster will be out.”
The series has become a hot ticket for local bands, he said earlier this year.
“People are coming out of the woodwork, which is fantastic. People see it on our social media and they see how many people show up for it. It’s turned out really well.”
The Sweet Home High School Booster Club will offer food and the UFO food truck, a new arrival in Sweet Home, will be on site, serving Asian food.
“We’ll have different foods every Tuesday,” Shamek said.
Also new this year will be the Quenched bar truck, a new enterprise launched by local residents Jeff and Tiffany Lynn, which will serve spirits and beer, he said.
Shamek said he also expects the Northwest Stompeders, the Jamboree’s line dance and promotional team, to perform at some shows.