Festival lineup — Week 1

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

The Festival at Sandpoint gates open Thursday, July 27 for the 40th annual summer concert series, showcasing new faces and old favorites over eight exciting nights. Missing this year: the iconic white tent (for more on that, see Page 4), but the show will most definitely go on. Below are the acts for the opening week. Tickets are available at festivalatsandpoint.com.

Thursday, July 27

Brit Floyd

Regarded as one of the most successful tribute bands of all time, Brit Floyd is on tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Since forming in 2011, Brit Floyd has captivated audiences around the world with their theatrics and faithful renditions of Pink Floyd’s repertoire. Damian Darlington — musical director, guitarist and vocalist — has played more than 2,500 Pink Floyd-inspired concerts, according to the Festival’s recent press release. Brit Floyd’s performance promises an authentic experience with the same “wow” factor as Pink Floyd’s final tour in 1994.

This will be a seated show, meaning the area in front of the stage is general admission shortchair and blanket seating only, and dancing areas can be found to the left and right sides of the

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stage. General admission tickets are $49.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 28

Gary Clark Jr. w/ Brady Watt

Four-time Grammy-winner Gary Clark Jr. can’t be defined by a single genre — or three or four. This master of blues, rock and soul has taken the stage in front of live crowds, TV audiences and a sitting president. His most recent album, This Land, reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 and is celebrated for its socially conscious themes, exploring the national political climate and his experiences as a Black man in the U.S.

This will be a standard show, meaning the area in front of the stage is standing-room only. Tickets are $54.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 29

Train w/Better Than Ezra

With familiar titles like “Play that Song” and “Drops of Jupiter,” it’s no surprise that this threetime Grammy-winning band has garnered a following far beyond their loyal hometown fans. Train has sold more than 10 million albums, with 14 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 list — including the most-downloaded single of 2010, “Hey, Soul Sister.” With nearly three decades of hits under their belt, this concert promises to blend early 2000s nostalgia with new songs from their latest album, AM Gold.

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.

Sunday, July 30

The String Cheese Incident

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) became a pioneer of the music industry in the ’90s with their unprecedented use of the internet. SCI was among the first bands to publish information online, going so far as to start their own ticketing, merchandising and

Many of you have probably seen the Longmire series, starring Robert Taylor as the gruff eponymous sheriff of a Wyoming county and Lou Diamond Phillips. But if you haven’t read any of Craig Johnson’s numerous Longmire novels, on which the series was based, you’re missing out. Johnson writes in an easy manner, giving the tried-and-true Western mystery format a new breath of freshness. There are 18 in the series, with a 19th set to release in September.

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travel companies to give fans easier access to their music. Come for the innovative performance style, stay for the humanitarianism. With philanthropic ideals at its core, SCI advocates for eco-friendly tours and has helped to support nonprofits like Conscious Alliance and HeadCount.

This is a standard show. General admission is $59.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7 p.m.

See festivalatsandpoint.com for full biographical information about each artist. Check the Aug. 3 edition of the Reader for a recap of Festival — Week 2 performers.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Suzuki Family Concert, Farmin Park, July 27 Ben Vogel, Pend d’Oreille Winery, July 29

The community is invited to a summer Thursday evening picnic featuring the talents of local Suzuki String Academy students.

Hosted by the families of the academy, attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share, something to relax on and prepare for a family-style concert in the open air at Farmin Park in downtown Sandpoint. Students will arrive with their instruments at 5 p.m., with the music starting at 5:45 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m.

The Suzuki Method dates to the post-World War II era and takes its name from Shinichi Suzuki, who believed in “Talent Education,” which includes students beginning their study at a young age with their parents playing an active, integral role. It’s a family-centered system, perfect for a family concert.

— Zach Hagadone

Arrival at 5 p.m., music at 5:45 p.m.; FREE. Farmin Park Third Avenue and Main Street in Sandpoint, suzukistringacademy.com.

Inland Northwest songwriter/ performer Ben Vogel prefers to experience music the old-fashioned way: playing rock, blues, jazz and soul while entertaining bar crowds and backyard party-goers, all while earning college degrees in classical music.

Vogel has a pleasant, almost Ben Folds-esque voice that merges well with the jumping tunes he churns out, making soft rock cool again. To put it another way: There’s an old feel to his new music.

Vogel wrote, recorded and produced his second album Revealed in 2022, forming a rock band called Zoramena in the process, but his solo work features the variety of songs and genres he explores in a home studio.

— Ben Olson

5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., 208-2658545, powine.com. Listen at benvogelmusic.com.

I’ve got my Spotify playlists running at peak performance, with a mix of low-Earth-orbit songs that don’t distract me from my daily work, but also keep me rolling. One mix I return to again and again is called “Moody Mix” and has a lot of B-side artists playing everything from Radiohead to Phoebe Bridgers. It’s a public playlist and anyone can listen. Perfect for a sunny workday when you have to sit watching all the people having fun out of your office window.

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The first movie I ever saw in the theater was Uncle Buck, starring John Candy. I was 8 years old and still remember the magic and wonder I felt walking across the sticky floors of Sandpoint Cinema 4 West, which was located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Main Street next to the old laundromat (before Harold’s IGA and the rest of the buildings were torn down). I’ve loved movies ever since, but like a lot of other people, stopped going to the theater as much during the pandemic. We have two excellent theaters in Sandpoint: the Panida and Sandpoint Cinemas at the Bonner Mall. When’s the last time you treat ed yourself to a night out at the movies?

From Northern Idaho News, July 24, 1923

MERCURY CLIMBS TO 104; MAKES NEW RECORD

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Bonner county sent the government thermometer at the experiment farm north of town up to 104 degrees on Friday, July 20.

The record for this section, since the records were started in 1911, was 99 degrees, reached some years ago. Twice since the record-breaker of last week has the old mark been closely approached. It was 98 degrees above on Sunday and again yesterday. Today autumn began to set in — it was only 94 above.

The precipitation so far this month is also in excess of normal, it is said by Superintendent J.H. Christ of the experiment farm, a trace more than one inch having fallen.

The breaking of the temperature record this summer recalls the breaking of the low mark last winter, with 25 below, but lends no solace to the present situation.

The warmth and rains of summer, however, have meant much to agriculture in Bonner county this year and bumper yields of everything are in sight. The urban population of the county, however, is spending much of its time seeking mixed drinks with ice in them or hunting water sites where the swimming is just right. The docks here are daily crowded with scores of bathers and with the lowering of the lake and the corresponding “raising” of the beach, Sandpoint people are beginning to seek the refreshing coolness of the water front to escape the torrid heat of paved streets and sweltering dwellings.