It was a stellar opening week at the Festival at Sandpoint. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect for the second and final week of the season:
Thursday, July 31
Brothers Osborne. Courtesy photo
Brothers Osbornewith The Kruse Brothers Country, rock Gates 6 p.m., show 7:30 p.m.
John and TJ Osborne are the reigning CMA and ACM Duo of the Year winners. The brothers hail from a working-class upbringing in Deale, Md., and have established a progressive and still classic school of country music that represents the new generation of Nashville. They took home their first Grammy in 2022 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their song “Younger Me,” inspired by TJ’s recent coming out.
Opening is The Kruse Brothers, based in Phoenix. The brothers have transformed the country sound with their unique influences, infusing it with elements of blues and rock.
Friday, August 1
Kansas. Courtesy photo
Kansas with Vika & The Velvets Gates 6 p.m., show 7:30 p.m. Classic rock — Seated show
With a legendary career spanning five decades, Kansas has established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands.
It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t listened to the hits of Kansas. Songs like “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind,” “Point of Know Return” and others helped Kansas sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.
The original “garage band” from Topeka has created 16 studio albums and five live albums that have gone platinum multiple times.
Opening will be Vika & the Velvets. Vika is a Spokane-based indie rock musician infusing classic rock with deep blues and jazz instrumentation alongside her hauntingly dreamy Amy Winehouse-esque vocals.
Saturday, August 2
Dispatch. Courtesy photo
Dispatch with John Butler (with band), G. Love & Special Sauce and Donovon Frankenreiter Alt-rock, roots, folk, indie, reggae, funk, bluegrass, hip-hop, soul and rock Gates 5 p.m., show 6 p.m.
Formed by Chadwick Stokes and Brad Corrigan while in college in Vermont, the members of Dispatch have forged their own path outside the mainstream music industry as one of the most successful groups in the roots rock scene.
Joining Dispatch is John Butler (with band), one of Australia’s premier alternative songwriters and storytellers, who has released No. 1 charting albums, platinum records and more.
Butler’s music continues to traverse the globe and wow audiences at iconic stages and festivals.
G. Love & Special Sauce is a hip-hop blues band known for its unique fusion of hip-hop, blues, funk and soul. The band, led by frontman Garrett Dutton, the band’s laid back, groovy style became popular in the MTV generation, described as “slacker blues” and “alternative hip-hop.”
Donavon Frankenreiter has been traveling the globe as a pro surfer and musician for nearly two decades, and his grooves come with philosophical lyrics and soulful delivery.
Sunday, August 3
Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra. Courtesy photo
Grand Finale:Sounds of Summer Gates 5 p.m., show 7p.m. Orchestra, classical
The final night, featuring the Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra conducted by Morihiko Nakahara. This year’s theme, “Sounds of Summer,” will include selections from “The Four Seasons,” by Vivaldi; “From the New World,” by Dvořák; “Summertime,” by George Gershwin; and more.
From 5-7 p.m., guests can select to add on a ticket to the Cheers: Wine, Beer & Spirit Tasting event, during which guests can sample pours from across the region. This is a separately ticketed event.
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Sandpoint in Pictures
Filmmaker Jimmy Matlosz of the Idaho Film Company has made a series of mini documentaries about influential Sandpoint locals, including the late Dann Hall and Erik Daarstad as well as icons Diane Michaels and Dan Shook. He is currently working on a series of interviews connected to the history of the Panida Theater. Jimmy is a 30-year veteran filmmaker who's work can be seen at dpmatlosz.com.
Meet the Reader
Ever wonder who makes the Reader happen? Here's a behind-the-scenes look pieced together by summer 2017 intern McCalee Cain in which Ben, Cameron and Lyndsie explain what exactly about the Reader keeps them coming back to their shabby (but well-loved) office each week.
