Paper Bird and Great American Taxi will complete Sunday’s line up at the 6th Annual Grand Targhee Music Festival July 16-18.

A quick skim of the Paper Bird myspace page might have you thinking they’re a better fit for Bluegrass Fest (it’s that banjo), but the small horn section – a trumpet and trombone – of this seven piece band gives them a sound NPR dubbed “deliberately vintage.”  They are one of Colorado’s most popular live acts, and sell out venues – including the renowned Boulder Theater – weekly.  We’re thrilled to welcome them to the best stage in the Tetons.

In the past five years, Great American Taxi has become one of the best-known headliners on the jam band circuit.  Their uninhibited sound is a swinging concoction of swampy blues, progressive bluegrass, funky New Orleans strut, Southern boogie, honky tonk country, gospel, and good ol’ fashioned rock ’n’ roll. Great American Taxi was born when singer, guitarist, and mandolin player Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon joined keyboard player and singer Chad Staehly for a superstar jam to benefit the Rainforest Action Group in Boulder, in March of 2005. Their new album, titled “Reckless Habits” (and featuring a hilarious photo of smoking nuns) just went to number 3 in the current Relix/Jambands.com jam band radio charts.

With Katchafire and Michael Franti and Spearhead rounding out the Sunday line up, the closing day of the festival promises as much energy as the opener.  Two additional bands and the winner of the Battle of the Bands competition, to be determined this Saturday at the Spud Drive-In, will finish up the festival line up.  For the current schedule, visit our festival web page.

GRAND TARGHEE BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMPETITION MOVES TO FINAL ROUND
Targhee Fest Opening Band will be Decided During Concert at Spud Drive-In

After a month of online voting that saw over 5,000 individual votes, the top five bands in the first Grand Targhee Battle of the Bands competition will take to the stage at the Spud Drive-In on Saturday, June 5 at 5:30 pm.

Pinedale, Wyoming’s The Tie Hacks received the most votes during the first Grand Targhee Resort Battle of the Bands competition. Separated from them by just a handful of votes are local acts LunKuR, Mandatory Air and Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit. Burning Olympus of Provo, Utah was the fifth band to make the cut.

The concert at the Spud Drive-In is the final round in the Battle of the Bands competition and will determine which band will open the 6th Annual Grand Targhee Music Festival on Friday, July 16. Tickets will be sold the day of the show at the entrance to the Spud Drive-In and are $5. Each attendee will receive a wooden Targhee nickel with which to cast their vote during the concert. A panel of judges will also be involved in the final decision. The band that receives the most votes will be deemed the winner, and will be announced online at grandtarghee.com and targheemusic.com on Sunday, June 6.

Thanks to all of you who have supported original music in this competition! We have a new album coming out called “Brown Chicken Brown Cow”, all original, all instrumental funk and bluegrass written right here in the tetons. You can check out some rough tracks at www.myspace.com/funkgrassunit. Thanks again for all the local and long distance support!

Having lots of fun in the competition! Way cool to get all these votes and input from all the different Music Lovers and Bands. Rock On!

Those of us sitting in Wydaho right now might feel like winter will never end (as it continues to dump outside my window). But fear not, a glimmer of hope shines through the icy fists of winter today all the way from New Zealand as we learn that Katchafire has just agreed to Play Targhee Fest! They are scheduled to play Sunday before Michael Franti, let’s hope their warm beats and island style reggae can turn the heat up on our frigid little corner of the country.

These guys released their debut album Revival back in 2003 and have been gaining steam ever since, opening shows for bands like Damien Marley and Micheal Franti and Spearhead. They have gained a reputation as one of New Zealand’s hardest working bands touring all over the world from Hawaii to Ireland. They’re a perfect fit for Sunday’s lineup with Michael Franti and Spearhead, infusing their unique Maori heritage with roots reggae to create some truly fascinating music.

Here’s a little something to warm you up:

Katchafire – Get away by Katchafire

The first act of the summer music series at the Trap Bar is confirmed!  The Trishas will play the Trap at 8:30 pm on Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Their self-described sound: think of what would happen if Texas dirt, Mississippi River water, City Lights, and Apple Pie all sat down in a pickin’ circle at an Austin, TX backyard party. This combination creates a kind of soul that no definition is worthy to define, and plants a seed of bluegrass that gives blues a place to grow from. Add a couple country accents, a lot of truth to be told, and rhythm you couldn’t shake a stick at…but you’ll want to…and you’ve got The Trishas.