By John Pluntze

Well, another week of amazing live music awaits here -- and it begins tonight at 7 p.m., when one of the Wood River Valley's most beloved classic-rock bands, The Heaters, take center stage for Ketch'em Alive, in Forest Service Park (the new, highly-acclaimed Debbie Garratt-Alfredo Mejorado band, R.S.V.P., opens for them).

On Wednesday (July 14), another one of the Valley's most beloved bands, The Kim Stocking Band ( www.kimstockingband.com ), will be the featured musical attraction at Hailey's The Wicked Spud (305 N. Main Street/788-0009) -- from approximately 6-9:30 p.m. -- for another one of those seriously rollickin' and raucous (and always verrrry popular) "Back Alley Parties" that are adroitly produced and organized each week by local avid music lovers Dana DuGan and Heidi Albrecht ... phat beats-driven parties that have now become to Hailey what Ketch'em Alive is to Ketchum.

And just as that dance-tastic "Back Alley Party" at The Wicked Spud is starting to wind down, right across the street there in Hailey, the seriously high-energy Lyons, Colorado-based band, TAARKA ( www.taarka.com ), will be winding up and otherwise springing into action at Hailey's Sun Valley Brewing Company Restaurant & Bar ( www.sunvalleybrewery.com / 202 N. Main Street/788-0805), from around 9-11:30 p.m. or so.

These self-proclaimed troubadours of indie-gypsy/chamber-folk music are incredible, classically-trained musicians -- ones who'll quickly and easily impress anyone out there who genuinely appreciates genuine musical talent.

On Saturday night at the Sun Valley Brewery, "honkytonk in Hailey" will take the form of the Virginia-based J.B. Beverley & the Wayward Drifters band ( www.myspace.com/waywardrifters ), a band whose mission is bring country music back to its often verrry soulful roots. Music starts around 9 p.m. that night as well (J.B. Beverly & the Wayward Drifters will also be performing at Whiskey's, in Ketchum -- www.whiskeyjacques.com -- on Friday night).  

Also tomorrow/Wednesday night, they'll be more great live music (AND great food, too), as always, at Papa Hemi's Hideaway (310 S. Main Street -- just as you're entering/leaving Ketchum/ 726-3773), from 6-9 p.m. in the form of jazz vocalist-guitarist, Rick Hoel. That genuinely amazing and incredibly inspiring reggae-blues sensation from Twin Falls, Ethan Tucker ( http://www.myspace.com/etuckermusic ) -- he was an instant hit, btw, earlier this summer at the Sun Valley Pavilion (during their "Acoustic Music Weekend" there), and repeatedly during this past winter at The Roosevelt, at Whiskey's, and also at Papa Hemi's Hideaway -- plays there on Friday night from 6:30-9:30 p.m. ... and the similarly always-amazing Wood River Valley rock band, FourStroke Bus ( www.fourstrokebus.com ), does the same at Papa Hemi's on Saturday night.

Over at Ketchum's CIRO Market Wine Lounge (230 Walnut Avenue -- half block south of Sun Valley Road, between Tully's and The Gilman Contemporary Gallery/ 622-4400), Wednesday (July 14) will see the return of musician Aaron Baker (and friends), from 6:30-9 p.m. or so. Prize-winning singer-songwriter-guitarist-keyboardist Sheryll Mae Grace ( www.myspace.com/sheryllmaegrace / www.myspace.com/musicbyfreehand ) -- who can likewise be heard sometimes happily strumming and singing away at Ketchum's Chapter One bookstore (where's she's a barista) -- will once again take center stage there at the CIRO Wine Market on Thursday evening, while Duchin Room fave, Bruce Innes ( www.bruceinnes.com ), plays there every Friday night, and Sean Jackson on Saturday nights.

Thursday afternoon/evening, in Hailey, will feature one of the Valley's very best -- if also one of its least known at the moment -- new bands, The Branches, at the Hailey Farmers' Market, from 2:30-6:30 p.m. These incredibly-talented young musicians from the Hailey-Bellevue area (who include Rebecca Cox, Carola Hendricks, Vanessa Hendricks, Stephanie Cain, Tom Watters, Fred Avila, Evelyn Albrecht, and Ron Bernhardt) were a huge, HUGE musical hit with audiences here in Ketchum a couple weeks ago -- during the last Gallery Walk (where they completely dazzled/delighted audience members inside The Water Store, and also the ones right below it, at The Cellar Pub) -- and also in front of Hailey's The Life Church, right before the July 4th parade began.

They are absolutely amazing performers on EVERY level, people, and well worth seeking out on Thursday afternoon, during that 2:30-6:30 p.m. Hailey Farmers' Market!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday (July 15) will also feature, from 6-8 p.m., another one of those hugely-popular free, outdoor Ketchum Town Plaza concerts that Sun Valley-Ketchum Vistors Bureau staffer Stefany Mahoney has done such a great job of organizing this summer -- THIS one featuring that genuinely-wonderful Spare Change duet comprised of Chip Booth and Peter Boice that frequently delights audiences at Papa Hemi's (and elsewhere).

Thursday, April 15th, also sees the return to Whiskey's ( www.whiskeyjacques.com ) of that seriously rockin' Boise-based band, Finn Riggins ( www.finnriggins.com ), whose three members -- Lisa SImpson, Eric Glbert and Cameron Bouiss -- will be joined by opener James Orr ( www.myspace.com/jamesorrmusic ). 

Ohhhh and speaking of those free, outdoor Ketchum Town Plaza concerts, LAST week's extremely well-received musical act -- All Nite Diner -- left A LOT of us eagerly wondering just WHO those two incredibly-talented, but virtually unknown, female singers were who were performing alongside All Nite Diner regulars Brad Pierson, Craig Meyers, Jason Vontver and Ned Wheeler!!
Well, they are Heidi Hogan and Cindy Solvang, and they are easily two of the most enchanting -- and memorable -- musical forces we have ANYWHERE here in the Wood River Valley right now, and they're definitely people to keep on your radar (ditto, that immensely-talented Austin cellist, Janet Lee, who sat in with the All Nite Diner band last Thursday, at Craig Meyers' very gracious and generous invitation)!!!

Terrific live music will also take place this week at Lefty's Bar & Grill, in Ketchum (231 6th Street E./726-2744), with The Brier Bluff Boys playing there on Saturday evening ... and Hart Gibson on Sunday night; music usually goes from around 6-9 p.m. or so there.

At the Silver Dollar Saloon in Bellevue (101 S. Main Street/788-2900), owner Pete Prekeges is wisely bringing back once again The Kim Stocking Band (on Friday night), and some more verrry fun -- and funny -- Karaoke, with DJ Marlene/Marlin Valdivia there on Saturday night. Music starts around 9 p.m. on both days.

And as far as NEXT week goes, be sure to keep Cow Says Mooo ( www.myspace.com/cowsaysmooo / www.facebook.com/thosecrazycows ) verrrrry, very high on your must-see list!!!!!!! This Valley-based band, which is fronted by Danae Commons and Henno Heitur, first came together and began playing here only last summer, but they were an INSTANT HUGE musical smash with audiences at Lefty's, Papa Hemi's Hideaway, Zenergy poolside, and elsewhere, and they'll be back in action on the local music scene -- FINALLY!!!!!! (LOL) -- next Wednesday (at The Wicked Spud), and next Thursday (at the Zenergy Health Club & Spa). 

Cow Says Mooo will also be one of the featured musical acts during Hailey's "Night of Music" this coming Monday (July 19) -- live music will take place at KB's, Freshhies, The Wicked Spud and elsewhere -- so be sure to look for them there on THAT date as well.

And ANOTHER absolutely-stellar new band on the always-eclectic and ever-expanding Wood River Valley music scene to keep your eyes -- AND ears -- out for is the instantly-likable folk band, Good Ju-Ju, a recently-formed band that absolutely and completely slayed audiences at KB's in Hailey last Friday night (sounds like Papa Hemi's co-owner Matt VanderNoot is about to wisely book 'em for that justly-venerated Valley venue pretty soon, as is CIRO Wine Market Louge co-manager Aaron Baker) ... and who are bound to do so again any day now.

Featuring Julie/Jules Konton and Sylvia Green -- co-member Julia Abrams is currently visiting family back East, but will be rejoining her two bandmates toward the end of this month -- Good Ju-Ju is EVERY bit the "amazing and memorable" musical sensation that Notes Music store/Music 'n Me music schools co-owner Mitzi Mecham ( www.notesmusicnme.com ) told me they were earlier this year, and THEN some!!!

"Good Ju-Ju," indeed...        : )
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Questions or comments regarding this "Harmonic Convergence" (local music scene-oriented) column can be sent to John at: WriteStuffIdaho@gmail.com . And to read any of John's previous "HC" columns -- which include raves on local faves Paul Tillotson, Molly & Josiah Venter, Gayle Chapman, Bart Budwig, Jeff Rew, Bruce Innes, Ross Pederson, Sheryll Mae "Gracie" Grace, Cow Says Mooo, and FourStroke Bus -- simply type "Music Rules" (and also "John Pluntze") into the SVO search engine here.