The Talent Show Experience
The Talent Show is an annual, FREE, outdoor music festival the last weekend of June in the downtown heart of Talent, OR. Featuring folk, singer-songwriters, cover bands, jazz, world music, blues, bluegrass, rock, and more across multiple stages along an easily-walked route, this experience does not disappoint. Dozens of local and regional acts bring fresh sounds year after year to make The Talent Show a must-experience event.
Create your own vibe: camp out at one favorite stage, bop between a couple, or keep moving to catch a bit of every band—the choice is yours!
Feeling snacky or need some dinner? Grab a bite & a drink or plan a crawl through Talent’s charming local restaurants, wineries, & bars OR snag a picnic to take to Old Town or Commons Park from a food truck.
In lieu of tickets, bring tips for the bands.
“Great event! Looking forward to 2026!”
“This music festival is a super fun idea for enriching the already fun experience of living in Talent, we had an awesome time!.”
1st Annual Talent Show Music Festival Draws 800+ Attendees New Music Festival Celebrates Successful Launch in Talent, OR.
The inaugural Talent Show Music Festival exceeded expectations on Saturday, June 28, 2025, drawing over 800 music lovers to downtown Talent for a free, five-hour celebration of local and regional talent. The event featured 29 performing groups across seven outdoor stages located at local businesses and Historic Talent Town Hall, creating a vibrant musical circuit throughout the heart of the community.
The festival's "choose-your-own-adventure" format encouraged attendees to explore downtown Talent, hopping between venues to experience diverse musical genres ranging from bluegrass and folk to electronic pop and indie rock. The walkable event circuit included stages at Trium Wines, Talent Town Hall, Art Bop Beer Co., Talent Maker City, Siskiyou Mountain Club, Talent Club, and Goldback & Iruai Wine Room/The Talent Gallery.
Community Response Overwhelmingly Positive
Musicians and attendees alike praised the festival's organization and community atmosphere.
"What a great festival this was! Wayside View really enjoyed the atmosphere in town and especially the kind folks we entertained at the Talent Club. A huge thanks to Ana and her supporters, as well as our fellow performers!" said Andrea Matthews, one half of Wayside View Duo.
Fellow performer Somer Matthews echoed the sentiment:
"I had so much fun as a performer and spectator. Thank you for the opportunity!"
Attendee Mike Moran highlighted the event's successful execution:
"This was a lot of fun and a big success. So well organized and the variety of music was great. Congrats on an incredible first year of many more."
Building on Success
The 2025 festival built upon a successful 2022 pilot event that drew over 1,000 people, demonstrating the community's appetite for accessible, local music programming. Festival producer Ana Byers expressed her gratitude for the community's enthusiastic participation.
"A HUGE thank you to all the performers who helped usher in this new event and to all the folks who came out to participate. The streets of Talent, OR were full of joy - and that's the whole point!" said Byers, founder of Ana Byers Consulting.
Diverse Musical Lineup
The festival showcased an impressive range of musical talent, from family bands like Opal & the Swallowtails—featuring 11-year-old fiddler Opal and her family—to established acts like The Rosalees, who brought fresh bluegrass and roots music from Southern Oregon. Other notable performances included electronic pop artist yarro light, outlaw country blues performer Darrin Wayne, and the Sacramento-based vintage rock pop trio Pomegranate Sunday.
Community Partnership Model
The Talent Show's success was built on strong partnerships with local businesses, who hosted stages and welcomed festival-goers throughout the day. The event encouraged attendees to support local restaurants and food trucks, creating economic benefits beyond the festival hours.
The festival's family-friendly format, with nearby Old Town Park and Commons Park providing additional space for picnics and children's activities, reinforced its role as a true community celebration.
Looking Forward
With the successful launch of the Talent Show Music Festival, organizers are already looking toward future events. The overwhelming positive response from both performers and attendees suggests this new tradition will continue to grow and serve as a model for community-driven cultural programming in Southern Oregon.
FAQs
I’m interested in participating in the 2026 Talent Show. What should I do?
Any interested musician/music group can fill out the musician application here. The application is opens January 15, 2026.
Can other performers besides musicians invited to apply?
Since we are just getting our feet under us, we are going to keep it streamlined and focus on musicians and music groups. We definitely will keep the option open in the future after we’ve got a good foundation set.
Is this an event for vendors & how can I apply?
There are 2 food truck spots, 1 ‘treat’ vendor and 1 n/a beverage vendor spot, all of which are full! Email if interested about being a vendor in 2026.
Who is playing at the 2025 Talent Show?
The 2026 Talent Show Music Festival line up will be announced April 15, 2025 at the top of our homepage. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to be the first to receive the announcement.
Where are the music stages located?
Music stages are located outside, throughout downtown Talent. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to be the first to receive the 2026 event map announcement.
Is this a dog-friendly event?
Leashed dogs are welcome in all open public spaces (e.g. sidewalks, parks, outdoor seating at restaurants). This event is at the end of June; please be aware that pavement temperatures are often 20 degrees (or more) hotter than the ambient temperature - make sure your pup has access to water and doesn’t burn their paws!
Can my business sponsor this event?
Yes! Sponsorship is welcome - especially as we work to get this event foundation set for a long, successful future. Any sponsorship support will help provide event marketing, maps, and signage. Email Ana Byers to find out more.
2026 Talent Show Artist Application is open January 15, 2026!
We are looking for musicians of all sorts to participate in this FREE music festival.
Performance spaces are spread along a walk-about loop throughout downtown Talent, creating a vibrant ‘block-party’ feel.
Performances spaces are outdoors.
Acoustic or minimally-amplified performances are required. Minimal-to-no sound support is provided.
All ages and skill levels are welcome to apply.
Chairs, ice water, & electricity provided.
Artist stipend info coming in January, 2026.
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2025 Talent Show Stages & Lineups
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![Facade of a building named TRIUM, with a red circular logo at the top, surrounded by trees, and two windows on either side of the entrance.]()
Stage #1: Trium Wines
203 E. Main St
2 - 3 pm - More or Les Paul (Danceable, bluesy, rockin’ all original)
3:15 - 4:15 pm - Carson & Mina (Folk music with influence from a variety of genres; featuring acoustic guitar, banjo, violin and vocals)
4:30 - 5:45 pm - Darrin Wayne (Outlaw country blues)
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![White wooden town hall building with stairs leading to double doors, a sign that reads 'Town Hall, Talent, Oregon, Est. 1900,' and a tower with a bell, surrounded by green trees.]()
Stage # 2: Talent Town Hall
206 E. Main St
2 - 2:30 pm - Mike Layfield (All instrumental mandolin rock & electric guitar jazz/blues/surf)
2:45 - 3:30 pm - yarro light (Modern electronic pop and dance music somewhere between a singer songwriter and a dj)
3:45 - 4:45 pm - Jeremiah Curran (The force of Bob Dylan’s “protest years” and “moral conviction” of Johnny Cash’s latter years)
4:45 - 5:30 pm - The Power Outages*
5:30 - 6:15 pm - Somer Dawn (Acoustic and Ukulele originals and covers ranging from pop to country to rock.)
6:15 - 7 pm - The Power Outages*
*Catch The Power Outages on the Star Properties front porch.
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![A blue building with large windows, a tree in front, and a wooden fence along the sidewalk. The sky is clear and blue.]()
Stage #3: Art Bop Beer Co.
102 Talent Ave.
2 - 3:30 pm - Krister With Fast Train (A variety of easy listening, soft classic rock, blues, R&B, funk, originals)
3:45 - 4:30 pm - Cool Cat Funk (Funky Bumpkin with a lil’ country folk.)
4:45 - 5:15 pm - Translucence (Covers & original songs by an Artic Monkeys- inspired rock band)
6 - 8 pm - The Rosalees (Fresh bluegrass, old-time, and roots music from the hills of Southern Oregon)
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![Modern commercial building with a mix of wooden and light-colored siding, featuring a sign that reads 'TALENT MAKER CITY' with a paper airplane logo, small trees along the sidewalk, and a clear blue sky with mountains in the background.]()
Stage #4: Talent Maker City
109 Talent Ave.
2 - 3 pm - This Machine Starts Automatically
3:15 - 4:15 pm - Bluebirds ( A vocal-forward, four-piece, retro pop band that writes original acoustic-electric, high tempo songs.)
4:30 - 5:00 pm - Opal & the Swallowtails (A family band led by 11 year old Opal on fiddle, her 9 year old brother Ira on ukulele, her dad Rafe on guitar, and her grandpa Miguel on percussion. Featuring a lively blend of upbeat fiddle and folk songs from a variety of genres including Irish, Americana, folk and rock 'n roll.)
5:15 - 6:15 pm - Pomegranate Sunday (A 3-piece band from Sacramento with a vintage rock pop feel! Mostly original music with The Kinks, Beatles, and a bit of Hand Habits vibes.)
6:30 - 7 pm - Klaus (Instrumental, lowkey/midtempo indie pop rock.)
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![White building with a metal roof, front porch, and a wooden door, next to a large green tree and a street lamp, under a clear blue sky.]()
Stage #5: Siskiyou Mountain Club
106 Talent Ave.
2- 2:30 pm - Julia Funk (Indie, Folk, Country, Acoustic Guitar and Vocals Joni Mitchell Covers)
2:45 - 3:15 pm - The Inspirational Rapper (Inspirational hip hop for all ages. Thought provoking conscious lyrics and homemade beats.)
3:30 - 4:15 pm - Ethan McAllister (Acoustic covers of classic folk songs.)
4:30 - 5:15 pm - The Bill Scholer Band (Original blues, funk, rock and jazz-based music.)
5:30 - 7 pm - Gil René (Acoustic Yacht Rock.)
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![A blue building with a wooden porch, a prominent green tree in front, and a sign that reads 'Willie's Pool Hall'. There are some decorative canopies above the entrance area.]()
Stage # 6: Talent Club
114 Talent Ave.
2:15 - 3:15 pm - Victoria Lawton (Folky-ish mix of covers ranging from Lana del Rey, to Stevie Nicks, to Rainbow Kitten Surprise and originals in Spanish and English.)
3:30 - 4 pm - Larry Lacerte (Roots americana and instrumental guitar.)
4:15 - 5:15 pm - Wayside View (Guitar and bass duo with vocals playing soft classics and originals.)
5:30 - 7 pm - Stefan Schachter (Ambient acoustic grooves.)
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![Exterior view of a small, single-story commercial building with beige walls and red trim, black framed glass garage door in the center, and two red door entrances on each side, a small tree, a streetlamp, and blue sky with mountains in the background.]()
Stage # 7: Goldback & Iruai Wine Room/ The Talent Gallery
111 Talent Ave.
2 - 2:45 pm - Rebekka Swan (Old-timely swing and jazz with ukulele and drums. Sweet tunes for a nice summer evening.)
3 - 4 pm - Tatjana Juliette (Folk-indie style original songs about nature, love, and positive messages featuring occasional clarinet, trombone, bass, guitar, and ukulele.)
4:15 - 5:15 pm - Angry Baby Records presents Havoco ‘Jay’ Ledesma (Acoustic guitar and vocal performance of rock n roll, classic rock, and punk songs with a Spanish classical influence.)
5:30 - 6:30 pm - Comic Ausy (Acoustic indie blues.)
