The 4 Peaks Music Festival is fast approaching. This is officially from a press release, but it’s a good rundown of the schedule and activities going on.

Named one the best live concerts of 2007 by The Bulletin’s music critic Ben Salmon, The 4 Peaks Music Festival returns for second year to Central Oregon’s high desert this July 25-26 with even more music, camping, food, beverage, crafts and kids’ fun. The momentum means a bigger and better event, expanding the 20-acre venue to 80 acres to allow for more camping and a designated family camping area. The musical line-up also blossomed into 20 bands from last year’s 17 and includes highly regarded national touring bands, as well as local favorites.

Click through to read full schedule

:: THE BANDS – Two Days, Two Stages, 20
The 4 Peaks Music Festival has finalized its line-up and full weekend schedule, featuring two stages of performances by local acts and national touring bands. The official roster promises great shows for all ages:

Friday, July 25
Main Stage
12:35-1:25 State of Jefferson
2:35- 3:25 Brent Alan
4:45- 6:15 Blue Turtle Seduction
7:35- 9:20 Hot Buttered Rum
9:45- 11:00 Zilla

Almost Local Stage
11:00-12: 00 Opener TBD
12:15-12:35 North Channel
1:25- 2:25 The Mostest
3:35- 4:40 Acorn Project
6:25- 7:25 Poor Man’s Whiskey
9:20-9:35 Poor Man’s Whiskey

Saturday, July 26
Main Stage
10:00- 10:50 Blackstrap
12:10- 1:15 Moon Mountain Ramblers
2:30- 3:45 Flowmotion
5:00- 6:25 Poor Man’s Whiskey
8:05- 10:00 Tea Leaf Green
10:30- 11:30 Everyone Orchestra

Almost Locals Stage
11:00- 12:00 Rising Tide
1:25- 2:20 The Grain
3:55- 4:55 Izabella
6:35- 7:55 Delta Nove
10:05- 10:25 The Erins

:: ART
Internationally recognized music interpretative painters VORCAN will be making a stop at this year’s festival. Formed in 2006, VORCAN is a collaboration between two prolific artists, Vort and Cank, who started an art production company and abstract art consulting firm called in Philadelphia. They began collaboratively painting live music of all genres in a variety of venues and events throughout Philadelphia and New York City. Using the music and environment as inspiration, Vort and Cank, create fine art using collaborative imagery. VORCAN has painted over 250 events in The United States and across Europe.

"I can’t wait to paint Zilla again at 4 Peaks Music Festival," says VORCAN’s Chris Cank, "When we painted Zilla before, as the band played musicians throughout the festival began to join in. First Steve Kimock, and then Anahata, Sasha Butterfly Rose, and Lynx. There were other musicians joining in to become the Sonic Bloom Orchestra. The outcome was a waterfall of an incredible soundscape never to be replicated in history."

Check out VORCAN’s and website here: http://www.vorcan.com/

Local artist Chris "Buffalo" Folsom, known for his larger-than-life metal
sculpture creations, will also be working on-site at the festival. Folsom, whose work includes strikingly graceful animal sculptures such as his piece titled "Momma Bear and Cubs in Traffic Circle" located in a Madras roundabout, will provide festival-goers with the opportunity to watch fist hand as the artist creates innovative and original work.

More about Buffalo Folsom Sculpture: http://www.artbybuffalo.com/

::KIDS
There are plenty of fun, hands-on activities for the kids and the whole family to enjoy during the festival. Continuing from last year, kids are welcomed to create festival prayer flags which are hung on site at the festival. Fun stations for the kids to play in will be provided by local Bend businesses. such as Gigglybops, Kids Central and others. Storytelling, juggling, poi workshops, water balloons toss contests and black light mural paintings will also be available for kid’s entertainment. Parents and adults can settle in and relax at The Dragon Lounge and have some maté tea, soda, iced coffee, beer, wine, or cocktails while their children have fun hula-hooping with the best, Molly Hogan, and enjoying the kid friendly environment. Here’s the schedule:

Friday, July 25
11am- 4pm: Prayer Flags! Make your mark on the Festival by creating your own prayer flag. There will also be mask making, chalk art and fun crafts for the kids.
12 pm: Juggling & Poi Workshop with Planetary Poi and the Spinsters
1 pm: Kids Central leads Child’s Play with Todd LaFrenz and Gigglybops
3 pm: Stilting for the kids, made easy with Mike Reuse from Fireflight

Saturday, July 26
11 am – 4 pm: Prayer Flags! Masks! Paintings and crafts
12 pm: Wand Making Workshop
1 pm: Kids Central leads Child’s Play with Todd LaFrenz and Gigglybops
2 pm: Hula Hoops Workshop with Molly Hogan
3 pm: Hoops Jam takes the dance bowl in the amphitheatre
4pm: Kids Parade through the Venue!

:: THE FESTIVAL
The 4 Peaks Music Festival is named after the four Cascade mountain peaks that form a picturesque backdrop at the venue: Broken Top, South, Middle and North Sister. The festival is a self-contained village that includes a kid’s creative area for young festival goers. Part of the profits will benefit a local nonprofit organization (to be determined).

"We have continued to receive positive feedback from last years festival attendees," says Eric Walton, a board member and one of the festival’s founders. "This year we have bigger headliners and an expanded venue, including more camping and a designated family camping area. With that, we anticipate doubling our attendance this year to more than 3,000. The music and venue will make a great family getaway for both visitors and locals to enjoy together."

:: THE LOCATION
Central Oregon is best known for its diverse recreational opportunities on both the Deschutes River and in the Deschutes National Forest, world class climbing at Smith Rock, endless mountain bike trails, rivers and lakes for boating, kayaking and fishing as well as a vibrant downtown with shops, restaurants and art galleries.

:: THE TICKETS & DETAILS
Early Bird tickets are already sold out, but two-day passes are available. One-day passes are being added for those who only want to sample the festival for a single day only. Two-day tickets, which include camping and a weekend of fun events, are $88.75. Ticket prices at the door will climb up again to $98.50. Single-day passes for Friday are $40, while Saturday tickets are $65.

For details, visit www.4peaksmusic.com. Tickets are available at Ranch Records on Wall St. in downtown Bend, or at www.frontgatetickets.com. Vendors interested in reserving booth space should contact Will Nash at 541-788-0314 or will@4peaksmusic.com. The 4 Peaks Music Festival information hotline is 541-382-8064.