3
FESTIVALS
EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS
AROUND EASTERN OREGON
JULY 28�AUGUST 4, 2021
Two full nights of Americana country
Back
Country
Bash set
for Aug. 6-7
in Joseph
By Katy Nesbitt
Go! Magazine
J
OSEPH — Tickets are on
sale for Northeastern Ore-
gon’s favorite Americana country
music festival, the Back Country
Bash, with seven bands and two
full nights of music at the Joseph
Rodeo Grounds Aug. 6-7.
Tickets can be purchased
through the website, www.back-
countrybashjoseph.com. Entry to
both nights of music is $80; at-
tendance to the separate events
is $45 per night.
Now in its fourth year, the mu-
sic festival is organized by Ran-
dall Eschler, who said as a lover
of music and rodeo he wanted
to host an event that would bring
Western
Feed,
LLC
Pendleton, OR 97801
Submitted photo
William Clark Green headlines the Back Country Bash.
people to Wallowa County, and to
the rodeo grounds in particular.
With help from Brook and Darrell
Pace, the fi rst event drew hun-
dreds to the Harley Tucker arena
in 2017 and quickly became a
new tradition.
Eschler is also one of the Chief
Joseph Days directors. He said
besides bringing great music
to the arena, he sees the Back
Country Bash as a way of raising
revenue for the rodeo rounds.
“If we can have more than the
rodeo every year, we can make
money and continue improving
our facilities,” he said.
Fans are encouraged to come
for the music and stay for the
Wallowa Valley experience at the
40-acre campground adjacent
to the rodeo arena, which is just
a couple blocks from downtown
Joseph. Revelers can walk to
shops, restaurants and bars,
and the Wallowa County Park at
the foot of the lake is less than 2
miles away.
Eschler said he thinks the
bands booked for the Bash will
appeal to inner mountain mu-
sic fans.
“Most of the acts we have
booked sing about where they
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live,” he said.
This year’s lineup features
some of the most exciting up and
coming bands in the alternative
country scene. Ward Davis is a
singer/songwriter whose songs
have been recorded by big name
artists like Trace Adkins, Wil-
lie Nelson, Merle Haggard and
Jimmie Van Zant. Most recently,
Davis co-wrote “I’m Not the Devil”
with Cody Jinks, with whom he
toured across the country.
“After his fi rst album I thought,
‘We need to get this guy.’ He has
a very unique voice and is getting
ready to put out another album,
so we might get to see some new
songs,” Eschler said.
Charles Wesley Godwin has
shared billings with the likes of
Shooter Jennings, Tyler Childers
and David Allan Coe. Godwin
sings about his home in the Ap-
palachians of West Virginia, and
his songs will speak to those who
love open landscapes, whether
they hail from the West or the
East.
Eschler described Texan Tan-
ner Usrey as one whose fame
is rising.
“I think he’s going to blow up
pretty quick,” Eschler said. “When
I fi rst talked to him he was book-
ing his own gigs — then I went to
check in with him and he was with
a booking agent,” he said.
Usrey’s fi rst EP, titled “Medi-
cine Man,” was released in 2019.
Sunny Sweeney is the fi rst
woman to grace the Back Coun-
try Bash stage, Eschler said.
Also hailing from Texas, she has
released four albums, drawing
praise from media outlets such
as Rolling Stone, NPR and Ameri-
can Songwriter for her rock and
honky-tonk style.
“Sunny is the veteran of the
scene and has the most follow-
ers,” Eschler said.
Friday’s lineup includes two
acts traveling together — The
Lowdown Drifters, a country/
folk/rock band from Seattle, and
Jordan Nix who is making waves
with his song “Bye, Bye.”
The Bash’s headliner, William
Clark Green, is also well known,
especially for songs like “She
Likes the Beatles” and “Ringling
Road.” On his own or with the
supergroup “The Panhandlers,”
Green draws the crowds.
“People love this guy,” Es-
chler said.
For the full schedule as well as
camping information, visit www.
backcountrybashjoseph.com.
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