Experience summer vibes at these festivals and concerts from Reedsport to Brookings.
Summer is a great time to spend time on the Southern Oregon Coast for its glorious sunshine and outdoor fun. It’s also the season of music festivals and concerts, where you can listen to bluegrass in a boathouse or classical piano in a park. Here’s what you need to know to chill out with sweet sounds or jam out at a local pub in 2025.
Two Great Weeks at the Oregon Coast Music Festival
For two weeks every summer, Coos Bay transforms into a city of music thanks to the Oregon Coast Music Festival, an annual showcase of music — primarily of the orchestral and jazz variety — staged in venues across town. Founded in 1978, this celebration has grown into one of the most popular cultural events on the Oregon Coast, drawing in upwards of 5,000 music lovers to venues across Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston and Bandon. The 47th festival will be held July 12-26, 2025, and promises to be as enticing as ever. After a free midday concert band kickoff at Mingus Park in Coos Bay, enjoy a free jazz workshop for musicians or a show by The Sugar Beets, an eight-piece acoustic act that’s been gracing Oregon stages for over three decades. Head to the landscaped gardens at coastal Shore Acres State Park — just down the coast from Charleston — for a performance by Portland band Family Mystic, or head to the nearby Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Boathouse in Charleston for a concert by celebrated Coloradoan bluegrass trio Stillhouse Junkies. The festival wraps with an evening led by musical director Martin Majkut, who will conduct classics from composers like Wagner and Stravinsky.
Other Summer Music Festivals and Concerts
While the Oregon Coast Music Festival may be the best-known event in the region, there’s plenty more music to be had this summer. Port Orford’s Redfish Music Festival (July 28-Aug. 4, 2025) features orchestral performances at venues across town as music education for budding artists of high school and college age.
In Coos Bay, Music on the Bay brings artists across genres to Mingus Park on Thursday evenings in the summer. When it rains, shows are simply brought indoors. Reedsport has a similar Thursday event, Riverfront Rhythms, held at the Umpqua Discovery Center. In 2025 concerts are scheduled for July 10, July 24 and Aug. 7.
On Sept. 6-7, 2025, Shore Acres State Park will host the only South Coast performances of pianist Hunter Noack’s acclaimed series “IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild.” In this immersive music-in-nature experience held in national and state parks throughout the country, Noack sets up his 9-foot Steinway grand piano and plays beautiful pieces in beautiful locations, and the audience listens through wireless headphones.
Located at the Salmon Harbor Marina in Winchester Bay, the Blue Box Seafood Company food cart serves up freshly caught seafood specialties at its family- and dog-friendly site. Stay for a glass of local beer and wine and enjoy live musical acts all summer long.In Gold Beach, Legends Fest wraps up the summer and kicks off fall with live music and plenty of fun for the whole family. In 2025 festivities will take place Sept. 26-27. In Brookings the American Music Festival Summer Concert Series brings free live-music performances to Azalea Park from late June until early September.
Live Music Throughout the Seasons
In Port Orford, Mr. Ed’s Espresso & Juice Underground Pub is a gathering place for musicians and music lovers, offering a solid lineup of shows ranging from dance parties to folk and rock concerts. Performances are live-streamed, so even if you can’t make it to a show, you can still watch from the comfort of your couch.
In Bandon The Sprague Community Theater is a great place to hear live music throughout the year. For details about upcoming events, check the website of production company Bandon Showcase, which brings in touring artists from around the world.Coos Bay has plenty of spots with great music, including local hot spot 7 Devils Brewery, where you can pair live music with hearty food and craft beer. The Egyptian Theatre is a century-old theater that’s best known for movies but also has concerts, karaoke and more.
in Arts & Culture, Events
