Go Hog Wild Pig Out In The Park Offers Another Year Of Great Music And Terrific Food

Here are six of the most beautiful words in the English language:

Barbecue.

Blues.

Rock.

Summer.

Cheap.

Yakisoba.

OK, that last one isn’t exactly English, but you get the idea.

Pig Out in the Park, which opens today at Riverfront Park, combines all six of these elements.

No wonder this annual restaurant fair is Spokane’s most popular outdoor festival, and probably one of Spokane’s most popular events period. Last year, Pig Out dished out a record 135,276 servings of food, which averages out to 27,000 meals a day. If you don’t think that’s a lot, just try to find a spot at one of the picnic tables during peak hours.

The big attraction, as always, is food served at cheap prices. Nothing goes for more than $5.50, and most items are cheaper than that. This year, the number of booths has gone down from 40 to 35 in order to leave more open space for strolling and eating, but the variety still appears to be strong.

Among the more unusual items: Crawfish gumbo from Bayou Brewing; the Caribbean barbecue sandwich from Leonardo’s Bistro; Cajun fettucini from Rock City; blackened beef tips with goat cheese from Salty’s, and mesquite-grilled Jamaican chicken salad from Surf City Squeeze.

These are in addition to the old favorites, such as the Japanese fried noodles (yakisoba) from the Mustard Seed; the Philly Steak Sandwich from Li’l Bit of Philly; the barbecued ribs from both the Country Cousin and Finnerty’s Red Lion, and various burgers, tacos, hot dogs and pizzas from numerous sources. (Check out restaurant reviewer Leslie Kelly’s top picks in Friday’s Weekend section.)

The music is the other main attraction, and this year the lineup includes a fine schedule of Northwest bands and national acts. Here’s a rundown of some of the headlining acts:

Paul deLay Band - 8 p.m. tonight. This Portland blues artist recently got out of the federal pen on drug charges, but that three-year-plus vacation didn’t diminish his reputation as one of the great blues-harp players anywhere.

The Byrds Celebration - 8 p.m. Friday. Think of this band as more of a Byrds tribute band than a real Byrds reunion. It contains none of the original members, although it emerged from the controversial Byrds reincarnation started by Michael Clarke in 1988 (the other original members sued him over it). Clarke, from Spokane, was the original Byrds drummer who died in 1993.

This band operates “under Clarke’s wishes to carry on,” according to their press material. It contains Skip Battin, who joined the Byrds for four years in the latter part of their career, and former members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

They play Byrds’ hits as well as new material.

Brewer and Shipley - 3 p.m. Saturday. This folk-rock duo is best known for 1971’s hit song “One Toke Over the Line,” a ditty notable for slipping marijuana references past the FCC.

They disappeared immediately from the public consciousness, but they actually have a long legacy of writing and performing acoustic folk. Recent reviewers have praised their musicianship and musical integrity.

Elvin Bishop - 8 p.m. Saturday. This Bay Area blues guitar hero is probably the biggest name of the Pig Out lineup. He is a graduate of the legendary Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and he has jammed with Hendrix, Clapton and B.B. King. He hit the charts in the ‘70s with the classic-rock staple, “Fooled Around and Fell In Love.” His latest album for Alligator, “Don’t Let the Bossman Get You Down,” was called a “rocking tour de force” by Rolling Stone.

Jr. Cadillac - 1 p.m. Sunday. This Seattle band has been the Northwest’s premiere oldies band for 25 years. They play covers as well as their own original good-time material.

Ronna Reeves - 8 p.m. Sunday. This Texas country singer and mainstay of The Nashville Network and CMT has had hits with “The More I Learn (The Less I Understand About Love),” “Never Let Him See Me Cry” and “My Weakness.” Her latest album is “After the Dance.”

Many fine local acts also will be appearing, including the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, Staley-Thomsen-Flick and Alex Bedini. All of the music is free, even the big national acts.

As always, there will be an adult beverage garden serving beer and wine.

So, as Pig Out in the Park heads into its 13th year, even the name is beginning to sound lovable. Maybe it’s the influence of that cute “Babe” movie, which has rehabilitated the image of the pig worldwide. Or maybe it’s simply that this event has become such a Spokane institution, whatever you call it is synonymous with success.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Two sidebars appeared with the story: 1. GET PIGGY Pig Out in the Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Monday at Riverfront Park.

2. PIG OUT IN THE PARK ENTERTAINMENT: Today Noon: Russ Andre (jazz) 2 p.m.: Chip & The Bushwackers (blues) 5 p.m.: Mumbo Jumbo (blues and soul) 8 p.m.: The Paul DeLay Band (blues) Friday Noon: Alex Bedini (jazz) 2 p.m.: Hall & Nixon (rock) 4 p.m.: Mama’s Dogma (jazz rock) 6 p.m.: The Val Workman Band (rock) 8 p.m.: The Byrds’ Celebration (folk rock) Saturday 11 a.m.: True Texas (country) 1 p.m.: The Spokane Jazz Orchestra 3 p.m.: Brewer & Shipley (folk rock) 5 p.m.: Staley-Thomsen-Flick (pop) 8 p.m.: Elvin Bishop (rock blues) Sunday 11 a.m.: Kinda Blue (jazz) 1 p.m.: Jr. Cadillac (classic rock) 4:30 p.m.: Sammy Eubanks (country) 8 p.m.: Ronna Reeves (country) Monday 11 a.m.: Soul Proprietor (urban soul) 1:30 p.m.: The Craig Volosing Goodtime Band (classic rock) 3:30 p.m.: Group du Jour (folk rock) 5:30 p.m.: Rope Trick (country)