Week 1 at the Festival at Sandpoint

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

If you’re looking for great music and fun this weekend, look no further than the annual Festival at Sandpoint. Here’s who is playing in the first week:

Thursday, July 29
St. Paul & The Broken Bones w/special guest The Dip

St. Paul & the Broken Bones will open the Festival at Sandpoint’s 38th annual concert series on Thursday, July 29. Courtesy photo.

Hailing from Birmingham, Ala., rock and roll soul band St. Paul & The Broken Bones features powerful vocals, thoughtful lyrics and a dedication to invigorating the soul and R&B genres for the modern age. If you enjoyed Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats at the 2019 Festival at Sandpoint, you’ll love St. Paul & The Broken Bones.

Opening the night will be Seattle-based The Dip, an electrifying seven-piece ensemble that melds vintage R&B with classic pop storytelling. 

General admission $44.95. Gates open at 6 p.m. Early entry $69.95. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 30
Jake Owen w/special guest Colby Acuff

Jake Owen returns to the Festival stage Friday, July 30. Courtesy photo.

Jake Owen returns to the Festival stage bringing new hit songs that will make you want to get up and boogie. This multiple chart-topping country artist left it all out on the stage the last time he played the Festival in 2017. Owen’s new single, “Made For New,” is rapidly climbing the Billboard Country Airplay charts, and fans should expect to hear a bunch of his eight No. 1 songs.

Opening for Owen is Coeur d’Alene country artist Colby Acuff, who prides himself on writing songs that connect to people, just like his heroes have done his whole life. Acuff’s blend of old-school storytelling and powerful voice will take you to an unfamiliar place of honest country music.

General admission and early entry tickets are SOLD OUT. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 31
Shakey Graves w/special guest Tré Burt

Shakey Graves. Courtesy photo.

Alejandro Rose-Garcia (a.k.a. Shakey Graves) combines blues, folk, country and rock ’n’ roll, making for a truly unique sound. Starting out as a one-man band, Rose-Garcia used foot pedals to keep a beat with tambourines and a drum he made himself. His hit debut album, Roll the Bones, was just re-released to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, and has since reached the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Opening for Shakey Graves is Tré Burt, a singer-songwriter based in Sacramento, Calif. Burt has a lo-fi, rootsy aesthetic, which he honed while busking on the streets of San Francisco and traveling the world in search of inspiration.

General admission $49.95. Gates open at 6 p.m. Early entry $74.95. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. Music starts at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 1
Keb’ Mo’ & Band w/special guest The Brother Brothers

Keb’ Mo’. Courtesy photo.

Born in Los Angeles to parents of southern descent, Kevin Moore (a.k.a. Keb’ Mo’) was exposed to gospel music early on in life. As his love for music grew, his popularity in the industry saw similar trends. Moore received his first Grammy Award for his song “Just Like You” in 1994 and the rest is history, as Moore started winning more awards, releasing new albums and touring all over the world. The blues will be rocking at the Festival this night.

Opening for Keb’ Mo’ is The Brother Brothers, an indie folk duo of twin brothers Adam and David Moss. The duo pairs warm acoustics with a funky electric keyboard sound.

General admission $49.95. Gates open at 6 p.m. Early entry $74.95. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. 

See festivalatsandpoint.com for full biographical information about each artist. Check the Aug. 5 edition of the Reader for a recap of Festival — Week 2 performers.