Local musicians invite the public to free ‘Superfriends’ camping music festival

PINGREE — A group of eastbound Idaho bands and solo musicians are inviting nan nationalist to travel retired for “Superfriends,” a play show of music, friendship, and raising money for bully causes. The free arena happens July 19-21 astatine 436 South 1200 West successful Pingree (about 13 miles southwest of Blackfoot). Organizer Ryan Thatcher says it’s a family-friendly arena pinch free camping connected backstage property.

Now successful its 15th year, Superfriends began arsenic a group of section musician friends coming together to bask a play of camaraderie. But you don’t person to beryllium a existent “Superfriend” to travel retired and bask nan show. The arena is unfastened to anyone who wants to person a bully clip for a bully cause. Thatcher says attendees are invited (but not required) to bring boots, coats, shoes, food, toys, etc., to beryllium donated to nan Idaho Food Bank and Toys for Tots, and they’re taking donations for nan Bannock Humane Society. Last year, nan group raised $500 for disaster alleviation aft nan fires successful Maui. Superfriends is an unincorporated nonprofit, registered pinch nan authorities of Idaho.

“We conscionable effort to do what we can,” Thatcher says. “A small spot goes a agelong measurement sometimes.”

The arena is simply a 100% unpaid effort pinch nary business sponsorships, Thatcher says, and each nan musicians and sound technicians donate their time.

Split Shiner performs astatine Superfriends 12. The yearly euphony show happens July 19-21 successful Pingree. | Courtesy Superfriends

“This is an all-ages, family event,” he says. “It’s not going to beryllium thing chaotic and crazy. Just a batch of bully stone music. Kinda country, kinda rock. Nothing excessively overpowering. We want to person a bully clip for everybody.”

The euphony starts astatine 11 a.m. connected Saturday and goes to astir 10 p.m.

“Bring water, bring chairs,” Thatcher says. “Camping is free. We person a potluck connected Saturday, truthful if you person a favourite crockery that you want to share, we effort to provender everybody that’s there. You tin bring your ain beverages, BYOB. No 1 is going to beryllium serving immoderate intoxicant aliases anything. No drinking and driving. We want everybody safe, to beryllium location for adjacent year.”

A young Superfan smiles connected nan shape earlier nan show. | Courtesy Superfriends

Thatcher is nan lead vocalist and hit guitarist for “Stoned by Mourning,” 1 of nan event’s featured bands. The complete lineup is arsenic follows:

• Angry Lawn Gnomes
• Chase Ricks
• Jarid Greene
• The Kingdom
• I Am Hyde
• Not Brad
• RKNR
• Spaztik
• Stiff Richard
• Stoned By Mourning

The show will besides characteristic Cowboy DJ Entertainment connected Friday night.

Thatcher says 1 of nan festival’s founders, Spencer Graves, passed distant a fewer years ago, and nan group felt for illustration it was important to support it going successful his honor.

“Kip Whitaker and Kerrie Baker are nan 2 who person really kept it going down nan scenes,” Thatcher says.

All Superfans are encouraged to motion their sanction astir Spencer, successful grant of nan festival’s founder, Spencer Graves. | Courtesy Superfriends

For much accusation connected Superfriends 15 aliases to interaction organizers, sojourn nan Facebook arena page aliases scope retired to immoderate of nan featured bands.

Event organizers are trying to raise money to acquisition nan bounce location they’ve rented successful erstwhile years. To donate, cheque retired their Gofundme campaign.

Split Shiner performs astatine Superfriends 12. The yearly euphony show happens July 19-21 successful Pingree. | Courtesy Superfriends