By Jim Stanford on June 4, 2010
The Battle of the Bands will determine which local group opens Targhee Fest. Mandatory Air, LunKuR and Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass are competing.
Paper Bird, the Denver band whose folky warbling delighted a Jackson audience last winter, is returning to play the final day of Targhee Fest on July 18. Also added for that day is Great American Taxi featuring Vince Herman, the guitarist formerly of Leftover Salmon.
Those two will set the stage for Katchafire and Michael Franti and Spearhead. Katchafire is a Maori reggae band from New Zealand who have received mad praise from DJs Christian and Adam Senf, hosts of the Friday evening reggae show on KHOL. The Senfs have been waiting years to see Katchafire out West.
Targhee will fill the opening slot of the festival with a Battle of the Bands on Saturday at The Spud. Mandatory Air, LunKuR and Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit of Jackson will compete against The Tie Hacks of Pinedale and Burning Olympus of Provo, Utah, for the coveted gig.
Attendees will receive a wooden Targhee nickel to cast their vote for the winner. A panel of judges also will give input. Battle of the Bands starts at 5:30 p.m., and admission is just $5.
Posted under Music, Ski Resorts
Mandatory Air won the Battle of the Bands and will open Targhee Fest on July 16, when Moe and Steve Kimock’s Crazy Engine (with Melvin Seals) also are playing. Mandatory Air certainly has earned it.
Some helpful info on fest tickets this year – sending you your tickets will be pricey ($10), so we’re steering most to pick up tickets in will call at Habitat in Driggs and Activity Center at base of the resort, which will open on June 26. Will call the weekend of the festival will be jammed so pick your tickets up early if you can. Targhee Fest ticket prices will go up starting July 12 – Friday from $59 to $65, Sat and Sun from $69 to $75 and weekend from $139 to $149, so purchase before then for the best deal.
Targhee has finalized the lineup with the addition of Melvin Seals and The Jerry Garcia Band on Friday and Jackson Hole native Margo Valiante on Saturday.