Sun Valley Blog

Okay, believe it or not, we’re just about down to 100 days until Baldy opens for the 75th winter season… And Apples Bar and Grill at the base of  the Warm Springs ski lifts is presenting the 7th annual Pig Roast and Reggae celebration of the 100 day pre-anniversary. It all happens at the Apple’s restaurant there with a frisbee golf course set up through the Greyhawk parking lot and around the lift bases, finishing up on the street where the Ethan Tucker Band will be supplying the music for the evening. Dinner served Apples-style, and plenty of beer will be flowing. Should be a great time for all. Pack the dogs and kennel the kids, and come on out to join the fun!

Noon- Frisbee Golf
Music starts at 4pm and dinner served at 5pm.
Sun Valley Season Pass raffle- $5 per tickets or 5 for $20

See you there

The guy said, “If you build it, they will come.” Well, The Holdings built it, and last night they came. There were an estimated 6,000 people Sunday night at the Sun Valley Pavilion and on the lawn on a beautiful, clear and warm August evening.

Garth Brooks showed up and with some help from his beautiful wife  Trisha Yearwood, put on a wonderful exhibition of his roots in the music business and his growth to the leading country performer in the world. Who knew that he was such an entertaining story teller?  Mixed in with the great music we have all grown up with, and the touching stories of his dear father, he wowed the crowd for over an hour before bringing out the entire Sun Valley Symphony Orchestra for support. (As back-up? Imagine that!)

It sounded like everybody  had a good time, from the $10,000 per seat folks dancing in the aisles to “I’ve got Friends in Low Places” to all the real country lovers who lined up on the lawn before dawn, and waited all day for a spot in the sun.  By the way, the 360 square foot TV screen made perfect viewing for everybody on the lawn, even those who were left ouside the fence without tickets.

And Garth said it made him think of the “Field of Dreams”

Wish you were there

Who knew that the hilarious Steve Martin, famous for movies like “The Jerk, and “Cheaper by the Dozen” and “Father of the Bride” was also a Banjo virtuoso. I’m told he can really tear it up on a stage, with great classic folk stuff and plenty of rockin’ country to get you up on your feet. Martin has toured all over the country with his Bluegrass band, and promises to give us a show to remember on the stage at the river Run Plaza next Tuesday evening, August 3.

Come on out, bring the kids, and enjoy another perfect sunset on the grounds along the Wood River. Sun Valley will have snacks and a bar set up over by Pete Lanes again in case  the kids get hungry or you would like a cold drink.  

The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile will open at 7pm. Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, will perform at about 8:30. That’s a little late, so be sure to have sweatshirts for the kids and a jacket to stay warm out there. Tickets will be $45 for adults, with a discount for SV Center for the Arts members. It should be a great show, and we’ll all be there, too. Tickets available only through the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

See you there

Yep, that’s right, the world famous rock and roll artist Dave Mason will be performing at River Run tomorrow night!  The music starts at 5:00pm with Kole Moulton and the Lonely Road, and the Disciples of Rock followed by Dave Mason at 7:00pm.  It should be a great show, one that you don’t want to miss.  If you haven’t been to a concert at River Run, this is a perfect chance to come out and see one. Tickets are only $20 for adults, and $5 for kids under 12, available at all Sun Valley ticket outlets.

Sun Valley Resort will offer BBQ items on site, and there will be a no-host bar set up near Pete Lane’s Bike Shop on River Run Plaza.

To add to the fun all the local first responder agencies will be in the River Run parking lot all afternoon showing off their cool gear and new equipment. We’ll see the Blaine County Search and Rescue with their rescue dogs and all the local fire departments.  The USFS Helitac helicopter will be there, as well as the Life Flight helicopter from St. Lukes Hospital.  These are the folks that make it possible for us all to enjoy the mountain life we enjoy in the beautiful Wood River Valley.  This is your chance to meet all these fine community servants and get to know them and find out what they do for us. Have you ever seen a helicopter up close?
See you there.

James Taylor and local favorite Carole King will be continuing their extremely successful national tour tonight with a stop at our River Run Plaza.  Alas, all sold out.  Instantly, in fact, the day they went on sale some months ago. We only wish we had more seats. (Working on it, by the way) And that is why, in case you noticed, the Gondola closed early today. They are setting up the stage for the show all day today.

But all will be back to normal Tuesday morning for all the hikers and bikers and flyers that have been up every day.  And the Weather Service is  forecasting hot, hot, hot weather for the rest of the week so plan to take your lunch break at the Roundhouse, or ride up just for the fresh air, or try an afternoon glass of wine on the deck up there.  I promise you, it is worth the trip.

We’re hearing rumors that they might go back to starting the lifts at 9am instead of 10…Anybody have an opinion on that?  We know there were a few early hikers that got their schedules messed up by the 10:00 opening.  A nice gesture, if they do it.  We’ll see…

Look for our earlier blog with the description of the Bald Mountain Trail. You’ll find it a tough hike up, but a beautiful walk, and a very civilized trip down on the Gondola (free).

See you there

Lip Service Band is performing apres ski from 2-5pm at Warm Springs Feb 27 – March 11. They will perform apres ski at River Run Lodge on Friday & Saturday, March 12 & 13. On Saturday, March 13, special local guests, The Disciples of Rock will perform with Lip Service.

You can also catch Lip Service in the Sun Valley Boiler Room Friday & Saturday, March 5 & 6 and on Friday, March 12. Doors open at 9pm after the comedy series. Comedy patrons stay for free, the first 10 people at the door get in free. Cover is $10. 622-2148

Coles Whalen and her band to play the Sun Valley Boiler Room Friday & Saturday, January 8 & 9, 2010.
Doors open at 9pm ~ Cover is $10 ~ First 10 people at the door get in FREE!

Coles Whalen knows how to jump start a music career, literally. After independently releasing an EP in 2005, she bought a pick-up truck and camper and never looked back. In the next 12 months, she played over 150 venues across the western U.S. and was able to release her follow up, full-length record “Gee Baby,” in February of 2006.

Steppin’ Out Magazine said of the release “Whalen’s voice has more than enough power to carry a rock anthem, but she prefers to use that power to sustain her gentler, more pensive moments. Her pitch and articulation – vocal and instrumental – are flawless.”

Whalen sold more than 10,000 records in the U.S. and Canada straight out of the back of her truck. In 2007 Whalen released her third solo project, “Nothing is Too Much” and parked the camper for good. Forming a new band in her hometown of Denver, CO, she’s opened for Paula Cole, Pat Benatar, The John Butler Trio, Rufus Wainwright, Melissa Ferrick and Reckless Kelley among others.

Ricardo Baca, Pop Music Critic for The Denver Post wrote “Whalen delivers an absolutely great show, she left a lasting impression on me.”

Whalen is not only making waves in the U.S., she and her band were declared the winners of Akon’s HitLab.com Showcase in Montreal, Quebec Canada 2009. The Whistle Stop Road Record, presented by HitLab.com, is Whalen’s fourth solo album, released in October 2009. While on tour to support this record, Whalen will take a few weeks off to be in the studio with producer Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson) and Akon working on her fifth full – length release, expected to hit the airwaves in February of 2010.

“Soulful, powerful, straight from the heart” -Monica Younge, Indie Music Reviews

CROSSTOBERFEST 2009 – WHAT IS IT?

UPDATE:  Treasure Vallery Musik Meisters to play Saturday starting a 3:30.  This is a fantastic 9 piece band including 2 Trumpets, Flugelhorn, Alto horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, Percussion, and a German Singer!

Theme: a Bavarian/Oktoberfest style festival celebrating cyclo-cross bike racing and the advent of winter

Who: Organizer:  Sun Valley Company, Race Promoter:  Bill Olson, Sun Valley Road & Dirt

REGISTER FOR THE RACES HERE:  www.powerhousefitstudio.com

Read more…

Don’t miss EMIKO and her band in the Boiler Room this Thursday night, June 4 at 9pm.  Cover only $5

She will also open the Acoustic Weekend at the Pavilion on Friday, June 5 at 4pm.

www.emikomusic.com

Wednesday, May 27 ~ 9 pm at the Boiler Room
SCOTT H. BIRAM
$5 Cover ~ Drink Specials