It may not seem like it, given our mild spring, but the first concert of Hayden Homes Amphitheater’s 2024 season is just over a month away.

Reunited dance-punk band LCD Soundsystem kicks things off May 14, marking the earliest concert ever at the venue, according to Beau Eastes, marketing director for the amphitheater and the Old Mill District.

The complete lineup

Hay Ho Amphitheater Watch: Who’s playing in 2024

For its first two decades of life, locals and visitors knew the outdoor venue as Les Schwab Amphitheater. It was rechristened as Hayden Homes Amphitheater in 2021. That same season marked the venue’s second partnering with the world’s largest entertainment company, Live Nation, and its first with a rebuilt, 62-foot-tall stage, 1,800 square feet bigger than the original.

Who’s playing in Bend?

Between the venue’s physical growth and the partnership with Live Nation, bigger name acts began to roll through town. The last couple of years, Hayden Homes Amphitheater has played host to Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, Neil Young, Lindsey Stirling and more.

Get to know the venue

Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend: What to know before you go

The trend continues this year, with Daryl Hall and Elvis Costello coheadlining on June 8, Vampire Weekend on June 19 and The Beach Boys on Aug. 24, to name but a few.

That’s not to suggest longtime visitors have stayed away: Portland indie rock act The Decemberists, no strangers to Bend audiences, play July 12.

Michael Franti & Spearhead, who might hold the record for most visits across the years, return Aug. 14.

Comedian Matt Rife will visit June 22, and in an unusual turn for the venue, it is an 18 and older show. Identification will be checked at the entry gate. Normally, 2 and younger can join parents or a guardian for free, but no infants will be permitted to Rife’s show. Sorry, kids!

The venue rarely tags a concert as being sold-out because verified tickets are usually an option from TicketMaster, said Beau Eastes, marketing director for the Old Mill District and the amphitheater.

However, the originally released tickets for Foreigner with Styx, Doobie Brothers, Tyler Childers, Hozier and Jason Aldean did sell out, and Stick Figure is getting close, Eastes said.

Who’s going to the shows?

The venue hosted 52 concerts in 2022, and 50 last year, said Eastes. About 46 shows have been announced for the season, a number that should come in at 55 once all announcements have been made, according to Eastes.

Statistics from last season show that when it comes to locals versus out-of-area patrons, meaning those from outside of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, it’s a draw, Eastes said: Attendance is made up of about 50% each.

“We did a pretty extensive survey last year,” Eastes said. Last year, 84% of all concertgoers were from Oregon, 8% from Washington and 3% from California.

Getting tickets and more info

There are several changes worth noting around the venue, he added. The Ticket Mill, still the best place to buy tickets locally with service fee capped at $7, has relocated to a second-floor space above J.Jill and Hello Sunshine. The address is 520 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 624.

The Old Mill District will no longer host the conclusion of Pole Pedal Paddle, which returns on May 18. The final stage of the multisport race begins in Farewell Bend Park and ends across the river in Riverbend Park.

Instead of the amphitheater, “We’ve been using the west-side (of the Deschutes River) event lawn, that grassy area for a lot of (races),” Eastes said.

That grassy area is also home to a new bike rack that can accommodate up to 300 bicycles. For those who prefer to drive to shows, there’s paid parking in the gravel lot south of the venue and free parking throughout the Old Mill District.

For tickets and more information, visit bendconcerts.com.