Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett to rock Targhee Fest

Thursday, July 17, 2008

By Aaron Davis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-It’s music festival season! The Fourth Annual Targhee Fest, which runs from July 18 to July 20 on the slopes of Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, has something to offer for everyone. There may not be a better concert setting than this wooded area in Caribou/Targhee National Forest where musicians, families and music connoisseurs gather to take in a weekend of music with a mellow atmosphere.

This year’s fest boasts the most star-studded lineup in the event’s history. The eclectic lineup covers Americana, rock, folk, blues, roots music and more. Headlining the weekend’s festivities are Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi as Soul Stew Revival on Friday evening, July 18, Taj Mahal Trio and Emmylou Harris on Saturday, and Lyle Lovett and his large 20-piece band on Sunday. Other performers include Martin Sexton, Scrapomatic featuring Mike Mattison, Storyhill, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, David Boone, Jeffrey Foucault, Priscilla Ahn, Carrie Rodriguez, and Josh Ritter (see sidebar).

Friday kicks things off in fine fashion. Husband and wife guitar-slingers Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival will feature a three-piece horn section in addition to current members of the Derek Trucks Band and Derek’s younger brother, Duane, on second drum kit. Tedeschi is a four-time, Grammy-nominated vocalist and Derek, well, he’s about the most tasteful slide guitarist on Earth. Be sure to catch Martin Sexton’s set as well, his stage presence as a solo act is remarkable.

Saturday, July 19, is packed full of performances starting at noon with Minnesota folk-rockers Storyhill, followed by country-blues artist Jeffrey Foucault and Los Angeles indie-folk singer Priscilla Ahn. Grace Potter and The Nocturnals have received an overwhelming amount of positive press within the last year and looks to be the most energetic, rocking band of the Saturday groups.

Taj Mahal and Emmylou on the same night? Yep. Two-time Grammy winner Taj will be with his faithful trio of bassist Bill Rich and drummer Kester Smith. As for 61-year-old Emmylou, she was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, released a new album on Nonesuch Records titled “All I Intended,” and now operates an animal rescue/fostering organization.

Sunday kicks off with a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Tony Furtado, a long time performer in this neck of the woods. Brooklyn-based, country-folk artist Carrie Rodriguez will front her quartet with an arsenal of tenor guitar, mandobird and fiddle work. And Idaho native Josh Ritter, who was named Idaho’s All-Time Best Solo Artist by The Boston Phoenix, has been touring with John Prine and the Swell Season.

Jaws will drop for those who have not seen Lyle Lovett and His Large Band perform. It’s a complete spectacle and appeals to all music lovers.

Tickets for the fest are $15 for Friday only, $65 for Saturday only, $55 for Sunday only, $150 for a weekend pass that includes camping, or $125 for a non-camping weekend pass. Tickets are available via www.ticketweb.com, at Tobacco Row in Jackson, or Big Hole Music and Yostmark Mountain Equipment in Driggs, Idaho. Parking will be $5/day for non-weekend passholders. There will also be a free shuttle from Teton Valley. For all pricing, performance schedules, contest rules, shuttle schedule and camping information, visit www.grandtarghee.com.

If you didn’t get your music fix during the day, The Trap Bar at Grand Targhee will host Moses Guest at 10 p.m. on Friday ($5) and Tony Furtado at 10 p.m. on Saturday ($10). Keep in mind that you must have a festival pass to enter the resort at anytime during the weekend.
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Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett to rock Targhee Fest | Planet JH News Article: General News

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