Last year was a big one for music in Central Oregon. Among the highlights: Deftones made its “hometown” debut at Les Schwab Amphitheater; Paul Simon sold out that same venue in June; and solar eclipse-related festivals (including the massive Symbiosis, essentially a pop-up city that took over Big Summit Prairie for a week) brought tens of thousands of music fans to the area.

We may not have an eclipse to look forward to this year, but as always, we will have music. Lots of it.

Here’s a look at what’s coming from area musicians and venues in 2018.

Reports from the studio

Larry and His Flask

Bend’s long-running acoustic punk band has ramped up its performance schedule in the last two years, slowly reemerging from its 2015 hiatus. This year is set to be even busier for the Flask, with U.S. and European tours in the works and an upcoming appearance at the 20th anniversary edition of Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas in May.

Fans can also expect new music from the Flask this year. The band, now a five-piece with the departure of guitarist Dallin Bulkley in October, has been working with Dayne Wood, drummer for Flask side project Woebegone, at The Firing Room in Bend on its first album since 2013’s “By the Lamplight.” The new songs are rooted in Larry’s energetic roots-punk sound, Cook said.

“It’s still very up-tempo and stuff, and really fits within the Larry realm,” Cook said. “It’s just expanded a little bit more, a little more melodic and stuff, because those are the kind of things that I really love and I kind of worked on a lot as a songwriter through doing the Woebegone thing.”

Look for the album, tentatively titled “Remedy,” sometime in spring.

Corner Gospel Explosion

After nearly imploding in 2016, Bend’s “knock-your-socks-off” indie rock band found new focus in 2017 as a two-piece centered around brothers Bradley Parsons (drums, vocals, synthesizers) and Tyler Parsons (bass). The duo honed its new songs and sound — augmented by Brad’s synth patches and Tyler’s effects-laden “mega-rig,” which allows him to cover mid- and high-range guitar frequencies on his bass — with a number of festival appearances over the summer.

That legwork led to “It’s Hard to Be A Kid,” the band’s second release as a duo and the full-length follow-up to 2016’s “Tension,” the last album to feature guitarist Brandon Prinzing (now fronting folk-punk band Riot on a Sunday) and keyboardist Chase Mickel, who was killed in a car crash in summer 2016. The first single, hook-filled stomper “Before They Drag Me to Hell,” dropped Dec. 22.

The concept record, recorded at Brad’s Train Sound Studio, focuses on the Parsons brothers’ childhood growing up in a Pentecostal family.

“Through Chase’s accident, it just really taught me that … it’s not worth pursuing creative projects if you’re not being honest and you’re not being open and you’re not willing to hurt a little bit — to rip open some painful wounds from your childhood to go, no, this is an important subject,” Brad said. “This needs to be talked about because it’s my story.”

The band is aiming for a release date sometime between February and April.

Strange Rover

The Central Oregon stoner/doom metal quartet spent 2017 close to home, with show highlights including opening for Castle at Third Street Pub and performing at Spoken Moto’s one-year anniversary party over the summer. Then the band went quiet in the fall to begin work on not one, but two releases planned for this year — an EP of older material slated for April, and the group’s first full-length, which it hopes to have ready by the end of the year.

So far, drummer and co-founder Paterson Colson has laid down his drum parts at the Firing Room with Wood producing. Whereas the band’s earlier material was primarily written by Colson and guitarist/co-founder Mac Perillo, the songs for the upcoming LP feature more contributions from bassist Matt Gibson and vocalist Haley Jordan.

“This next EP that’s coming out is definitely gonna be the heavy stuff,” Colson said. “Like on the first EP (‘Strange,’ 2016) there was ‘Clowns,’ (which) was one of the heavier tracks, and that’s definitely gonna be the predominate direction of this next EP. But then after that, we’re gonna get into a little more energetic territory.”

The Roof Rabbits

This punk-rock team-up featuring members of Harley Bourbon and Tuck and Roll made an impressive live debut before a packed house at Spoken Moto last month. The roots-y yet heavy punk sound on display served as a fitting prelude to the band’s debut album, which will be released sometime this year, according to singer/guitarist Johnny Bourbon (of Harley Bourbon, natch). Tentatively titled “Creature Comforts,” the album was recorded with Wood at the Firing Room (Noticing a pattern here?).

Bourbon, bassist Sam Fisher (frontman for Tuck and Roll and also of Harley Bourbon) and drummer Sean Garvin (Boxcar Stringband, Tuck and Roll) came together as The Roof Rabbits in late 2016 around a mutual love of proto-punk bands such as The Stooges and Television. The Pixies, Superchunk and Hot Water Music were also key influences, Bourbon said.

The trio is looking for a label to pick up the album, so stay tuned.

Keez

A lot has happened to the keyboardist/songwriter/producer born Brad Jones since he released his last album, 2015’s “Water Creatures.” At the time, he was still a member of Elektrapod, but would leave the band soon after and assemble his own group to perform songs from “Water Creatures.” After numerous lineup shifts, that group fell by the wayside, as well.

Jones has been hard at work on the follow-up to “Water Creatures” almost since that album’s release. The new record, “Dimensions,” will drop Feb. 14, and Jones is working on putting together a release show featuring drummer Derrick Strang, aka Belong Vancouver.

“We are using electronic drum pads, electronic drum set and using electronics as well as live (instruments),” Jones said. “Basically, we’ll do part of the set where we rotate in our chairs to play electronic, and then we rotate back to play organic (music).”

That’s a pretty good indicator of what to expect stylistically from “Dimensions,” as well, with Jones describing the sound as a mixture of “Sound Tribe Sector 9 meets Pretty Lights, kind of meets Medeski Martin & Wood in a way.” The album features a number of guest players, but was primarily recorded and produced solely by Jones (the same as “Water Creatures”).

Shows on the horizon

Les Schwab Amphitheater

Normally, Central Oregon’s largest outdoor venue doesn’t have much to report at this time of year. But the amphitheater got a jump-start on announcements back in November with British group Jethro Tull, which will celebrate 50 years of prog-rock flute solos at the venue on June 8 — part of a longer, summer anniversary tour. And fans can expect more announcements sooner rather than later: Venue director Marney Smith said at least two other shows confirmed before the end of the year. As always, Smith’s goal is to “try to span as many genres as possible.”

Also in November, the venue announced new safety measures for the upcoming season, including increased use of metal detectors and wands at the gates and a ban on all towels, blankets and yoga mats. The venue plans to offer a limited number of towels for concertgoers to pick up for free the night of a show on a first-come, first-served basis.

Volcanic Theatre Pub

Owner Derek Sitter announced last month that he has listed Volcanic Theatre Pub for sale after nearly five years of running the busy music, film and theater venue. But don’t expect Bend’s busiest theater to go dark: Sitter is booking acts through May, and the musical lineup is as eclectic as ever.

The first five months of 2018 include the returns of several VTP regulars, including oddball one-man-band That 1 Guy (Jan. 18); saxophone giant Karl Denson and his Tiny Universe band (Jan. 28) and Jerry Garcia Band survivor Melvin Seals with Terrapin Flyer (Feb. 15). Other highlights include L.A. indie-folk group The Brevet on Jan. 24; soul group Monophonics with locals Elektrapod on Feb. 7 (in conjunction with Parallel 44 Presents); and bluegrass legend Del McCoury and his Traveling McCourys on March 1.

Last year, Sitter brought a couple shows to the Domino Room as well, a trend that will continue with Reverend Horton Heat, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Big Sandy on Jan. 17.

The venue’s official five-year anniversary week runs Feb. 19 through 25. Along with poetry readings Feb. 19 and the return of the Hunting Film Tour on Feb. 24, musical events that week include VTP favorites Magic Beans and Yak Attack (Feb. 21); L.A. rockabilly/punk group The Blasters with Ha Ha Tonka (Feb. 22); Georgia one-man-band Zach Deputy (Feb. 23); and San Francisco-based songwriter Sean Hayes (Feb. 25).

Tower Theatre

Bend’s historic downtown theater has an equally eclectic winter/spring season planned when it comes to live music, starting with “Walking in Memphis” singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, who teams up with gospel legend The Blind Boys of Alabama on Jan. 21. Celebrated folksinger Judy Collins is next, returning to the venue Feb. 6 under promoter Red Light Productions.

More highlights: Yonder Mountain String Band mandolinist Jacob Jolliff will bring his eponymous band to the theater Feb. 19. (Jolliff replaced longtime Yonder Mountain member Jeff Austin in 2015; Austin’s solo band also performed at VTP last year.) Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro returns Feb. 22; folkie Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) brings his “Lonesome Traveler” show to the theater March 4; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen performs with a five-piece band March 11; Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Carl Palmer revives prog-rock classics March 18; and visionary Brooklyn guitarist Kaki King plays April 7.

And that’s only scratching the surface; visit towertheatre.org for more.

The Midtown complex

With help from local promoters such as Red Light Productions and Parallel 44 Presents, the three venues housed in the 
Midtown complex on Greenwood Avenue — the tiny Annex, mid-sized Domino Room and the 1,000-plus capacity Midtown Ballroom — will continue to be busy in 2018.

Announced shows for winter and spring include a number of doozies in all genres. Parallel 44 will bring southern California soul/funk combo Orgone back to the Domino Room on Jan. 30 with support from local theatric soul band Company Grand. The promoter will also bring one-time Bendite Matisyahu back to the Midtown Ballroom or Domino Room (depending on ticket sales) Feb. 15; as well as surfer-turned-songwriter Donovan Frankenreiter on March 7.

Parallel 44 and Red Light will team up for George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic; the funk institution plays the Midtown Ballroom on March 22. Red Light is also behind Gypsy punk group Gogol Bordello’s show at the Midtown Ballroom on Feb. 23, and is helping Midtown Events with 
Irish punks Flogging Molly on March 24.

For a full list of upcoming shows at Midtown, visit midtownballroom.com.

The best of the rest

Riverhouse Jazz at Riverhouse on the Deschutes and Jazz at the Oxford at the Oxford Hotel both run through April (Oxford’s season was extended due to Pink Martini singer China Forbes postponing her January show due to rotator cuff surgery). Visit riverhouse.com/jazz and jazzattheoxford.com, respectively, for more information.

Sisters Folk Festival canceled in 2017 for the first time due to smoky conditions, but the 2018 festival looks to be on track (an early bird ticket lottery was held in December). The lineup has yet to be announced, but fans can jump on the organization’s Winter Concert Series at Sisters High School, featuring Josh Ritter and Nicki Bluhm (Jan. 23); We Banjo 3 (Feb. 12); and Darlingside with Henry Jamison (March 14). Visit sistersfolkfestival.org for more information.

Speaking of Sisters, The Belfry will keep busy in the new year. The clear highlight coming up fast is country crossover singer-songwriter Lee Ann Womack, who will perform at the converted church Feb. 28. Visit belfryevents.com.

While it would seem to be a bit early for Bend’s myriad outdoor events and festivals, a little cold doesn’t keep Central Oregonians indoors. Oregon Winterfest (Feb. 16-18 in the Old Mill District) has announced ’90s rapper Coolio as its headliner (see Page 4, or visit oregonwinterfest.com). Crow’s Feet Commons will continue to host monthly Apres Ski Bash shows in its courtyard through March, with funky jam band Swatkins & The Positive Agenda slated for the next bash Jan. 12 (visit parallel44presents.com or crowsfeetcommons.com).