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First Friday Night at the Festival at Sandpoint featuring Brandi Carlile: Sandpoint Blog

By Gary Lirette

Services for Real Estate Pros

August 08, 2010 04:26 AM

This first Friday was awesome. Happy, smiling people, great music, and a magical, warm summer night.

The Festival at Sandpoint is always something special. Here are the pics:

Waiting in line to enter the Festival at Sandpoint

The mad rush of people at the opening of the Festival at Sandpoint

Robin and Kelly planting their spot at the Festival at Sandpoint

Suzan Fishkin from Sandpoint Transition Initiative lending a hand at the Festival at Sandpoint

The sun sets as the crowd settles in at the Festival at Sandpoint

Singing the National Anthem at the Festival at Sandpoint

IAN McFERON plays Friday night at the Festival at Sandpoint

Opening the evening was fellow Northwest artist IAN McFERON who weaves together a variety of roots-Americana styles to create his own unique blend, inspiring his listeners with his sincere poetic verse and beautifully crafted songs ranging from acoustic folk-rock and gritty alt-country blues to heartfelt, soulful ballads and driving, danceable backbeat grooves.

IAN McFERON plays Friday night at the Festival at Sandpoint

BRANDI CARLILE takes the stage at the Festival at Sandpoint

BRANDI CARLILE at the Festival at Sandpoint

BRANDI CARLILE has this hauntingly beautiful voice. She had been scheduled to appear on Diane Michael's show on KPND, but had to cancel due to bronchitis. What a trouper. Listening to her alto, smooth vocals gave me chills. Her roots in country music, including the undeniable influence of Patsy Cline, branched out when she became a fan of rock, folk and pop artists like Elton John, who is now one of her biggest fans and duets with the alt-country-folk-rock darling on her song "Caroline" from her latest album, Give Up The Ghost. After forming a band with twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth and debuting with herself-titled album in 2005, the Washington State-bred Carlile saw her fanbase mushroom with her sophomore disc, The Story in 2007, boasting songs like the title track and "Turpentine." Several of Carlile's songs have appeared in commercials and on televisions shows such as Grey's Anatomy. Along the way, she has toured with the likes of Ray LaMontagne, and Sheryl Crow, who raved about Carlile's performances: "She has the most amazing voice I may have ever heard. Soulful. Country. Perfect in every way-and propelled by taste."

BRANDI CARLILE at the Festival at Sandpoint

The Festival at Sandpoint along the Pend Oreille River in Sandpoint, Idaho

Gary Lirette, featured in Where To Retire magazine and host of the Tuesday noon local radio shows: North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts.

Gary Lirette, REALTOR & host of the N Idaho Business radio show