Run Oregon loves running – that’s no surprise. But we also love the Pacific Northwest and all that it has to offer. Running is a part of us, but it does not fully define us. In our new “Make a Day of It” feature, we aim to showcase some great local non-running events and highlight where to run and how to make the most of your experience! The next installment is this summer’s amazing tour of the Avett Brothers (with guest Lake Street Dive)!
First the running:
Running around the Fairgrounds is not exactly the best location. However, get there early enough and put in miles on the trails and the three connected parks in downtown Salem – Riverfront Park, Wallace Marine Park, and Minto-Brown Island Park. There is seriously no limit to the amount of miles you could put in. There is a looped trail around Riverfront that is just about a mile (with plenty of Strava routes available), and if you head over the Union Street Bridge into Wallace Marine Park, you can add another 1.5 – 2.5 miles. This is generally the route that most 5k’s in downtown Salem utilize. However, with the addition of the Peter Courtney Bridge (affectionately called the “Taco Bridge”), you can add dozens and dozens of miles on the paved and dirt (now mud) trails in Minto-Brown. The possibilities are endless!
If you end up heading over for the Bend show, it’s simple and easy to put in some miles on the paved trails around the Mill District area. This is also a launching point to any number of other trails and road running, so have at it.
Details:
As a runner, I am very typically listening to music while I run. There are even some songs that, whenever they come up on my playlists, I am transported to a time and location that I always associate with said song. Even outside of the running sphere, the same thing is true of certain musical artists. I used to listen to 90’s radio country when I was in high school – from Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw to Shania Twain and Alan Jackson. I had a little bit of a musical awakening when I hit college and found indie rock and hardcore music that shaped my early 20’s. I didn’t really delve back into a twangier country scene until I stumbled upon the album I And Love And You by The Avett Brothers. I was floored with it all. Though it had an alt-Country flair to it, it definitely wasn’t in the style I had listened to in my teens. The lyrics were incredible. The harmonies were on point. The musicianship was fantastic. There were emotional highs and lows in their songs that seemed “real” and diverted from the standard pop-country tropes.
And then I saw them live.
I had heard that they were known for their live shows, but it wasn’t until they came to the LB Day Amphitheater in July of 2011 that I got to experience it first hand. At that time, I was new to the Avett Brothers scene and only knew a handful of songs. But even despite recognizing a small amount of their catalog, I was both mesmerized and stunned by just how energetic their show was. They didn’t have super fancy lights or effects – they just brought energy and fed off the crowd for songs both fast and slow. I don’t even know how to fully explain it – it was just such a memorable experience. So when I heard that they were returning after 8 years (I don’t remember them being back in the Capitol City since then – though they have been at Edgefield quite a few times), I know I had to go.
Shows kick off August 8th in Sandpoint, ID and lands at the Gorge on the 10th, Salem on the 11th, and Bend on the 13th before heading out of the PNW. Even if you have only heard a few Avett Brothers songs (or even if you are brand new to their music), going to their live show is a fantastic option.
Salem Tour Stop:
Date: August 11, 2019
Location: LB Day Amphitheater
Cost: $35.00, $45.00, $55.00, $65.00 and $85.00
Bend Tour Stop:
Date:August 13, 2019
Location: Les Schwab Amphitheater
Cost: $35.00, $45.00, $55.00, $65.00 and $85.00
