Musicians make diverse line-up for Festival at Sandpoint
There are plenty of music festivals to choose from in the summer months, but few are as dependable for their variety as the Festival at Sandpoint. Recent lineups have brought the likes of Wilco, Huey Lewis and the Indigo Girls to War Memorial Field, and this year’s batch of artists is predictably diverse.
Here’s a rundown of the lineup of this year’s festival, which kicks off on Aug. 4 and runs through Aug. 14. All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Thursday – The festival’s first weekend begins with Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Hornsby, who is currently touring behind his album “Rehab Reunion.” Hornsby’s hits include “The Way It Is” and “Mandolin Rain,” and he’ll perform with his backing band, the Noisemakers. Tickets are $44.95, and Sandpoint’s Bridges Home will open the show. Before the music starts, you can attend the festival’s annual beer tasting event, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes a commemorative pilsner glass.
Aug. 5 – The six-piece jam band Railroad Earth hails from New Jersey, and its earthy, bluegrass-infused sound and frequent touring schedule have earned it a devoted following. Bellingham’s Rabbit Wilde, known for blending Americana and indie pop, will open. The festival’s website designates this a “dance show,” so seating will be limited. $39.95.
Aug. 6 – One of the most respected songwriters and vocalists of her generation, Emmylou Harris has been a near-constant presence on the folk and country charts since the mid-’70s. Openers include the Canadian alt-country outfit the Brothers Landreth and Coeur d’Alene’s the Powers; music starts at 6 p.m. $54.95.
Aug. 7 – The festival’s annual family concert closes out the first week with a performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved musical folk tale “Peter and the Wolf,” which will feature the Festival Community Orchestra and dancers from Sandpoint’s Studio One. The afternoon will also offer pony rides, a petting zoo, face-painting and family friendly games. Admission is $6; gates open at 2:30 p.m., and the music starts at 5 p.m.
Aug. 11 – Born in Africa and based in New York, vocalist Angelique Kidjo kicks off the festival’s second weekend. Kidjo has been praised for bringing a multicultural flair to her music, lending soul, gospel, jazz and Latin flavor to traditional African instrumentation. She won the 2016 Grammy Award for best world music album for “Sings,” recorded with the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg. It marked her third career Grammy. Boise groovers the Afrosonics will open. $39.95.
Aug. 12 – Through various lineup and name changes, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has become an enduring staple of country and roots rock. Celebrating its 50th year performing, the band promises to bring its biggest hits – “Mr. Bojangles,” “Fishin’ in the Dark,” “Modern Day Romance” – to the Festival at Sandpoint stage. The opener is honky-tonk singer-songwriter Luke Bell. $44.95
Aug. 13 – Guitarist and songwriter Ben Harper and his virtuosic backing band, the Innocent Criminals, seem to make the festival circuits every summer. In April, Harper released “Call It What It Is,” the 13th studio album that boasts the musician’s trademark bluesy rock. The music begins at 6 p.m. with local vocalist Sadie Waggoner and Harper’s longtime collaborator Tom Freund. $64.95.
Aug. 14 – Every year, the Festival at Sandpoint ends with a grand finale courtesy of the Spokane Symphony. Conducted by Gary Sheldon and featuring pianist Vadim Neselovskyi, the orchestra will perform pieces by Felix Mendelssohn, Antonio Vivaldi, George Gershwin and P.I. Tchaikovsky. The evening closes with a fireworks show. Complimentary wine tasting starts at 4:30 p.m. Tickets run $10.95 for kids and $39.95 for adults.