{"id":12761,"date":"2022-06-28T16:47:43","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T23:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seattlewaveradio.com\/?p=12761"},"modified":"2024-05-28T20:25:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T03:25:17","slug":"chinook-fest-2022-were-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seattlewaveradio.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/28\/chinook-fest-2022-were-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinook Fest 2022 – “We’re Back!”"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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FESTIVAL REVIEW\u00a0by Todd Hobert
<\/em><\/span>Seattle Wave Radio Guest – Photographer\/Writer<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chinook Fest \u2013 \"We're Back\"<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sunday, June 12th I was sitting in the courtyard at Jim Spark Community park just outside of Naches Washington. I was watching Sunday morning service with The Wicks. The difference between this servce and any other rural outdoor service is that this was part of the <\/b>ChinookFest<\/a> 2022 Music Festival.
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Visit Todd’s Photo Gallery of Chinook Fest 2022<\/a><\/p>

The Wicks from California bless us every year with this wind down from a very busy weekend and send us all home grounded. Pauline and Jedidiah drop by the last day of this yearly fest with words of encouragement that speaks to all sorts that gather on Sunday morning, sinner, saints, rockers and country folk.\u00a0 I won\u2019t say that being kept up all night before in the camp area that there wasn\u2019t a few hangovers in the crowd.<\/p>

After the service I said goodbye to many friends that I hadn\u2019t seen in over 2 years and made my way back over Chinook Pass to my home in King County.\u00a0 It gave me plenty of time to reminisce about the weekend I had just experienced.<\/p>

The Festival<\/b><\/h3>

Lets talk about the Festival.\u00a0 Not all Festivals are created equal and ChinookFest always delivers.\u00a0 Let me tell you that ChinookFest has had it\u2019s share of challenges. Historically it has been held in September which in that particular part of the state is continually under forest fire watch and up until recently it had not been a problem and as long as I have attended we have never had to evacuate but last year, after a missed year of pandemic, 2021 was canceled because the venue was needed as a staging area for Machinery, People etc. to fight nearby\u00a0 forest fires.\u00a0 The decision was made to relocate the Festival to June.<\/p>

I arrived on Thursday with the Volunteers and any VIPS that could get a few extra days off work.\u00a0 It rained my whole drive over but let off as I arrived at the park\u2026. \u2018God loves me,\u2019 I said.\u00a0 Little did I know.\u00a0 Thursday night would bring the West side downpour I had left just hours before.\u00a0 Friday had some squalls that would upset the Non-PNW attendees, but it was very tolerable and if you are used to it, did not even require an umbrella.<\/p>

ChinookFest always has 2 stages, The main stage and the smaller stage.\u00a0 Music on one while setting up the other keeps things moving quickly for almost continuous music once the day begins. Filling in the few gaps that existed was the awesome MC and Founder of Puyallup Pop group the BGP<\/a>, Brandon Ghorley.\u00a0 He fills the time with notices, announcing the coming groups and if you are lucky he may sing a few lines of a favorite song.\u00a0 There was one hiccup, on Friday with the sound system but the artists were happy to shuffle their stage assignments until it was fixed.\u00a0 We only lost about 40 minutes and everyone got their full set in<\/p>

Cody Beebe, Michelle Bounds VandenBrink \u00a0and Dawn Gardner do an excellent\u00a0 job with this festival.\u00a0 Huge thanks to all the many volunteers who worked so hard all weekend.\u00a0 I think that Cody started this whole thing because he wanted to have a backyard\u00a0 party but the yard just wasn\u2019t\u00a0 big enough.\u00a0 The festival is big enough to draw great acts but still small enough to keep that family reunion feel.\u00a0 It shocks me how many people there that I already know and how many new people I meet every year.<\/span><\/p>

It should be on your calendar next year.<\/p>

The Music<\/b><\/h3>

So it is a music festival so I would be remiss to not mention all the artists.\u00a0 How do I eat this elephant?\u00a0 One genre at a time.\u00a0\u00a0 Chinook is known as a country fest but in reality, no matter your favorite genre of music you will likely be happy.<\/p>

Classic Country:\u00a0 These singers and groups are singing \u00a0old school country from Nashville, Bakersville to West Texas.<\/b><\/p>

Think Fiddles and Steel Guitars.<\/p>

Hannah Dasher<\/a>\u00a0with her deep southern drawl she sings music and tells stories that are best for an adult crowd, but her music is impeccable classic country. She is fun and flirty (Heavy on the Flirty) Chinook fell in love with her in 2019 and her return this year is a testament to that.<\/p>

Jaime Wyatt<\/a>\u00a0from California (Born in the PNW) sang some of her Classics and graced us with songs from her new album Neon Cross.\u00a0 Her songs are very personal and she does not hold back.\u00a0 The album was produced by Shooter Jennings and who she toured with some years ago.\u00a0 Again a returning artist and I would suspect to see her here again if the crowd has anything to say about it.\u00a0 Note that Jamie will be touring back in the PNW July 14 \u2013 16th<\/sup>(Seattle, Spokane and Canby OR)\u00a0 Check her Site for specifics.<\/p>

Jesse Daniel (jessedanielmusic.com)<\/a> is a big hat Texan and his music screams West Texas with lots of Steel Guitar and low string guitar solos.\u00a0 His music moved seamlessly and made you wanted to 2 step in the dirt.\u00a0 He is finally getting to tour his 2020 album as he is releasing his new 2022 album \u2018Beyond These Walls\u201d<\/p>

Robbie Walden Band<\/a>…well it was really just Robbie but he didn\u2019t need the band.\u00a0 You can see the years of stage experience as he works his set, with song and story.\u00a0 He is a traditional Idaho Cowboy with a sweet soul and huge voice.\u00a0 He is currently not touring but has an Ep coming out so I suspect that to change.\u00a0 Keep your eyes open for future dates.<\/p>

Hunter Stiles<\/a> is a local singer.\u00a0 He\u2019s a burly guy with a deep voice who sings classic country (Think Waylon Jennings) and tours on the east side of the state.<\/p>

The Wicks<\/a> are a folk group out of California,\u00a0 They have roots in the PNW but I have never seen them tour here except for ChinookFest.\u00a0 A perfect reason to get your tickets for next year.\u00a0 They debuted their brand new album (Winds of Change<\/a>) at the Fest.<\/p>

Contemporary Country:\u00a0 You know?\u00a0 Country Radio music with some originals mixed in.<\/strong><\/p>

Band of Heathens<\/a> needs little introduction. After 15 years and over a dozen albums, they don\u2019t\u00a0 need to do covers, other bands do covers of them.\u00a0 They do have a cover of Hurricane<\/a> that is continually a show stopper.\u00a0 They fancy themselves a rock band but I can\u2019t imagine them as anything but southern Country Rock.\u00a0 More country then rock, IMHO.\u00a0 \u00a0Guitarists, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, the only original members, trade duties on singing and guitar solos.\u00a0 With the tight harmonies, the whole band has to hold their own, and they do.\u00a0 Super tight and no autotune.\u00a0 Not always perfect but pretty hypnotic.<\/p>

Austin Jenkes<\/a> is a Nashville artist from Duval Washington that competed on Season 5 of the voice.\u00a0 That was when the world got to know him but he has been working locally far earlier than that.\u00a0 He has been a presence at every Chinookfest\u00a0 either performing or pulling up backstage on his motorcycle to encourage his fellow artist.\u00a0 A truly great human being.\u00a0 His set is primarily originals.\u00a0 He weaves personal stories and lessons into his music.\u00a0 As a singer songwriter there is nothing frivolous about his music.\u00a0 With songs like Fat Kid<\/a> and One<\/a> he will reach out to a dead quiet crowd and touch your heart.\u00a0 \u00a0Friends Cody Beebe and Skyler Mehal (SuperMother) joined him for the second half of his set and ended with Simple Man<\/a>.<\/p>

American Honey<\/a> fronted by Femail powerhouse, Audre Belt covers the genere of popular country radio emphising happy powerful music that makes you want to dance and have a good time.\u00a0 Audre has put together a solid backing band.\u00a0 Any band that has a Fiddle in it gets me excited.\u00a0 If she adds a steel guitar she will have the perfect product.\u00a0 They are popular and have a full schedule<\/a> in the eastern Washington area and it is easy to see why.<\/p>

Blake Noble<\/a>\u00a0 I always have a problem categorizing Blakes band because it really does defy obvious boundaries.\u00a0 Typically BNB is instrumental and consists mostly of percussion guitar and didgeridoo from his native Australia.\u00a0 This year he split the set with BNB and his other project, \u2018Thunder Honey\u201d with singer Kaylee Jorene.\u00a0 I liked this because it let us see another part of Blakes personality.\u00a0 It was a good mix and everyone was excited to see the new stuff.<\/p>

Hillstomp<\/a>\u00a0 Imagine a guitar\/Banjo player and a guy beating on a bassdrum, , cymbal and a 5 gallon bucket.\u00a0 If that sounds odd you have never heard the hurricane that is Portland\u2019s Hillstomp.\u00a0 You know something big is going to happen when the front row of fans pushes the barrier forward just to get closer and drummer John Johnson was helping them.\u00a0 A couple heavy thumps on the bucket and they are off.\u00a0 A crazed busker show, or a front porch performance in the rural south fueled by moonshine.\u00a0 Call it what you want but it is 45 minutes of fans jumping and screaming and John on his bucket with Henry Hill Kammerer on Guitars.\u00a0 After having seen several shows, what I thought was crazed mayhem is actually either well coordinated or 2 guys who are pointed in the same direction and know where they want to go.\u00a0 Gimmick or talent?\u00a0 It\u2019s a little bit gimmick and a lot of talent.\u00a0 Both musicians work well and I would hate to underestimate the talent of Henry putting out such and incredible amount of sound.\u00a0 45 mins later everyone is dripping in sweat and out of breath wanting to go another round.\u00a0\u00a0 Hillstomp tours pretty extensively in the PNW.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen their show at most the typical Seattle and Spokane venues and of course you can usually find them playing in the Portand area.\u00a0 They are an amazing fun time.<\/p>

Contemporary Pop<\/strong><\/h3>

The Shop Singers <\/a>\u00a0By their own admission, \u00a0Walla Walla\u2019s Shop Singers are a sub-genre of a sub-genre. They categorize themselves as Xennial Rock but that doesn\u2019t exist on amazon music so PopRock it is for my purposes.\u00a0 It was an engaging set. And their loyal fans showed up in force.\u00a0 I liked Chris Jonlick.\u00a0 He is engaging and works the crowd well though he seemed to already know most of them.\u00a0 Also a shout out to Nate Carlile on guitar.<\/p>

Kate Dinsmore<\/a>\u00a0 Kate will surprise you, at first glance she seems quiet a little shy maybe.\u00a0 The second she straps on that guitar and starts to sing, you realize how wrong you are.\u00a0 She has a strong soulful voice that will push you back if you aren\u2019t ready for it. \u00a0Kate moves the music like a roller coaster.\u00a0 Taking you to highs and lows, giving you a short rest before she takes you to the top again.\u00a0 She has spend a few years out of state but she is back and working hard.\u00a0 She has some shows<\/a> in the Seattle area in July as well as a spot at this years Timber! Outdoor Music Festival.<\/a><\/p>

Haley Johnsen<\/a>\u00a0 I fell in love with her at her at Chinookfest 2019.\u00a0 When she hit the stage this year it was Haley on steroids.\u00a0 Her presence, her band and gotten so much better in the last few years, she was barely recognizable.\u00a0 It was an incredible set. As she pushed through a very upbeat Pop\/Folk 45 minute set and captivated the audience as the festivals first evening set on the main stage.\u00a0 Everything was sharp.\u00a0\u00a0 She is out of Portland and not currently touring until she returns from Nashville.\u00a0 I know there is talk about getting her to Washington State more often.\u00a0 That would be a good thing for everyone.<\/p>

Chase Craig Band<\/a>\u00a0 Chase is a keyboard player and that gives his band a very distinct sound.\u00a0 It separates him from al the other guitar heavy bands.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 He has the full band but when a song is written on piano for piano it just has a different feel.\u00a0 I am talking about his live music here.\u00a0 His recording have a different feel all together, which is not unusual for any artist.\u00a0 Chase has a gritty, blusey voice and flowy songs.\u00a0 I personally find that they lack a standard structure not unlike the grateful dead.\u00a0 This is neither good nor bad, just a note that I made at the time.<\/p>

Wolfchild<\/a> is a project of brothers, Gabriel Wolfchild and Elion Truthheart.\u00a0 Their music is folk and very melodic.\u00a0 Gabriel\u2019s voice is weeping and expressive (Think Damian Rice) which is a perfect match to the orchestration they provide in their show.\u00a0 As mentioned, I\u2019m a sucker for Violin but when you add a Cello I\u2019m pulling up a chair and making popcorn.\u00a0 I\u2019m there for the full set.\u00a0 Gabriel sings\/plays guitar and his brother is the drummer.\u00a0 Elion is creative and his drumming adds to the \u201cCinematic\u201d feeling the band is looking for and it is fun to watch the band weave their parts and subtle harmonies to create such emotion.\u00a0 They have a couple shows in the area and are playing Summer Meltdown<\/a> at the end of July.\u00a0 Check them out.<\/p>

Rock.\u00a0 What the rest off you are looking for<\/strong><\/h3>

SuperMother<\/a>\u00a0 what happens to a guitar player that plays for so many other bands, as a working guitar player will do? you start a band and can play whatever you want.\u00a0 Skyler Mehal created SuperMother Band.\u00a0 If you like Rock or dare I say ProgRock, (I am walking on thin ice with that one) you would have been very happy with this set.\u00a0 It gives Skyler a chance to do what everyone has always wanted;\u00a0 just cut loose.\u00a0 Not sure if it was a music set or a therapy session but I have never seen him so happy.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s not just a huge guitar solo.\u00a0 Skyler love the art of song too much for that, but a confessed music nerd and loves to tweek and push boundaries. Here he can do all of that.\u00a0 He\u2019s the boss.<\/p>

Kilo Bravo<\/a>\u00a0 Kristopher Butcher is no stranger to ChinookFest but Kilo Bravo is.\u00a0\u00a0 Kristopher was a former guitarist with Chinookfest iconic regulars Robert Jon and the Wreck.\u00a0 Kilo Bravo reflects Kristopher\u2019s in your face rock personality. He is an intense guitar player with a ton of talent. \u00a0It\u2019s not a mess and has catchy licks that will haunt you as you leave the show.\u00a0 It was no surprise that he guested on a few songs with SuperMother.\u00a0 \u00a0It was a great set and as a vote of confidence KB\u2019s first Chinookfest show was on the big stage.\u00a0\u00a0 The band is out of Southern California and just finished 2 shows in Washington\u00a0 Keep a lookout as Kristopher may want to come back up this way later this year.<\/p>

Quaker City Night Hawks<\/a>\u00a0 The QCNH really has the full meal deal, great writing, great instrumental and great vocals.\u00a0 They say they are a rock band, and that is true but they can\u2019t hide their southern influence.\u00a0 Rock and blues with a gritty instrumental backdrop.\u00a0 \u00a0When they aren\u2019t channeling 70\u2019s southern rock they are slapping distorted blues licks and screeching out their pain.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a fun and diverse set of songs. Their albums are great but well worth anything to see them live.<\/p>

Brett Benton <\/a>\u00a0Hidden Gem Award!! Your Bio says Hill Country Delta Blues and you don\u2019t look old enough to have enough grief to even know what the blues are about.\u00a0 On top of that, you got bumped to the big stage due to an audio snafu that scrambled the artist schedule, you got to bring it big.\u00a0 Brett a skinny kid with a drummer and a harmonica player.\u00a0 Ouch!!\u00a0 You are playing to the large audience venue.\u00a0 That is a tough pull.\u00a0 Are we all sufficiently worried?\u00a0 Not a problem.\u00a0 Brett is a one man band with a rich gritty voice and some serious guitar skills.\u00a0 The drummer and harmonica by Ty Paxton from (Cody Beebe & The Crooks) were just added flavor.\u00a0 When he pulls out his metal resonator Guitar and throws a glass slide on his fret finger I knew it was only going to get better.\u00a0 Brett crushed his set.\u00a0 He is PNW based.\u00a0 Check out his schedule.<\/p>

Cody Beebe & The Crooks<\/a>\u00a0 Ramping up the Saturday main stage was always the most awaited act and one of the Cofounders of Chinookfest, Cody Beebe and his band the Crooks. Cody is a shaker and mover in the Yakima Valley area and is at home on this stage and with this particular venue.\u00a0 He comes out with just a guitar in a soft song to calm everyone down and then the band joins him into an epic set of CBTC Best of with songs from their new album, \u2018Home To Us\u2019<\/a>\u00a0 Very much a crowd favorite, Cody lays out a heavy rock\/country set.\u00a0 He does a good job of mixing styles and tempo keeping the audience guessing what might be next.<\/p>

Cody doesn\u2019t quit smiling all weekend but never seems happier than when he is on stage playing with his long time band of brothers, The Crooks.\u00a0\u00a0 You are having fun because they are having so much fun.\u00a0 Being in the photo pit I see a lot.\u00a0 I\u00a0 love the eye contact, head nods and facial expressions form a group that has played so long that they know each other\u2019s thoughts. Such a great production.<\/p>

Cody Gives so much back to the community and in the past he used this set to sing with other artists.\u00a0 This years he kept it to a minimum, Pauline Wick and Auistin Jenckes.\u00a0 Pauline as we discussed sings folk music at the Sunday morning service, but Cody knows what we all know now.\u00a0 She is a closet rocker with a huge voice and she just lets it go and Cody is happy to keep up and maybe just turn it up a notch.\u00a0 That was probably the crescendo of the rock music.\u00a0 Austin was asked up on stage.\u00a0 Cody and Austin are longtime friends and in fact they toured together.\u00a0 A couple of songs later, I think Cody called an audible and asked if the crowd wouldn\u2019t mind if Austin and he sing a few more songs.\u00a0 No one was disappointed.<\/p>

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>

ChinookFest is a great opportunity to hear great music with a lot of great friends.\u00a0 The venue is easily the most beautiful I\u2019ve seen.\u00a0 Keep and eye on the website for next year.\u00a0 Get in early if you need RV camping as it sells out quick.\u00a0 Times can be hard and some people can\u2019t always afford to go\u2026.\u00a0 Consider volunteering.\u00a0 In exchange for some work you get access to the festival. The guy who helped me unload my camping gear stood next to me at several shows.\u00a0 See music and help festivals survive.\u00a0 Without volunteers, these festivals simply wouldn\u2019t happen.<\/p>

Visit Todd’s Photo Gallery of Chinook Fest 2022<\/a><\/p>

TODD HOBERT<\/p>

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FESTIVAL REVIEW\u00a0by Todd HobertSeattle Wave Radio Guest – Photographer\/Writer Chinook Fest \u2013 “We’re Back” (2022) Sunday, June 12th I was sitting in the courtyard at Jim Spark Community park just outside of Naches Washington. I was watching Sunday morning service with The Wicks. The difference between this servce and any ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"sync_status":"none","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[158],"series":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/seattlewaveradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hillstomp-ChinookFest-2022-37-scaled.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/seattlewaveradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SWR-logo_Castos-tiled-background_blue-jeans.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/seattlewaveradio.com\/feed\/podcast\/seattle-wave-radio","embedCode":"

Chinook Fest 2022 – “We’re Back!”<\/a><\/blockquote>