Submitted photoTony Furtado

If you live in Sisters, you can ignore this next sentence. You know what’s up, I bet.

But if you live in Bend, you need to appreciate the role The Belfry — Angeline Rhett’s old-church-turned-event-venue in Sisters — is playing in Central Oregon’s music scene.

I thought I did. For the past 18 months or so, The Belfry has become one of the region’s busier live-music spots, hosting everything from folk to rock to bluegrass and lots of rootsy stuff in between.

But then, when Rhett took a summer break recently and The Belfry’s schedule dried up for a spell, it quickly became clear just how important the place has become. With no Belfry shows on my radar, it definitely felt like there was a hole in the scene.

Good news: Sisters Folk Festival has come and gone, and The Belfry’s calendar is starting to fill up again: Petunia and The Vipers on Oct. 9. Head for the Hills on Nov. 13. Amy Speace on Nov. 19. Hot Buttered Rum on Dec. 4.

But first, Portland-based roots-pop wizard Tony Furtado, he of the exceptional guitar and banjo skills and the strong ear for melody. Furtado’s reputation was built as a master stringbender, but he’s no slouch in the songwriting department, either. His songs — hear ‘em at www.tonyfurtado.com — are invariably as catchy and propulsive as roots-rock gets. He’ll perform Wednesday at The Belfry, with Portland dream-pop artist Stephanie Schneiderman opening.

Tony Furtado, with Stephanie Schneiderman; 7 p.m. Thursday; $12 plus fees in advance at www.bendticket.com, $15 at the door; The Belfry, 302 E. Main Ave., Sisters; www.belfryevents.com.

— Ben Salmon