STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Are you ready for some country?
And some reggae punk and Grateful Dead?
Ketch’em Alive kicks off June 17 with a ska/reggae/punk band from Idaho Falls and runs through Aug. 5 when Hailey native Andew Sheppard closes out the free summer concert series with his “Dylanesque: and rock ’n’ roll vibes.
This year’s free concerts curated by the City of Ketchum include something for all ages and musical palates, including folk, soul, funk, pop, R&B, country, classic rock and everything in between.
The concerts will be held at Ketchum’s Forest Service Park, First and Washington streets, on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 17 through Aug. 5. Music lovers are invited to bring a picnic or enjoy food and beverages available to purchase from food trucks lining Washington Street.
This year’s concerts feature a vibrant lineup of national and regional acts:
• June 17: The Opskamatrists
A ska/reggae/punk band from Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Opskamatrists have been a popular choice for music lovers of all ages since 1998. The band will have the crowd dancing to their upbeat, original music and singing along to many well-known cover songs.
• June 24: Hogan & Moss and The Old Weird America
This band performs original music and soulful covers that’ll move your heart and your feet! Enjoy an evening of songs from Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, Blaze Foley, the families Carter and Cash, and more performed as cowpunk two-step, swingy minor blues, or trancey desert ballads with a side of Primitive Modernist Mountain Scorch Folk.
• July 1: Kyshona (Kuh-SHAUN-Uh)
Based in Nashville, TN, Kyshona has a background as a licensed music therapist and is an American singer and songwriter who melds elements of rock, R&B, and folk. Her recent work has been nominated for the UK Americana Music Awards including her newest album, “Legacy,” for International Album of the Year and single, “The Echo,” for International Song of the Year. Performing with the likes of Keb Mo, she weaves her soulful lyrics with a southern rock vibe.
• July 8: Grateful
A Ketchum favorite, this Boise-based tribute band returns, paying respect to the legacy of the Grateful Dead. Each performance is arranged with the intent to capture the natural authenticity and elevated energy of the Grateful Dead's live performances
July 15: Jampoke
Formed in Bozeman, MT, this band brings a fusion of blues and funk that will have crowds on their feet in a full-blown dance party.
• July 22: Tom Conneely and Birds of Paradise
This country-tinged rock project returns to Ketchum to showcase accentuated, heartfelt songwriting, interlocking harmonies, tape-saturated guitars, and Casio beats.
• July 29: The Powell Brothers
From Houston, TX, this country/rock recording artist, fronted by brothers Taylor Powell and Blake Powell, will bring the crowds to their feet!
• August 5: Andrew Sheppard
A Hailey, ID native and local favorite, Andrew will close the season with his “Dylanesque” and straightforward rock ‘n’ roll vibes. His newest album, “Beauty Shop,” will be released in 2025, appealing to fans of Tom Petty, The Growlers, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Black Lips and Deer Tick.