Josh Ritter | Festival at Sandpoint

by D.O.

Last weekend I took a solo journey to northern Idaho to see one of my favorite songwriters and Idaho-native, Josh Ritter, perform at the Festival at Sandpoint. I tried with all some of my might to get friends to accompany me to the show, but they kept coming up with reasons not to attend. This found me playing the role of a new-to-town freshman at a music festival full of seniors.

I arrived an hour and a half early and was number 178 in line. When the gates opened I filed in with all the other music fans, only I was unaware of the fact that you were supposed to make a mad dash to the stage and claim your territory with your lawn chair and blanket… I’d brought neither.

As the stampede of people continued to pile in and fill up the lawn, I noticed a mosaic of blankets littering the area closest to the stage and thought to myself, “Surely one of those blankets has enough room to house a new kid with no friends.” I approached what I thought would be my best bet (two twenty-something bearded fellows) and asked if they might have any extra room on their blanket. Turns out they not only had room on the blanket, but they had food as well, both of which they offered me. Incidentally, one of them had been the 4th person in line, so I very much reaped the benefit of that which I did not sow that night.

So a million thanks to Travis and Dusty for your hospitality, and for not being awkward when Ritter commanded everyone in the crowd to slow dance with one another. These photos wouldn’t have been possible without you.

Mr. Ritter, if you’re reading this (and we all know you are), thank you for such an incredible show.

Love,

D.O.