JH Underground – news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming

On the Saturday of Targhee Fest, a day that featured Grace Potter and Shawn Colvin in the lineup, the hottest singer-songstress was Jackson’s own Margo Valiante, who ripped the opening set with Ben Winship on mandolin.

Tonight Margo and her band, back visiting from Austin, Texas, play another homecoming gig at the Pink Garter Theater. Screen Door Porch, the duo of Aaron Davis and Seadar Rose, will open, and the bluegrass band One Ton Pig will close.

Doors open at 8, and Screen Door Porch will begin at 8:30. Tickets are $10 in advance at Tobacco Row or $12 at the door.

Margo Valiante Band features Kyle Clayton on bass, Etan Sekons on guitar and Matthew Meyer on organ. Margo recently released a five-song EP, I Can’t Pray, the title track from which she performs in this video from Targhee.

Posted under Music, Ski Resorts

Tags: bluegrass, festivals, targhee

Here’s the story of a Farr West, Utah, woman who videotaped a bison trampling her in Yellowstone National Park last week.

Not explained in any of the media coverage of the incident: who threw the stick at the bison, and why no charges have been pressed for harassing wildlife.

If this clip doesn’t sate your running-of-the-bulls blood lust for tourist trampling, there are much better videos on YouTube of bison attacks.

Be smart, people. Stick to the stuffed bison on the Jackson Town Square.

Posted under Environment, Wyoming

Tags: bison, utah, wildlife, yellowstone

The lightning storm that struck 17 climbers on the Grand Teton yesterday left a spectacular sky in its wake.

Rangers have resumed searching this morning for the last victim, who is believed to have fallen over a cliff. Our thoughts are with the climbers and rescuers.

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Posted under Art, Environment, Sports, Weather

Tags: climbing, grand teton national park, photography, river running, snake river

It’s another BIG week of music in Teton Valley, with Big Sam’s Funky Nation playing Music on Main in Victor on Thursday and Big Head Todd rocking The Spud on Sunday. Rhythm Devils, featuring Grateful Dead skin pounders Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, perform Saturday at The Spud.

Noteworthy opening acts have been added for the Spud twin bill, including reggae artist Don Carlos for Rhythm Devils and Martin Sexton, the guitarist with chops literally and figuratively, for Big Head Todd. Find out more about both events and buy tickets on the newly redesigned Poppa Presents web site.

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Posted under Music

Tags: idaho, mangy moose, rock, teton valley

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has reduced the price of its full season pass by 25 percent, to $1,255.

The $400 reduction is likely to please locals who have been grumbling about high prices for years. Last winter, the JHMR pass was the most expensive of any ski resort in the nation.

The new pass is called a Grand Pass and is good for all 128 days of the season. The pass must be purchased by Aug. 31 for that price, but discounts will be applied later, too.

Ten- and 20-day pass prices will rise slightly as the resort looks to sell more full passes at the reduced price. For kids ages 6 to 14, the resort will offer a Junior Grand Pass for $149 in August. Click here for the full list.

Jerry Blann, resort president, announced the new pricing at a press conference this morning at Teton Village. Blann also announced various improvements the resort is making, including expanded snowmaking infrastructure and a network of new hiking and mountain biking trails.

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Posted under Economy, Ski Resorts, Sports

Tags: jackson hole mountain resort, skiing, snowboarding, teton village

All the freaky people are still shaking, after Michael Franti and Spearhead capped probably the rowdiest Targhee Fest yet on Sunday with an epic performance that felt more like a spiritual revival.

Considering that the campground jam session — featuring Vince Herman‘s Great American Taxi, Margo Valiante and the accordion player from Equal Eyes — was still going strong at 3 a.m., many of us are still washing the dirt from our toes and clearing out cobwebs.

I’ll have more to report on the festival later, but a few words about Franti: When he wasn’t ushering dozens of kids on stage, healing the sick and solving America’s green energy future, he beamed so much positivity on those slopes that he could have defused a nuclear bomb.

“Don’t let a moment slip away,” he urged, while bounding barefoot through the crowd. The song was inspired by his recent hospital visit for a burst appendix. On this weekend and this day the song’s message particularly resonated with me: “I’m glad to be alive.”

Posted under Music, Religion, Ski Resorts

Tags: festivals, michael franti, reggae, rock, targhee