12 JUNE 22-29, 2022 SOUND CHECK WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Jackalope Jamboree kicks off three nights of music Event is June 23-25 at Happy Canyon Arena By Tammy Malgesini Go! Magazine PENDLETON — In just its third year of existence, Jack- alope Jamboree gets underway Thursday, June 23. The gates open at 4 p.m. at Happy Canyon Arena, 1601 Westgate. The mu- sic starts at 5 p.m, and closing out the night is headliner Reck- less Kelly at 8:10 p.m. The three-day country and Americana music festival continues Friday, June 24, with Turnpike Troubadours headlin- ing at 9:10 p.m. And closing out the event on Saturday, June 25, the headliner is Mike & The Moonpies at 9:10 p.m. The gates open the final two days at 3 p.m. In all, 20 musical acts will take the stage throughout the festival — including Olivia Harms (5 p.m.), Eli Howard & the Greater Good (5:45 p.m.), Tylor & the Train Robbers (6:30 p.m.) and Jeff Crosby (7:20 p.m.) The Turnpike Troubadours are headlining Friday, June 24, 2022, the second night of the Jackalope Jamboree. The three-day country and Americana music festival is June 23-25 at Happy Canyon Arena, Pendleton. Jackalope Jamboree/ Contributed Photo on Thursday. On Friday, other acts include Our Songs Are Alive (4 p.m.), Colin Harris Jr. (4:40 p.m.), Jesse Daniel (5:25 p.m.), James Dean Kindle (6:15 p.m.), Shane Smith & the Saints (7 p.m.) and Darci Carlson (8:15 p.m.). And on Saturday, catch White Rose Motor Oil (3:30 p.m.), Jenny Don’t and the Spurs (4:15 p.m.), Elwood (5:05 p.m.), Robert Francis + The End Times (5:50 p.m.), Black Belt Eagle Scout (6:40 p.m.), Margo 11am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday Cilker (7:25 p.m.) and Rob Leines (8:15 p.m.). According to Chad Colwell, one of the event’s organizers, landing Turnpike Troubadours “is kind of a big draw for us.” He said in less than a month, ticket sales doubled as compared to all of last year’s festival. Turnpike Troubadours, a Oklahoma-based Red Dirt band, announced an indefinite hiatus in May 2019. After hitting the reset button two-plus years later, they have played to sold- out crowds. The band is said to merge “folk, country, bluegrass, Cajun, and straight-out rock dynamics into a gritty, timeless blend.” Colwell said another impor- tant factor is mixing up the line- up. In addition to national tour- ing and traveling acts, he said it’s important to tip a hat to local musicians or those with ties to the region — that includes such talent as James Dean Kindle (Pendleton), Elwood (Union) and Tylor & the Train Robbers (Boise by way of Helix). “Pendleton and Eastern Or- egon has a tremendous music scene,” Colwell said. “There’s a lot of great music and we want to showcase them.” Ticket options include two- and three-day packages ($115- $165), as well as single-day tickets ($30-$65). Kids 12 and younger are admitted free with paying adults. In addition, food and beverages will be available for purchase. For a link to ticket information, visit www.jack- alopejamboree.com.