This week we released the second episode of Deschutes River Recordings, featuring Blitzen Trapper’s Eric Earley. Eric performed “Up on Cripple Creek” right along the Metolius River, a tributary of the Deschutes, located not far from our home base in Bend, Oregon.

Eric, a native Oregonian and Portland resident, has always had close ties to the river. Tucked away in Oregon’s southeast corner is the Donner und Blitzen River, the inspiration for his band’s name. German soldiers crossed the remote river during a thunderstorm and aptly named it Donner und Blitzen (thunder and lightning). Before his success, Eric bounced around different rehearsal spaces, staying with friends, and was, as he describes, “basically homeless.” Often, he found himself wandering along the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, which inspired the story for “Black River Killer” off the album Furr. The catchy ballad recounts a murderer’s journey from the Sunset Strip up to Oregon. In another song off the band’s latest album American Goldwing, Eric croons, “I’m weary from this river, it flows far, but never nearer to my home,” challenging the notion of the river as place of respite.

Over the last six months we’ve been working hard to create the Deschutes River Recordings, a unique partnership between musician and cause. We’re dedicated to keeping the Deschutes River healthy and clean and to supporting independent music in the Northwest, so this summer we invited Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats, Laura Gibson, and Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper to Central Oregon to perform river-inspired songs along our beloved waterway.

We’re incredibly proud of this collaboration and we’re thrilled to present you with the first in the Deschutes River Recording series: Eric D. Johnson performing “Ballad of Easy Rider.” The original song, performed by The Byrds and written by Roger McGuillan and Bob Dylan, is upbeat and lighthearted, but Eric slows way down on his epic ballad. Contemplative and almost spiritual, this song echoes our deep connection and respect for the river.

We are really getting excited for our 2nd annual Street Fare coming up next Thursday. Have you seen the amazing list of Portland food carts and indie bands that we were able to recruit? And all for a good cause! Proceeds benefit Morrison Child and Family Services and the entry fee is only $10, which includes your 1st food & beer taster or a full 16oz beer!

Disjecta's art and performance space in the Kenton district of Portland is sponsored in part by Deschutes Brewery, and this October they have a whole host of events coming up. Up next is Culture Machine. Click here for an events listing.

Portland's vegan Sweetpea Bakery has the Food Network courti

Well kids, we're not sure that the Pickathon Indie Roots Music Festival is quite the right title for what is an extraordinary, and a simply riotous collection of some of the best independent music artists around.

The Ampersand Gallery & Bookshop, at 2916 NE Alberta Street, Portland, OR., has a June show featuring these amazing hand-colored Japanese photographs.