This weekend, the Century Center in Bend is transforming into a little slice of New Orleans with the Volcanic Funk Fest, which I previewed in this week's issue.

The festival, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, features some big names in the funk world, including Big Sam's Funky Nation, Orgone, Cast of Clowns and plenty others. Also, hit this link to hear the funk-tastic radio spot for the event. Pretty funny.

Tickets are still on sale, but we're giving away a pair of passes to the festival this week. All you have to do is go to our Facebook page, like the hell out of us (or just like us) and then comment on the posting about this blog.

Winners will be notified on Friday at noon via direct message on Facebook. If you don't plan on checking to see if you won on Friday, please don't enter!

I just came across this new video for Larry and His Flask's "Call it What You Will" (off their amazing new album -- but it now) and figured I should share it. After all, this is the Summer of the Flask, as I'm calling it, seeing as how the band is tearing it up on the Warped Tour and getting bigger than ever.

It was shot at Rise Up International's headquarters here in Bend this spring and directed by Wes Coughlin, a local filmmaker.

In this week's paper, I laid out the history of the 4 Peaks Music Festival, which makes a triumphant return to glory this weekend out in Tumalo. Here's the full lineup.

Festival organizers just posted this photo of the stage, which, as you'll notice, features a sweet shade structure. Music festival veterans will know that shade can save your skin, brain and ability to have fun at an outdoor fest like this.

Tickets are still available for 4 Peaks, which begins tomorrow at 4pm and extends through Sunday morning. Tickets include camping, which you should consider for this intimate

I would guess that there were at least a few Bent Blog readers down at the Bite of Bend on Saturday night to see the thunderously funky set from Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk.

The New Orleans band's set struck me as one of the most impressive shows -- especially free shows -- I've seen in Bend in a long while. Dumpstaphunk had the audience wrapped around its finger and had a hell of a time making them dance to create a party atmosphere I haven't seen too often. So yeah, it was impressive, to say the least.

But enough of my blathering. Check out the band for yourself.

Tomorrow, Central Oregon's biggest food and drink festival, The Bite of Bend, gets underway with damn near every type of cuisine and beverage you can think of. And while the food, beer and wine -- in addition to the Top Chef's competition -- garner plenty of attention, The Bite has become increasingly respected over the last few years for its eclectic, innovative and FREE music line up.

Headlining the event is Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, giving Bendites a taste of the New Orleans funk they love so much. But the rest of Saturday's schedule is also looking strong.

11am - Bill Keale

12:30pm - Jazz Bros

2pm- Lino

Dinner At The Thompsons is playing at Madhappy Lounge on Thursday, June 30 and you could go! For free! With a date! Or with one of these exclamation marks!

The French-American pair is on tour in support of their second album, Off the Grid. Check them out:

The hipster on the turntables at the beginning and end of the video looks like Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore.

How to win: go to our Facebook page, like us and then like or comment on the post about the contest. We'll enter you into the drawing and notify winners on Friday afternoon (June 24).

Last night, Brett Dennen and opening act Dawes opened up the Clear Summer Nights concert series at the Athletic Club of Bend and BENT blogger Ethan Maffey (and editor of eightythreemusic.com) was there to capture all of Dennen's goofy dances and pelvic thrusts with his camera.

More photos after the jump.

Tomorrow, Rise Up International is celebrating the longest spring ever with their Spring Jamboree concert at the Century Center. And there are some tickets to be won!

The outdoor show -- on the Century Center's spacious outdoor stage -- kicks off at 4pm and goes into the night. The Autonomics, the powerhouse trio that left Bend and are now playing in Portland, are celebrating the release of their impressive new EP, Hot Doom, which you can sample below. They hit the stage at 8pm tomorrow.

Headlining the night is Larry and His Flask in their only local show of the summer before they head out on the Warped tour. They'll be playing around 9pm.

Here's the rest of the lineup: Avery James, The Hillandales, Capture The Flag and Third Seven.

To enter your name into the drawing for the tickets...just e-mail [email protected] and tell them what you're most excited about for tomorrow's show. They'll draw names and notify the winners.

For all you Snoop Dogg fans who cannot seem to get enough of your favorite rapper, you may get the chance to see him on TV weekly.

Snoop Dogg has proposed his own TV show, which according to Paste Magazine, will find “America’s hottest hood artists.” The proposed search-for-the-best-rap-artist show will be competition style and similar to well known shows such as, American Idol and X Factor.

However, all you fans and potential rap stars out there may have to wait a little bit since the show has yet to be picked up by a network.  The New York Post reported, “Oxygen, Bravo and NBC aren't biting but that E! and MTV have shown interest. Sources say Snoop is touting that the show could be as popular as Fox’s “American Idol,” but TV execs are not convinced.” While networks consider the potential of the show, Snoop Dogg is diligently working to find a panel of hip-hop icons to judge the competition and mentor the show’s artists.

Let the rap battles begin!

I apologize that I'm a day late getting this out to you, but it might be due to the fact that I've been busy salivating over this newly released lineup for Portland's MusicFestNW.

We mentioned this festival in the Summer Concert Guide a few weeks ago, but the lineup had yet to be set in stone. But now, organizers have announced that Band of Horses, Iron and Wine, the Kills, Butthole Surfers, Explosions in the Sky, Blind Pilot, Blitzen Trapper and plenty, plenty others are on the bill for this 5-day festival taking place throughout Portland between September 7 an 11.

Here's a look at the entire lineup.

And there is still some time to buy a discounted wristband to the concert series. Presale password is mfnw.