(Update: The look of this post did not turn out how I’d hoped. I think I’ve fixed that. More importantly, a colleague reminded me that Breedlove Guitar Co. is holding a festival later this summer, so I’ve added those details below.)

For music fans, summer means one thing: festivals, festivals, festivals. After a fall, winter and spring of crowding into dark, sweaty bars and clubs for live music, there’s something about crowding into bright, sweaty pastures for live music that just sounds so refreshing.

Central Oregon has its share of music festivals, though the number in 2009 will be smaller than in past years. More on that later. For now, let’s focus on the present.

Festival season kicks off this coming summer solstice weekend with the Coyote Festival, held at Summer Lake Hot Springs near Paisley. That’s not exactly in Central Oregon, true, but we’re going to count it because there are a whole lot of local bands playing there, and a whole bunch of people from the area are heading down for the party.

The lineup is headlined on Friday by Taarka and Larry and His Flask, on Saturday by Moon Mountain Ramblers and David Jacobs-Strain, and on Sunday by Coyo. There’ll be three stages, fire dancers, workshops, drum circles and, of course, dips in the hot springs. Kids are welcome, too, and there are activities planned for them.

Tickets to the Coyote Festival for the entire weekend cost $50 and are available at Music Makers, The Cosmic Depot, Bend’s Indoor Garden Station and Ranch Records in Bend. There are also discounted rates for kids and for single-day passes. You can find a ton of info at www.coyotemusicfestival.com, or by calling 541-943-3931.

The fun doesn’t stop this weekend, though. After the jump is a list of music festivals happening within an easy drive, along with all the details you need to know.

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