By Soncirey Mitchell
Reader Staff
The 40th Annual Festival at Sandpoint opened with a bang — a firework show seen for miles. Now, the second week kicks off Thursday, Aug. 3 with five more shows guaranteed to entertain the whole family. See below for the upcoming acts. Tickets are available at festivalatsandpoint.com.
Thursday, Aug. 3 (noon)
Family Concert with Michael Franti and Friends
Activism and music are inextricable for Michael Franti, whose songs take beloved reggae, pop, rock and hip-hop sounds, and uses them as a conduit to promote peace, kindness and environmentalism. His positive concert will have the entire family dancing to familiar hits like “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You” — all three earning Billboard’s No. 1 spot.
This will be a seated show, meaning the area in front of the stage is general admission short-chair and blanket seating only, and dancing areas can be found to the left and right sides of the stage. General admission tickets are $14.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the music begins at noon.
“Harmonies in Nature,” by Tammy Zinke was chosen as the 2023 Fine Arts Poster for the Festival at Sandpoint.
Thursday, Aug. 3
Michael Franti & Spearhead w/ SOJA
After his family show, Michael Franti returns to the stage with his band Spearhead with SOJA for a night of upbeat tunes with his signature poetic lyrics. Franti’s music is a call to dance and to action — a call he answers with his dedication to altruism around the globe. His self-directed documentary, Stay Human, follows Franti as he meets with remarkable individuals who help him to overcome the cynicism that so often colors our vision of the world. As part of his commitment to spreading positivity, Franti also founded the nonprofit Do It For The Love, which gives people with severe medical issues access to their favorite concerts.
This will be a standard show, meaning the area in front of the stage is standing-room only. General admission tickets are SOLD OUT. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 4
REO Speedwagon w/Charlie Farren
After 56 years spent wowing crowds with hits like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You,” REO Speedwagon needs no introduction. The iconic rock band’s album Hi Infidelity earned RIAA’s 10X Diamond Award for selling more than 10 million units in the United States after spending 15 weeks in the No. 1 slot. The band has achieved eight Platinum albums, with many more reaching Gold and Silver status. With vocalist and founding member Kevin Cronin heading the band, this concert is sure to reward longtime fans and new listeners alike.
This will be a standard show. General admission tickets are SOLD OUT. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 5
Ashley McBryde w/Zach Top
Grammy award-winning superstar Ashley McBryde is bringing Nashville to Sandpoint with her celebrated country sounds. Her 2020 album Never Will made history when it was nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy — all in the same award season. She went on to earn the 2022 CMA International Artist Achievement Award “for the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States,” according to the Festival’s press release. Concertgoers will soon discover why McBryde’s accolades are too numerous to list.
This will be a standard show. General admission tickets are $54.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 6
Grande Finale: The Princess Bride in Concert w/Taste of the Stars wine and beer tasting
The Princess Bride, released in 1987, is perhaps one of history’s most beloved films. The exciting tale of true love, adventure and friendship has captivated generations of audiences — but never like this. The Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra will make its debut led by the esteemed Morihiko Nakahara, a former resident conductor of the Spokane Symphony for 16 years. The Festival’s personal orchestra will feature more than 60 musicians from the Inland Northwest performing a version of the film’s score specifically arranged for a symphony orchestra.
This will be a seated show. General admission tickets are $44.95 while youth (12 and under) are $12.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the music begins at 7 p.m.
See the festivalatsandpoint.com for full biographical details about each artist and more information.
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Coming up this week! Don’t miss out on “Get Plowed”, a Food Summit, Folk Art, and more! See the full list of events in the 
