The 36th annual Northern Rockies Music Festival blasted its two-day high-energy music show August 2 and 3 with all the verve and talent one has come to expect from this signature Hailey event.
Festival-goers heard everything from a 12-year old troubadour from Utah named Sammy Brue and local favorites such as Paddy Wagon, Up A Creek and Steph Sloan and Elephant Parade, to the Austin stylings of George Devore and the Electric Cigarettes, and the honky-tonk of Colorado-based Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams.
“We are very happy to play in Idaho for the first time, and to play at a cool festival like this,” said Ben O’Connor, bassist of Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams.
Friday night’s headliner, the poetic Americana singer/songwriter Hayes Carll, culminated opening night with an array of beautifully penned tunes, with some singing help from the audience. Topping off Saturday night were the roots blues of L.A.-based band, The 44s, followed by Texas blues maven Ruthie Foster and her all-female band.
Foster, a U.S. Naval vet, charmed the audience by mentioning her support for, and hopeful return of, Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl, a Hailey native who was captured by a faction of the Taliban in 2009. He remains the only active U.S. soldier of the decade-long “War on Terror” in captivity.
About 4,000 attendees enjoyed the lush grassy park-–-now known as Hailey Tourist Park-–-along the Big Wood River Friday evening and all day Saturday. The sun poured down on the picnics and gatherings.
Adding to the festive atmosphere was a 40th birthday party for a Hailey resident and musician in the band, Paddy Wagon. They erected a “Copacobannie” tent and her pals came dressed in 1940s fashion, including hair, make-up and exotic flowers in their hair.
The event was sponsored by Sun Valley Magazine, Albertsons, Sweetwater, Marketron, Mountain Lifestyles Services, Power Engineers, Names & Numbers, Hailey Chamber, D.L. Evans, Ree Construction, Sun Valley Title, and Idaho Power among others.
Big thanks to all the sponsors! If you missed this year's event, be sure to check out next summer's Nothern Rockies Music Festival.
