It's Back. Haystack Returns!

Last year we launched Haystack Music Fest in North Bend and we had an absolute great time. One night, 17 venues, Americana music spilling out all over downtown, and the crowd that wandered from stage to stage like they'd been doing it for years. It was great. So we are doing it again. Just a little bigger than last year, and with one big change: this year we're going Friday night. haystackmusicfest.com

The second annual North Bend Haystack Festival is happening Friday, July 10th, 2026, from 6 PM to midnight, all over downtown North Bend. Same one-wristband-gets-you-everything deal. Same rootsy, folksy, honest, dustier kind of music. More of it than ever.

Why Friday This Year?

Honest answer? We are experimenting. For the past 15 years we have done all our festivals on Saturdays. We thought since it's summer time, we'd give it a try. We'll see how it feels. That's kind of the whole spirit of this thing. Hey I'm a jazz musician. So let's just try stuff, see what the community responds to, do more of what works.

Bigger, and a Whole Lot of New Faces

This year we've got 18 venues and +70musicians in Coffee shops, bars, storefronts, distilleries, a Chevy dealership, a Pilates studio, etc. If it has four walls, it looks like a venue.

A few favorites are back from last year Tinkham Road, Great American Trainwreck, Greenwood Music Collective, Ranger & the Re-Arrangers. Here are some more names on the lineup;

Casey Freedom Band
Willow & Wood — Nashville-via-Seattle folk-noir
RJ Mercer & Jared Elmore
Steve Aliment & Annie O'Neill
Amy Laybourn Band — an all-female lineup showcasing local women in music
Wes Weddell & Alicia Healey
Jon Hyde Band
sunny blue
Abby K with Chris Klimecky
Monte Lynch — our own North Bend legend
Henhouse Ramblers + Jim Hanna
Salt Horse
Birdie Fenn Cent
The Haystack Hootenanny featuring the Oh G's! — an all-acoustic, foot-stompin' jam where you're welcome to bring your own instrument
...and a whole lot more

Folk, blues, bluegrass, alt-country, hot club swing, singer-songwriter, old-time clawhammer — it's all here, and it all belongs here, in a small town, under Mount Si, in a valley like this one.

Full schedule, venue by venue, is up at haystackmusicfest.com/schedule.

Still Doing This With Dave

I'm still not doing this alone. Our board, around 30 volunteers, and my old friend David Hill Jr. are all back in the mix. Dave's playing again too, with Greenwood Music Collective, closing out the night at the North Bend Theatre. We had a blast last year, and somehow he agreed to do it all over again. Plus we have Emily Hurd running all the details with JazzClubsNW. Way better run this year. That's exciting.

Why We Keep Doing This?

Same reason as last year, really. I live here. So we keep putting on live music events, all year long actually. Music is part of who we are. Music that connects people. Music that tells stories. Music that supports the next generation of players coming up behind us.

That's the whole point. All proceeds support music education and performance through JazzClubsNW and the Boxley Music Fund. So when you buy a wristband, you're not just buying a night out, you're supporting live music programming and education all year long. That matters to me. It's the reason any of this is worth the effort.

The Details

When: Friday, July 10, 2026
Time: 6 PM to Midnight
Where: All over downtown North Bend
Ticket HQ: North Bend Theatre, 125 Bendigo Blvd N. Will call, wristband pickup, and day-of sales open at 5 PM.
Tickets:
- Adults: $45 presale / $60 at the door
- Students: $35 presale / $50 at the door
- Order in advance and save $15
Good to know: One wristband gets you into all 18 venues for the whole night. Two venues are 21+, and one goes 21+ after 10 PM — everything else is all-ages.
Buy tickets & full info: haystackmusicfest.com

Are You In?

Last year we didn't know what this would turn into. We still don't, totally, but it turned into something worth doing twice. The venues are booked, the posters are printed, the bands are tuned up, and this time we're starting your weekend instead of ending it.

Come downtown. Grab a wristband. Walk around, follow your ears, and let some band you've never heard of become your new favorite. Bring a friend. Bring your curiosity. Bring your love for live music.

Let's do it again!

– Danny