Festival at Sandpoint announces line-up
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 7 years, 8 months AGO
SANDPOINT — Something to dance to? Check.
Good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll? Yep, that, too.
New music to explore and fall in love with? You know it.
When the Festival at Sandpoint celebrates its 35th annual summer concert series this summer, music lovers will have a chance to do all of the above.
The annual concert series, which runs Aug. 3 to 13, showcases eight nights of music under the stars on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint. The season line-up includes an eclectic mix with headliners Pink Martini, The B-52s, Jake Owen, The Head and The Heart, Iration, The Wailers, George Thorogood and The Destroyers and the Spokane Symphony conducted by Gary Sheldon with piano soloist Tien Hsieh. Supporting artists include The Roman Candles and The White Buffalo.
- Thursday, Aug. 3 — Opening Night with Pink Martini
Pink Martini is the “little orchestra” from Portland, Ore., with a wildly diverse repertoire who draw inspiration from music from all over the world — crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop.
All tickets are $44.95. Gates open at 6 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 4 — The B-52s
It’s a Festival dance party with The B-52s. Forty years into the band’s career, The B-52s are known for groundbreaking songs like “Rock Lobster,” “Dance the Mess Around” and “Private Idaho” and chart-topping hits like “Love Shack.”
All tickets are $54.95. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
Please note: This is a dance show. The dance venue map can be viewed online at FestivalatSandpoint.com.
- Saturday, Aug. 5 — Jake Owen
A fast-rising star, Owen was named American Country Music Awards’ Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2012. His No. 1 hits include “Barefoot Blue Jean Nights,” “The One That Got Away,” “Anywhere with You,” and “Beachin’.”
All tickets are $74.95. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 6 — Family Concert, “The Frog Prince”
The concert features The Festival Community Orchestra and Sandpoint’s Studio 1 dancers. Favorite pre-concert activities include the Instrument Petting Zoo — where kids can try out various instruments with guidance from musical mentors — an animal petting zoo, pony rides, clowns, face painting, games galore and the popular Parents’ Corner, where moms and dads can take a break from the chaos for a complimentary mini-massage.
All tickets are only $6. Activities begin when the gates open at 2:30 p.m.; the musical performance starts at 5 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 10 — The Head and the Heart
Indie-folk artists, The Head and the Heart’s 2011 self-titled debut album became one of Sub Pop Records’ best-selling debut releases ever, and rocketed the band to acclaim well beyond its then-home base in Seattle. Their latest release “Signs of Light”, with the lead single “All We Ever Knew,” continues to earn the group devoted fans who love to see them perform live.
The Roman Candles, who are touring with THATH this summer, will open the show.
All tickets are $44.95. BrewFest tickets are available for $10 — which includes a commemorative pilsner glass and premium microbrew tastes. Brew tasting starts when gates open at 6 p.m. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday Aug. 11 — Iration and The Wailers
Iration’s deep-rooted reggae influence is fused with elements of rock, dub and pop to create smooth original sounds. Top hits include “Reelin,” “Time Bomb,” “Fallin” and “Summer Nights.”
The legendary Wailers are coming together to perform on The Festival at Sandpoint stage. Starting in 1974, Bob Marley & The Wailers recorded, toured, and performed before millions of fans all over the world.
All tickets are $54.95. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. for this double-header concert.
Please note: This is a dance show. The dance venue map can be viewed online at FestivalatSandpoint.com.
- Saturday, Aug. 12 — George Thorogood & The Destroyers
The boogie-blues rock icon is best known for his high energy performances and indelible hits including “Bad to the Bone,” “Move It On Over,” “Who Do You Love?” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.”
Thorogood is joined by The White Buffalo, an American singer-songwriter who was named as one of NPR’s 12 New Artists to Watch.
All tickets are $74.95. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 13 — Grand Finale Concert, “Nordic Nights”
“Nordic Nights” features the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Gary Sheldon. The Scandinavian-inspired program opens with Clarke’s “Prince of Denmark March” and Alfen’s “Swedish Rhapsody No. 1”, followed by Grieg’s powerful “Piano Concerto” featuring the triumphant return of piano soloist Tien Hsieh. The second half of the program includes Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite” and Sibelius’ “Finlandia”.
Preceding the concert, is the annual “Taste of the Stars” wine tasting, complimentary for all concertgoers over the age of 21. The traditional fireworks finale, made possible by Avista Utilities, will close The Festival at Sandpoint’s 35th season.
This concert also serves as part of The Festival’s 5th Grade Music Outreach Program, an educational mission that takes place in all elementary schools in Bonner and Boundary counties. Each fifth-grader receives complimentary tickets for themselves and two family members to attend a symphonic Festival concert.
The recipient of the Festival’s Music Scholarship will perform before the concert and the winning bidder of the original 2017 poster artwork by Leata Judd will be announced.
Gates open early at 4:30 p.m. for the wine tasting event and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.95 for adults, $10.95 for youth through 18 years.
Individual tickets to all shows go on sale online starting Saturday, April 29, at festivalatsandpoint.com and in person at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 1, at The Festival at Sandpoint office, 525 Pine St., Sandpoint. Phone orders may be placed by calling the Festival Office locally at 208-265-4554 or toll free 888-265-4554. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover cards, personal checks and cash are accepted.