This summer’s Britt season offers a diversity of live performances that create a sense of discovery and community. With that “sense of discovery” in-mind, there’s a wide range of concerts offering you a chance to discover a new favorite band. Here’s a list of some of our “staff picks” with some of our favorite acts playing the Hill this summer:

Leftover Salmon Photo: Tobin Voggesser

Leftover Salmon
Photo: Tobin Voggesser

Fitz and the Tantrums – June 22

One of the most imaginative and energetic bands on the current music scene, Fitz & The Tantrums is a modern pop combo unlike any other. The band combines catchy songs, soul music influences, a charged back-and-forth between co-lead vocalists Fitz and Noelle Scaggs, and a great band taking it right to the edge. You’ll be dancing the night away at this high-energy show.

Leftover Salmon – June 27

If you’re a fan of bluegrass, jam bands, or just incredible musicianship in general, Leftover Salmon is an act for you. First formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1989, Leftover Salmon was one of the first bluegrass bands to add drums and tour rock ‘n’ roll bars, helping Salmon become a pillar of the jam band scene. For this concert, they are joined by Bill Payne, one of the co-founders of the famed rock/jam band Little Feat.

Tori Amos – July 19

One of the most successful and influential artists of her generation, Tori Amos has been a bold voice in music since the beginning of her solo career in the early 1990s. Her music has been described as baroque pop, pop/rock, or piano rock, but however you classify it, it is uniquely her own. Amos has long been known for her adventurous musicality, her personal, sometimes controversial subject matter, and her ability to inspire a generation.

Trombone-Shorty

Trombone Shorty

Two exciting and influential acts from New Orleans will take the Britt stage on August 19. Leading the night is Trombone Shorty, a trumpet and trombone player who grew up in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood. He’s now the frontman for the funk/rock/jazz/hip-hop band Orleans Avenue, and their confident, bold sound brings the spirit of their city with them.

Also on the bill that night is New Orleans’ own Galactic, a funk and jazz jam band that formed 18 years ago in New Orleans when they cut their teeth playing the biggest party in America: Mardi Gras. Their latest album Carnivale Electricos evokes the electric atmosphere of a whole city vibrating together.

The Head and the Heart – September 2

It wasn’t that long ago that the members of Seattle’s The Head and the Heart were busking on street corners, strumming their acoustic guitars, stomping their feet and singing in harmony. That unbridled energy informed their earliest original material, and has made them one of the darlings of indie music today. This is a band that we’ve been pursuing for a couple of years, and we’re proud to welcome them this summer.

There are many more acts on the Britt lineup this summer, and with a wide range of music, there’s sure to be something to delight you. Visit brittfest.org to see video clips, links to artist web sites, buy tickets and more, or call 541-773-6077.

We’ll see you on the Hill!

Posted May 30, 2014