BY KAREN BOSSICK
Get out your Rasta wear.
Reggae in the Mountains in returning to the Wood River Valley after an absence of 10 years.
Danny Walton and his Mountain Niceness Productions is resurrecting Idaho’s original Bob Marley celebration with an evening of uplifting music, unity and good vibes from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at The Liberty Theatre in Hailey.
Headlining the event is Natural Roots, an authentic roots reggae band formed in Salt Lake City in 2004. Founded by lead singer and songwriter Jan van der Beek and bass player Esi Lautaimi, the band is known for original heartfelt compositions.
Their album “Words of Jah” earned international recognition, ranking as the No. 3 reggae album of 2012 on Reggaeville.com.
“Natural Roots is mostly based in Salt Lake, but they have band members from Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand,” said Walton. “They have that real rootsy Hawaiian reggae sound, classic roots reggae.”
The opening band is Daverse, an artist with a unique reggae sound. DJ/Selector Kingfisher Sound will provide Irie sounds and classic reggae beats.
Walton, also known for organizing telemark events on Bald Mountain, organized 12 Reggae in the Mountains concerts before taking time off to raise his children.
“When we started, we were the first Bob Marley celebration in the state of Idaho, celebrating something that happens in more than 150 countries around the world. Now, everybody’s asking me to bring it back, and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Walton.
Walton became immersed in Bob Marley and reggae music as a youngster growing up in Cleveland, Ohio.
“There were a lot of universities in the area and each week there’d be a dozen reggae shows on the radio,” he recounted. “I’m the youngest of a big family and my older brothers were big reggae fans. And a dear family friend put on reggae shows and festivals when I was in high school.”
Show going to be in loving memory of Tom Heinrich who just passed away a coule weeks ago
He was one of our sponsors and used to be right up front at all the old concerts so honoring him and his office is the presenting sponsor. Other title sponsor Tweak Your Teak celebrating 20th anniversary this year refinish teak patio furniture local
This year’s show will be in loving memory of Tom Heinrich, a Realtor who friends say suffered a fatal heart attack while skiing a few weeks ago.
“He was one of our sponsors and used to be right up front at all the old concerts. So, honoring him seems like the right thing to do. Heinrich’s office Sun Valley Associates is the presenting sponsor of Saturday’s concert, taking its place alongside the other title sponsor Tweak Your Teak, which is celebrating 20 years of refinishing teak patio furniture.
Other supporters include La Cabanita, Lee Gilman, Hailey Airport Inn, Wise Guys, Sturtevants, Covered, RBG Custom Title and Jaime Rivetts’ Idaho Social Learning Center.
Tickets start at $35 and are available at https://www.libertytheaterhailey.com/events/raggae-in-the-mountains.