Festival at Sandpoint announces lineup

| May 14, 2010 9:00 PM

SANDPOINT - The Festival at Sandpoint celebrates its 28th annual summer concert series, Aug. 5-15, with eight nights of music under the stars, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint.

The season line-up welcomes back some favorite Festival artists who have performed to sell-out crowds over the past 10 years, including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Keb' Mo', Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Natalie MacMaster.

The alumni are complemented by new musical guests Brandi Carlile and Michael Franti & Spearhead - who are amongst the most requested Festival artists - as well as up-and-comers Kristina Train and Crooked Still.

The Festival opens Aug. 5 with the multi-platinum selling neo-swing hipsters Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. It wraps up Aug. 15 with the Grand Finale Concert: Russian Masterpieces and features the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Gary Sheldon, and special guest piano soloist Archie Chen.

In between will be other acts including:

Friday, Aug. 6 - The Festival welcomes rising star Brandi Carlile.

Saturday, Aug. 7 - The Festival presents "Super Blues Saturday" starring sensational blues man Keb' Mo'.

Sunday, Aug. 8 - The Festival's Family Concert promises to be a day of musical fun for the young and young at heart. "Peter and the Wolf" will feature the Spokane Youth Orchestra and Sandpoint's Studio One Dancers.

Thursday, Aug. 12 - The second week of The Festival takes off with virtuoso Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster.

Friday, Aug. 13 -Michael Franti and Spearhead, with The Pimps of Joytime the opening act.

Saturday, Aug. 14 - Super Country Saturday stars favorite Festival alumni (from 1999 and 2002) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Tickets go on sale starting today in The Festival at Sandpoint Office in the Old Power House, 120 E. Lake St., Suite 207 in Sandpoint. Phone orders may be placed by calling the Festival Office locally (208) 265-4554 or toll free (888) 265-4554. Tickets are also available for purchase online at the Festival's secure website: www.FestivalAtSandpoint.com.