Targhee Fest rocks a 10th Year!

(a portion of this piece was published by Planet JH Weekly)For it’s eclecticism, access to National Forest activities, family-friendly vibe, and overall intimate environment in which to experience some of the top touring acts in the world, Targhee Fest is arguably the most anticipated regional festival of the summer each year.Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Targhee Fest will deliver a spectacular lineup this weekend. The three-day fest kicks-off on Friday with local folk/soul duo Benyaro, followed by New Orleans blue-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood, which includes soul singer/percussionist Cyril Neville, Devon Allman, Mike Zito, Yonrico Scott and bassist Charlie Wooton. The Wood Brothers trio continues the blues-rock vibe before handing the stage over to masterful guitar legend Buddy Guy, now seventy-eight years young! The Trap Bar late show on Friday will feature Americana-rockers Jeff Crosby & the Refugees ($5).If only to catch one day of the fest, I’d be partial to Saturday for its six-act stack of varying acts. Seven and eight-string guitarist Charlie Hunter will appear with longtime collaborator and drummer Scott Amendola. Over the next four months, the duo is releasing four five-track EPs, each focusing on the music of a particular artist such as Cole Porter and Hank Williams. Cult alt-country artist Robert Earl Keen will be followed by Americana songstress Amy Helm (daughter of The Band’s Levon Helm) and the Handsome Strangers.Also Saturday, another band of ace players from other successful groups, The Hard Working Americans are a roots-rock and country cover band featuring witty frontman Todd Snider, Dave Schools (of Widespread Panic), guitarist Neal Casal (of Ryan Adams & the Cardinals), keyboardist Chad Staehly, and drummer Duane Trucks. The much-anticipated Chris Robinson Brotherhood, which also includes Casal, will ramp up the evening with material from their three studio albums before headliner Big Head Todd and the Monsters close the day. The Trap Bar late show on Saturday will feature rock band Musketeer Gripweed ($10).As for the four bands on Sunday, you may remember seven-piece powerhouse soul band Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds from Jackson Hole Live a few years ago. They will kick off the day followed by the familiar faces of Nicki Bluhm and TheGramblers, a band that music connoisseurs have seen develop into an infectious unit over the last few years. The third supergroup of the weekend, Trigger Hippy, is fronted by singer Joan Osborne and also includes Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman and multitasker Jackie Greene. The monster of monster bands these days, ten-piece closer Tedeschi Trucks Band, is a phenomenal experience in terms of big band dynamic soul-rock. There’s no better husband-and-wife combination when it comes to the grit of Susan Tedeschi and slide virtuoso Derek Trucks. The Trap Bar late show on Sunday will feature the Americana roots-rock of The Hooligans (free).  10th Annual Targhee Fest, Friday through Sunday at Grand Targhee Resort. $55-$65/daily, $159-$175/three-day. GrandTarghee.com for full schedule and ticketing.