Elkfest 2011 Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th at the Elk in Browne’s Addition
Sun, music, beer, friends, and art summed up Elkfest 2011!
Saturday we listened to Real Life Rockaz and Strength, Sunday included La Cha Cha, Whiskey Dick Mountain, and Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside. We wandered in between Elkfest and Artfest throughout both days. We wish we could of seen more of the Elkfest sets, but our jobs decided to get in the way a bit. The one new exciting part of Elkfest this year was the Terrain Mobile Gallery!
Terrain took a Semi Truck, added stairs, lighting, red curtains and turned it into a mobile gallery! It was very big city delicious and was filled full of gorgeous art. What appeals to me so much about Terrain and what they are doing, is it is art created by my peers and it attracts to not only an older crowd but a younger crowd. There were a few pieces inside the truck that I fell in love with! I loved the idea of a mobile gallery and as I mentioned to Luke, I hope I see this out at more events.
It was so nice that the sun decided to come out and stay out for Elkfest this year, I even managed to get a little sunburn action which I do need to get out of the way for the season. I almost consider Elkfest, as a reunion, because for some reason I manage to run into everyone I know… every year; sometimes people I only see at Elkfest. I guess it is thee place to be.
Real Life Rockaz, with a full dancing crowd under the glistening sun killed it. Pretty sure I counted seven guys on stage who were bringing the soul as their reggae tunes floated across the crowd. There were plenty of instruments to match the amount of people on stage, every single one of their members are very talented and instantly stimulated your earbuds as they performed. From the bongo to the trumpet, it was a fun set.
Strength’s beats were as insane as Hulk Hogan! With a lively front man who even managed to crowd surf, Spokane was loving every single one of their songs. My hips never stopped shaking to their electronic tunes. Looking around everyone was having a blast, I even saw people dancing with the big water jugs that hold down the stage; that’s how good the music and the BEER was. They are a perfect live band and a great way to close out the night with a high force bang. I am counting down the days to see them again, hoping I have a good chance since they are from Portland!
Matt and I were tickled that La Cha Cha was getting together to play at Elkfest. We saw one of their last shows and it was kind of a bummer that they are no longer a Spokane Staple. I went back and looked at our write up from one of La Cha Cha’s last show sand Matt wrote “I can’t think of an Elkfest without La Cha Cha tearing the stage to shreds in the summer heat.” I thought that was pretty cool that Matt had mentioned that and he got what he wished, as they did just that. It was a treat to get to see them play at Elkfest.
Whisky Dick Mountain brought on the heat and the dancing… hallelujah! From little tikes to the big kids everybody put their whole body in, and their whole body out, and their whole body in, and they shook it all about. Whiskey Dick kicked it up ten notches and were sweating on stage in their dress socks, slacks, collared shirts and ties. It was a blast and then some to rock out to their music as the band was working it on stage. I bet you Tambourine Man would have loved to shake the Whiskey Dick Mountain cross tambourine.
Last but not least is a Spokane favorite thanks to Patrick Kendrick and Terrain, we would have not known about the adorable and talented Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside without them. Sallie’s soulful retro vocals are complemented perfectly by her band also known as the Sound Outside… who I would like to add are just as adorable as Sallie. I love the upright bass in the band as well, played by Tyler. I am stuck on her song “Not An Animal” and it was fun to bend my knees to the beat with everyone swaying around me. Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside just released a brand new album hot off the press titled “Dirty Radio” which you can check out on her website and iTunes! Tonight was their first day on their tour and we wish them luck, I am sure many city’s will be charmed by their classy tunes.
Elkfest, I look forward to you every year. My only disappoint was not getting to devour corn pasta this year! However I am more than prepared to enjoy cool music, drink cold beers, and hang with friends under the sun next year.
John Blakesley you deserve a high five and a golden Elk Rack for continuing to book new and favorite bands to perform at Elkfest. We are never disappointed by the music and you always surprise us with new bands to fall in love with. You worked your ass off all weekend and we wanted to tell you Thank You for putting on one of Spokane’s premiere free music events!
