George Thorogood and the Destroyers to play the Festival

Show on Aug. 5 also to feature The Robert Cray Band as openers

By Reader Staff

The Festival at Sandpoint is offering member presale tickets for George Thorogood and The Destroyers and openers The Robert Cray Band until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 and to the public beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, April 10, anticipating “The Baddest Show on Earth” on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at War Memorial Field.

Over five decades, more than 8,000 live shows and in excess of 15 million albums sold, George Thorogood and The Destroyers are widely regarded as “the all-American rock ’n’ roll party band.” Now in its 53rd year “playing rock ’n’ roll hot enough to melt the polar icecaps and flood the world’s major population centers” (in the words of Rolling Stone), the band’s Baddest Show On Earth Tour is a “stage-shaking, roof-raising, guitar-snarling blast,” according to promoters. 

“Could be the state of the world,” Thorogood said. “Maybe it’s the healing power of rock ’n’ roll. But when we hit the stage on any given night, I can guarantee that we’ll make you feel like a teenager again.”

The band debuted in 1976 as the most explosive indie breakthrough act of the decade. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Thorogood epitomized guitar-slinger cool with chart-topping hits like “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”; “Move It On Over”; “Who Do You Love?”; “I Drink Alone”; and the rock anthem “Bad To The Bone.”

“Don’t let anyone tell you this gig won’t keep you energized. I defy bands half our age to put on a show like we do night after night,” stated Thorogood, who has received The B.B. King Award from The Montreal International Jazz Festival, while The Destroyers were made honorary members of The Bo Diddley Centennial Committee and invited to perform at The Grand Ole Opry. 

“It’s crazy to think that we’ve spent the last half century performing music we love for audiences who love what we do,” Thorogood stated. “But when you’ve got the best job in the world, you can’t ever rest on your laurels. We not only work hard to bring our best, but to keep getting better. That’s the only mission. That’s rock ’n’ roll.”

Opener Robert Cray is a blues icon and soul rock-and-roller born in Georgia and raised in Washington, who first picked up a guitar after seeing The Beatles on TV. Then, having witnessed Jimi Hendrix perform in Seattle, determined that his destiny would also follow a similar path. Across the past half-century, Cray has developed into one of American music’s most singular artists.

Cray has shared stage and/or studio with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Albert Collins, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Memphis Horns and Hi Rhythm Section. His stinging guitar playing and soulful voice — as well as skills as a band leader and performer — mark him as keeper of the flame for American roots music. 

Along the way, Cray has created a richly inclusive American music style, revitalising both blues and soul, and releasing 19 studio albums — each featuring his distinctive sound and winning five Grammy Awards, while continuing to make music that sounds like no one but Robert Cray.

Tickets to the Wednesday, Aug. 5 show are $81, available at festivalatsandpoint.com. 

This will be a standard show, meaning that the area in front of the stage is a general admission dancing and standing area.