WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
19
SOUND CHECK
JUNE 29�JULY 6, 2022
Joseph Mountain Jubilee returns with 2 days of music
By Katy Nesbitt
Go! Magazine
JOSEPH — The Joseph
Mountain Jubilee returns after
a two-year break, bringing roots
music to Joseph’s downtown
July 2 and 3.
In 2012 Tammy Kruger, a
local nurse, musician and music
festival afi cionado, wanted to
bring a festival to Joseph, but
with a twist — instead of one
venue stage for several acts,
local restaurants, bars and
the Wallowa County Farmers
Market would provide space
for bands. Entry would be free
and music fans would be able to
order food and drink from the
hosting venue.
“I was visiting with my friend
Hillary Valentine who was the
manager of Mutiny is Brewing at
the time, and I told her I wanted
to have a festival and she said,
‘Ok, let’s do it,’” Kruger said.
The local businesses easily
adopted the idea and this year,
after skipping 2020 and 2021
due to the COVID-19 pandem-
ic, the tradition of the Joseph
Mountain Jubilee is back on Jo-
seph’s Main Street, showcasing
eight bands at fi ve venues over
Independence Day weekend.
Getting things started from
10 a.m.-noon on July 2, Gabriel
Bush, a singer-songwriter and
guitarist from “around the world
and sometimes Joseph,” plays
at the Wallowa County Farmers
Market. Bush is followed by the
“Burns Family Band” playing
fi ddle tunes at the market from
noon-2 p.m.
Across the street from the
Farmers Market, from 2-4 p.m.,
is the Mimosa Party at Bly-
the Cricket featuring Wallowa
County’s own “Calico Bones,”
the sister duo of Madison and
Mckenzie Lindsey. Come hear
these singer songwriters per-
form acoustic rock covers and
soulful originals.
From 3-5 p.m. “The Bad Pen-
ny Pleasuremakers” of New Or-
leans bring their old time music
to Embers Brewhouse outdoor
stage. Northeastern Oregon
music lovers are well-familiar
with Matt Bell and Joy Patter-
son’s unique, early 20th century
sound as they make several
stops throughout the region
each summer.
From 5-6:30 p.m. the Mos-
cow, Idaho, band “Corn Mash”
plays at the Gold Room. Their
sound is a mix of rock, country,
blues, folk, hillbilly, punk and
funk, so be prepared for danc-
ing.
Singer-songwriter and guitar-
ist “Elwood” plays his signature
folk-roots style songs, inspired
by the natural world, at the Rusty
Spur from 5-7 p.m.
Grizzly Goat, based in Nash-
ville, plays “undomesticated folk
rock” from 7-10 p.m. at Embers
Brewhouse.
An “old-soul folk songwrit-
er with a modern indie edge,”
Portland’s Olivia Awbrey and her
band will close out the day at the
Wallowa County Chieftain, fi le
The last Joseph Mountain Jubilee — featuring bands like The Local Yokels — was held in 2019. It returns to Joseph
this year, July 2-3.
Rusty Spur from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
Sunday night The Stubborn
Mule hosts a Bloody Mary Party
with E. Wayne Jones and his
“note-bending harmonica and
driving guitar rhythm.” Jones’
deep well of originals and cov-
ers, heavily infl uenced by the
sounds of the ‘60s, ranges from
Johnny Cash to John Lennon.
The Joseph Mountain Jubilee
is a Wallowa Valley Music Alli-
ance event. Kruger said the City
of Joseph and Wallowa County
awarded grants for the festival
and Community Bank sponsored
the stainless steel pint and
stemless wine glasses available
for purchase.
Attendees can support the
festival through donations and
a 50/50 raffl e. Kruger said raffl e
tickets will be available at all
of the venues and the drawing
will be 8 p.m. July 2 at Embers
Brewhouse.
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