Canadian icon kicks off Music on Main

From JH Weekly, Edition 6/29/11Proudly offering its sixth season of free Music on Main concerts, the Teton Valley Foundation continues to step it up each year. The setting in Victor City Park is beautiful and family-friendly, the line-up is strong and eclectic with a consistent New Orleans thread running through it, and opportunities to volunteer are rewarded with lift tickets and other freebies.Kicking off the seven-week stint of Thursday concerts is one of the most well known Canadian singer-songwriters, and perhaps one of the most overlooked names to emerge from the 1960s: Bruce Cockburn. Cockburn has been extremely prolific throughout his restless career. As a lyricist who has consistently challenged social injustices and personally been in the trenches of humanitarian efforts, Cockburn provides reason for us to step back and analyze the work he has produced.Ponder Cockburn’s 13 Juno Award, induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, officer of the Order of Canada, seven honorary doctorates, and most recently his addition to the Canadian Recording Artists stamp series. Cockburn released his 31st studio album, Small Source of Comfort, in March, joining a long list of 20 gold and platinum-selling albums that draw from early rock ‘n’ roll, country, free jazz and ethnic music. Much of his inspiration is sparked from his travel abroad.“It’s so much different to see an impoverished country or a war zone up close than to watch at a comfortable distance on the television,” Cockburn told Premiere Guitar earlier this year. “I don’t feel like I’m doing the real work, but through my songs I can bring attention to these issues.”During a sampling of his 40-year recording career, his voice brings to mind Paul Simon and James McMurtry, while the era and production qualities of his most successful stint in the 80s reminds me of Dire Straits. Some may be turned off by the “hip” 80s synthesizers and production of his bigger hits—“Wondering Where the Lions Are” and “If I Had a Rocket Launcher”—but even if you didn’t live through the era, the subjects and content are timeless.As for opener Isaac Hayden, a Jackson native who relocated to Nashville a few years ago, he’s been gaining traction in the large pond. Along with opening slots for Keb Mo’ and Tony Joe White, the pop-soul singer-songwriter is working on a new EP with Dave Pahanish who wrote Keith Urban’s recent No. 1 single, “Without You.”New for this year, Teton Valley Foundation is introducing a “FastLane” program. Concertgoers that give a donation of $40 or more online atTetonValleyFoundation.com will be able to slide right past the lines. Or consider volunteering; you’ll be rewarded with pizza and a beer, and receive entry into a raffle, and, depending on your level of commitment, free lift tickets.And you might want to give some thought about how you’re getting over to Victor. Here’s an idea: ride the bus. START Bus offers one pick-up in Alta and two pick-ups in Driggs with incentives to get a break on your bus ticket and even discounted beer at the show. Or catch the bus to/from Jackson. A roundtrip will set you back a measly $8 roundtrip, $5 one-way.Music on Main begins at 6 p.m., Thursday, at Victor City Park in Victor. Free and all-ages. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. Vendors will be on-site to provide a variety of food options, beer and wine.