12 SOUND CHECK AUG. 3�10, 2022 WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Chris Baron’s tour comes to Eastern Oregon He has two shows in La Grande, and one in Enterprise By Lisa Britton Go! Magazine LA GRANDE — Chris Baron is packing in as many shows as possible this year — exactly opposite of how his tour schedule looked in 2020. He hit the road in February 2022, and in April 2022 he won fi rst place at the Tucson Folk Festival. “The rest of the schedule exploded,” he said. “People want live music again.” This week he has three shows in East- ern Oregon. The fi rst is Thursday, Aug. 4, for the Riverside Park concert series in La Grande. The music starts at 6 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 5, he plays at Terminal IF YOU GO Thursday, Aug. 4: Riverside Park, La Grande, 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5: Terminal Gravity, Enterprise, 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6: Side A Brewing, La Grande, 7:30 p.m. Portland-based Chris Baron will perform three shows in Eastern Oregon Gravity in Enterprise from 7-9 p.m. And on Saturday, Aug. 6, he’ll perform at Side A Brewing, 1219 Washington St. in La Grande, as part of the Side A-lley concerts. His show starts at 7:30 p.m. Baron has played for about 25 years, since he started a band in high school. His band mates, he said, were a year older and attended the University of Oregon while he was still a senior. “I’d go to band practice at the dorm,” he said. “And I’ve been playing ever since.” during the fi rst week of August. Side A/Contributed Photo He’s based in Portland, when he’s not touring up and down the West Coast. His shows are all west of the Rocky Moun- tains, and he tends to schedule gigs in places he’d like to see, or visit again. Sometimes he plays solo, and some- times as a band with the Two Secrets. Live shows are a nice change from his “live from home” concerts that he streamed from his shed during the pan- demic. “All my fans were called Shed Heads,” he said with a laugh. Now he’s back to a live audience. “It’s so much better to travel and inter- act with people,” he said. He describes his sound as “funky folk.” When solo, he plays acoustic guitar and kick drum. A full band adds an upright bass, cello and drums. For a full schedule of his shows, visit www.chrisbaronmusic.com. His touring season fi nishes in November with the Spokane Folk Festival. All Salon For You and More Vendor Store: - - - - - Home Decor Gifts, Souvenirs Jewelry Fresh Flowers Apparel - - - - Furnishings Leatherwork Woodcraft Quilt Work 12 N 8th Street, Elgin • 541-437-8305 Mon - Fri 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. • Sat 10:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.