SANDPOINT — Comprised of Canadian national park wardens, a Rocky Mountain-based band's music is a tribute to the wilderness they have safeguarded. 

Friday, area residents will get a chance to listen to The Wardens at a special Panida Theater concert. Presented by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, the concert begins at 7 p.m. 

A Wardens concert, which blends folk, roots and western influences, has been dubbed “The quintessential mountain-culture concert experience.”

The concert is chance to hear the soulful essence of The Wardens, where tales of the land come alive through haunting harmonies and captivating narratives. Their mountain melodies blend folk, roots, and western influences, echoing the untouched beauty of Canada's protected landscapes. From recounting encounters with buffalo and grizzly bears to reflecting on the fragile state of our environment, The Wardens' performances offer a deep dive into mountain culture.

With their acclaimed third album "Sold Out at the Ironwood" and accolades like Traditional Singer of the Year Nomination at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, The Wardens continue to captivate audiences on both sides of the border with their unique brand of storytelling through music. The band has performed widely across western Canada and in the US from Alaska to California. They’ve shared the stage with Blue Rodeo, Pharis & Jason Romero and Ian Tyson and have performed at Folk Alliance International, Canmore Folk Festival’s mainstage and for a royal audience in Edmonton, Alberta. 

“We invite Sandpoint to a very special evening blending beautiful music with images of staggering natural beauty,” said POAC Executive Director Tone Stolz. “These intrepid guardians of the wild places we cherish have melodious songs to sing and incredible stories to tell!” 

The Wardens will also perform a school show for over 400 students as part of POAC’s Ovations program prior to the public performance at the Panida Theater. Ovations is free outreach that provides quality educational experiences in the performing arts for students in our community who would not otherwise have these opportunities.  A study guide focused on the performers’ musical, geographic and historical themes complements curriculum for students throughout the Lake Pend Oreille School District. 

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for youth and are available at the POAC Gallery at 313 N. Second Ave., in downtown Sandpoint; by phone at 208-263-6139; online at ArtinSandpoint.org; or at the box office at the Panida Theater which will open at 6 p.m., an hour before showtime.

Information: artinsandpoint.org