Matisyahu

This has been covered in GO! Magazine many times, but there are so many new people in Central Oregon these days, it’s worth repeating: Matisyahu, the singer and rapper known for mixing reggae, hip-hop, pop and rock, is not from Bend, but he credits this town for giving him his musical start.

The artist, who was born Matthew Miller, came to town when he was 18 to enroll in a wilderness program for troubled youth. Here, he formed a band and started playing local open mics and busking on street corners. “That’s where it all started for me, literally,” he told The Bulletin 2017. “There was a spot, Cafe Paradiso … they had a Thursday night open mic night that was literally the first place I ever started performing. When I was 18, I worked at Mt. Bachelor; I had a band together, it was the first band I was ever in.”

At last report, Miller had a daughter who lives in Bend, which has helped to keep him coming back. This time, he’ll perform Thursday at the Midtown Ballroom, where he’ll presumably play his mega-hit “One Day” and songs from his new self-titled album.

Matisyahu, with Niko Is: $30, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, doors open 7:30 p.m., Midtown Ballroom, 51 NW Greenwood Ave., midtownballroom.com.