Finely tuned Festival
The Festival at Sandpoint, like a lonesome fiddle, is sliding up to a high note. Like many other arts organizations, it weathered a low point several years ago. Now, as the 23rd season gets under way, festival director Dyno Wahl says it “has never been in better shape.”
Check out the evidence:
“All 500 season passes sold out before the lineup was even announced.
“Two shows – Ryan Adams & The Cardinals on Friday, and Super Bluegrass Saturday – are close to selling out at this 3,500-capacity outdoor venue.
“For the first time in years, the Spokane Symphony will be back for two concerts instead of just one. The symphony will open the festival on Thursday and close it on Aug. 14.
Some of the evidence is less tangible, but just as important.
“What lies at the heart of the festival is artistic excellence,” said Wahl.
“Musically, I’m very proud of this lineup. These are not just commercially successful acts; they’re acts that people who are into music are excited about.”
Here’s the lineup:
The Spokane Symphony’s “Opening Night on Broadway,” Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ($26.95 for adults, $9.95 for youth) – The symphony will be joined by four vocalists – Joni Dirks, Jon Brownell, Amy Craven and William Rhodes – in a pops-concert salute to Broadway tunes.
This concert, as well as the closing symphony concert, is made possible by supporters who helped underwrite the performances.
“Symphonic music is at the heart of what the festival does,” said Wahl. “But it is the most expensive thing we do.”
Gary Sheldon conducts. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Friday, 7:30 p.m. ($29.95) – Adams, the former frontman of Whiskeytown, has a rabid base of fans from all generations, including fellow musicians (Sir Elton John has referred to him as an “inspiration”). His country-influenced music is generally described as alternative country, but it also can be simply called American roots music.
Adams’ latest album, “Cold Roses,” shows influences ranging from the Grateful Dead to Johnny Cash. (Do not confuse him with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams.)
This is the festival’s fastest-selling show so far and is in danger of selling out. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Super Bluegrass Saturday with the Drew Emmitt Band and Sam Bush, Saturday, 6 p.m. ($36.95) – Fans of bluegrass mandolin may feel like they have hit the daily double, since Emmitt (known as a key member of Leftover Salmon) and Bush are two of the finest mandolin players on the planet.
Emmitt’s band opens the show with its brand of progressive bluegrass, followed by Bush at 8 p.m. A veteran of the progressive bluegrass pioneers New Grass Revival, Bush also is a fine fiddle player, having won three national junior fiddle championships in Weiser, Idaho.
Since Bush is one of Emmitt’s mentors, Wahl predicts a dual-mandolin jam session later in the evening.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Family Concert, “Here Come the Bugs!,” Aug. 7, gates open and activities begin at 4:30 p.m. ($5) – The Spokane Youth Orchestra will fill the air with tunes such as “Flight of the Bumblebee” and “The Spider’s Banquet,” accompanied by dancers from the Studio One Dance Academy.
The pre-concert activities include a real petting zoo as well as a musical instrument “petting zoo.” There will also be clowns, face-painting, games and a bag of musical goodies for everyone.
Verne Windham and Gary Sheldon share conducting duties.
Natalie MacMaster, with The Be Good Tanyas, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m. ($26.95) – MacMaster is a Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, fiddling prodigy and all-around brilliant entertainer who infuses traditional music with elements of rock, bluegrass and beyond.
The Be Good Tanyas are a Vancouver, B.C., trio with a cult following for what Wahl calls their “haunting ambient-Goth-folk.”
This is one show you will want to hit early. All ticketholders over 21 can participate in a complimentary microbrew tasting beforehand. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Ronnie Milsap, Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m. ($29.95) – He’s best known for his unbelievable string of hits on the country charts – 40 No. 1 singles beginning in 1974. Now he’s also branched into standards, blues and R&B.
Rob Quist and Great Northern will open the show. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Super Salsa Saturday with Poncho Sanchez and Rolando Morales, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. ($29.95) – Morales is a salsa star from the Bay Area. He’ll open for Sanchez, one of the biggest names in Latin jazz.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Spokane Symphony’s Bravo Beethoven!, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. ($29.95 for adults, $9.95 for youth) – The orchestra presents an all-Beethoven program with guest artists Jason Moody, the Sandpoint-bred violin virtuoso, and The Festival at Sandpoint Chorus. Gary Sheldon conducts.
Once again, get there early. The annual “Taste of the Stars” wine-tasting event will be held before the show, with up to 30 wineries in attendance. All ticketholders over 21 can participate.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Now, a few reminders about the logistics of the festival:
You can bring in your own food and beverages and have a picnic, or you can buy them from the booths on “Festival Street.”
You can spread out a blanket on the lawn or bring your own chairs, with separate areas for low chairs and higher chairs. You can also rent chairs on site.
If you don’t want to be down on the lawn, you can sit in the grandstand and still feel relatively close to the action.
If you want to stake a claim right up front, line up on the sidewalk even before the gates open – and then prepare to sprint to the stage.