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The Folkiest Affair
One of the longest running festivals in Idaho takes place each year tucked into a picturesque park next to the Big Wood River in Hailey. Family-friendly, easy and affordable, the Northern Rockies Folk Festival continues to be a main attraction of summer, and the grand finale of the city of Hailey’s Month of Art.
The 33rd annual Northern Rockies Folk Festival will begin 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, with Qualfish from Humboldt, California; followed by Bellevue-based guitar player Michael White; L.A.-based alternative band Olin & the Moon; and Lisa Haley and the Zydekats.
Orin & the Moon is a local band: singer/songwriter David LaBrel, his brother and lead guitarist Travis, drummer Marshall Vore and Brian McGinnis are all Wood River Valley natives, who together with Kyle Vicioso, have turned Olin & the Moon into one of the hottest young bands touring today. Their twang-infused country rock draws on such bands as the Flying Burrito Brothers, Son Volt and Ryan Adams, who even cameos on their new album, to be released this weekend at the Northern Rockies Folk Festival.
Headlining the festival is Grammy nominee Lisa Haley, whose strong vocals, boundless energy and blue violin "Louie" have spread her infectious "Zydecosis” to a wide audience. Her music combines multi-faceted Louisiana French, Irish Celtic, blues and jazz, all genres she has inherited from her musically rich heritage in Louisiana.
On Saturday, the music will begin at 11 a.m. with local musician Scott Fairfax and at noon, Joe Paisley. They will be followed by another young Los Angeles-based band, Gypsy River Haunts.
Two more Wood River Valley bands follow on Saturday afternoon: FourStroke Bus and No Cheap Horses, both of whom have evolved into tight, folk-rock bands with serious musical chops. FourStroke Bus appeared just last weekend at the Sawtooth Music Festival.
John Pisano, aka Johnny Shoes, who will play with the Boise-based band Joshua Tree, is not only the co-owner of the Old Boise Guitar Co. but a newly minted award-winning songwriter. Pisano won a national Guy Clark songwriting contest late last year. A popular band in Idaho, there is a lot of buzz surrounding Joshua Tree’s appearance at the festival this year.
Leslie and the Badgers, from Los Angeles, will take the stage at Hop Porter Park at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. This band has spent the summer on their first national tour and has received rave reviews for their vintage country rock, California folk and dulcet vocals from band leader Leslie Stevens along the way.
Festival headliner singer-songwriter Kelly Willis will continue the female-centric trend for the 2010 show at about 8:30 p.m. Based in Austin, Texas, Willis has one of those voices that transcend genres but fit her Americana music perfectly. Sometimes known as a new traditionalist, Willis’s seventh album, “Translated From Love,” was produced by alt-rocker Chuck Prophet.
The Northern Rockies Folk Festival began in 1977 as a Sun Valley Center for the Arts & Humanities event. In 1995, it became its own entity and is now run by a nine-member board of directors. The Folk Festival supports young musicians by always making room on the stage for up-and-coming bands with local ties, student musicians, and “tweeners” who are local musicians given 15-minutes during stage set changes.
Tweeners, who’ll appear between acts on Saturday, include The Sloans, Craig Meyers, Tim East, Tom Archie and Piers Lamb—all well-regarded musicians in the Valley.
There will be several food vendors at the festival, but picnics are welcome. Active military are invited to attend for free with ID. General admission passes are available through Friday at Notes Music in Hailey and Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum, or at the gate during the show. Prices are $12 for the Friday night show only; $18 for Saturday; or $25 for both days. For more information visit www.northernrockiesfolkfestival.com
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Reader Comments:
great photos!