POCATELLO — In less than one week, FMC Park northwest of Pocatello will begin to fill with stages, tents, canopies and vendors with the return of Shady Grove Music Camp.
Attendees of the music festival, back for it's fifth iteration, will begin to setup for two days in a secluded sanctuary where the shrill calls of resident peacocks and their radiant sapphire blue and iridescent turquoise tailfeathers provide a warm welcoming.
The gates open on July 19 at 1:30 p.m. and again the next day on July 20 at 11 a.m., with both days seeing live musical acts play until 1 a.m. Overnight camping is available both days for anyone interested in enjoying Idaho’s beautiful outdoors and its serene nature.
Tickets can be purchased at shadygrovemusiccamp.com and cost $65 for a weekend pass with camping included, $60 for the standard weekend pass and $40 for individual day passes. A family friendly, all ages affair, kids under 13 get in free with an accompanying adult.
Shady Grove utilizes three unique stages with staggered acts that permit each band or artist to play their sets before a smooth transition to a different band on a separate stage. Attendees will easily be able to set out their lawn chairs and blankets and be fully surrounded by bands performing all afternoon and into the evening with no changeover or wait times.
Over 30 bands playing almost entirely original music will be participating this year including headliners AL1CE from Los Angeles, California; Banshee Tree from Denver, Colorado; WARPONY and the Troubadours from Missoula, Montana; and Lee Rafugee from Salt Lake City, Utah.
From indie folk, rock and blues to funk, experimental, hip-hop and even electronic dance music, there will be plenty of unique soundscapes to experience for aficionados of every genre and style.
Jim Dandy Brewing is returning for the third time to provide thirsty festival-goers with their usual gambit of delicious specialty brews, light and palatable domestics and gluten-free options. Outside alcohol is not permitted at the event but patrons are welcome to bring their own beverages and food. Propane stoves are allowed in the camping area, but the use of charcoal is prohibited. Due to the peacocks that roam FMC park, only service animals are allowed at the venue.
For those looking to whet their appetites with a bit of local cuisine, food from Angel's Tacos and Stick & Scones Food Trolley will be on site both days.
The event will feature numerous craft vendors, interactive art installations and live muralists along side the musical performers.
“Shady Grove in 2024 will feature The Glen Allen Project, or GAP, with sun prints and water marbling for an interactive community art project," Shady Grove said in a recent news release. "There will also be three muralists at the Grove this year working on unique individual art projects. The Pocatello Art Collective will be at the Grove displaying art from a multitude of mediums by local artists, some of which will also be available for purchase."
The news release continued, "At least 20 different vendors and original art creators will be participating in Shady Grove in 2024, offering a wide variety of handcrafted merchandise and there is sure to be something for everyone looking to support a local artist or crafter. Vendors include clothing, handmade bird feeders, crochet, prints, wooden staffs, jewelry, and rocks."
Thanks to the shaded overhangs of large elm, cottonwood and willow trees there should be a plethora of cool areas to relax under and escape the hot July sun. Periodically, during the hottest portions of the day, a 2-inch fire hose will blast refreshing water into the air for everyone to run under. There will also be plenty of complimentary hydration stations, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers.
Shady Grove was conceptualized in 2019 by Caleb Rosenkrance — a local musician who is the vocalist and guitarist for Pocatello’s own Hot Pursuit and bass for hip-hop jazz-funk band LOOT — and Pocatello resident Mike Engle, who operates Portal Productions, a sound production company.
Engle has become an essential contributor every year through his dedication to the festival and his altruistic donations of equipment.
Through the efforts of additional Shady Grove organizers Ariona Brown, Becky Radenz, Shelbie Harris, Chris Williams and John Eckert, the exciting summer music festival has become a quintessential part of the Gate City and surrounding areas.
“The beginning of every year is really cool before the event happens and the few months leading up to it,” Rosenkrance said. “It's cool to see the excitement from people who know about Shady Grove. As we're going into our fifth event, it's cool to see people who have never been to the event but have heard a bunch about it and are still stoked to go. I think my favorite thing is just knowing that the community appreciates it and the majority of them are excited for it to happen. The community really appreciates it.”
Rosenkrance continued, “We've always had a pretty great outreach of volunteers to help us throw the event. We're able to pay bands a good amount, even our local bands we're able to pay relatively well compared to bars and (other) shows and stuff. I'm just proud of us being able to do some of these things successfully, not only for us, but for our guests, and for the volunteers and the bands that come to perform.”
As long as there are people who love music, Shady Grove Music Camp will have a place in the hearts of the residents of Gate City and far beyond, creating a memorable event that is often times a highlight of the action-packed Idaho summer.
This event is sponsored by Idaho State Journal, KISU, Jim Dandy Brewing, Studio 305, Goody’s, Integrity Body Arts, Monks Auto Reconditioning, Nugget CBD, Portal Productions, Cue & Brews, Bella-Nacole Mental Health Services, Soulscape Yoga Studio, Barricade, Center Street Bar & Grill, Connections Credit Union, Main Street Music, Angel’s Tacos, Mocha Madness, Chubby’z, Deckadence, Sticks and Scones, The Human Bean and Brick 243 Gastropub.
For more information and answers to frequently asked questions visit shadygrovemusiccamp.com . To check out Shady Grove Music Camp's social media accounts, watch promotional videos and listen to many of the bands that will be performing by visiting linktr.ee/shady_grove_music_camp . FMC Park is located at 10811 N. Rio Vista Road in Pocatello.
Most Popular
Comments / 0