Earth, Wind & Fire, Brothers Osborne, Regina Spektor and Gregory Alan Isakov are among the scheduled acts, with more to be announced
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
An indie alt-rock band. Country singers. Classic rock ‘n’ rollers. A wildly diverse variety of musical performers are among the groups that will be featured this summer at the Britt Music & Arts Festival.
The Britt will announce its pop, rock and country acts for the upcoming season in a series of three announcements listing performers who will be playing at the Jacksonville amphitheater. Bands named in the first round include the indie alt-rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, country artists Brothers Osborne, and folk/indie it-band Waxahatchee.
The festival will also welcome back legendary artists Earth, Wind & Fire, Gregory Alan Isakov, the Buena Vista Orchestra, the California Honeydrops, Chicago and Andy Grammer. More performers will be named in two more reveals in the weeks ahead.
Australian Pink Floyd Show
Returning to the festival’s main stage will be the Australian Pink Floyd Show to deliver what Britt organizers tout as an “unforgettable tribute to Pink Floyd, combining mind-blowing visuals and stunning soundscapes for a mesmerizing live performance.”
“It’s always thrilling to share the news of the upcoming season with our community, and this year’s season feels especially exciting,” said Britt President and CEO Abby McKee. “We have an incredible mix of genres coming through town! With superstar legacy acts, longtime fan favorites, and extraordinary newcomers, I think our patrons have some amazing shows to choose from, and I suspect we’ll be seeing folks out on the hill several times this summer. And don’t forget, two more announcements are still to come.”
Member presales
Britt Festival members at select levels can buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
This year’s concert lineup, which will grow in coming weeks, includes:
- Yacht Rock Revue: June 8
- Earth, Wind & Fire: June 24
- Tash Sultana: June 29
- The California Honeydrops: July 8
- Regina Spektor: July 24
- Brothers Osborne: July 27
- Dispatch with Donavan Frankenreiter: July 29
- Andy Grammer: Aug. 6
- Waxahatchee: Aug. 8
- Rainbow Kitten Surprise: Aug. 10
- Buena Vista Orchestra: Aug. 12
- Leftover Salmon and the Infamous Stringdusters with special guests Kitchen Dwellers: Aug. 13
- The Australian Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here: Aug. 14
- Keb‘Mo’ and Shawn Colvin: Aug. 19
- Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals: Aug 21
- Wynonna: Aug. 23
- Chicago: Sept. 2
- Mat Kearney: Sept. 6
- Gregory Alan Isakov: Sept. 9
Two more concert announcements are scheduled for Monday, March 14, and April 11, with some individual shows to be announced in between. Tickets and more information can be found at brittfest.org, or by calling or visiting the Britt Festival Box Office at 541-773-6077 or 216 W. Main St., Medford.
A rich history
The Britt Orchestra and the Britt Music & Arts Festival have a deep history. Founded in 1963, the Britt Orchestra brings together more 75 professional musicians from across the United States for three weeks of open-air performances each summer. Forming the heart of the annual Britt Music & Arts Festival, the Britt Orchestra Season takes place in June.
The Britt Festival was the brainchild of Portland conductor John Trudeau and musician Sam McKinney, who came to Southern Oregon in search of the perfect location for outdoor performances. It’s said that when they discovered the “superb natural acoustics and stunning views of Britt Park — the former hillside estate of Jacksonville pioneer Peter Britt, a Swiss-born photographer who became one of Oregon’s most celebrated citizens – they knew that they had found it.”
In 1963, with a small chamber orchestra on a makeshift stage, the first summer outdoor music festival in the Pacific Northwest was born. Constructed 40 years ago, the 2,200-capacity Britt Pavilion enables Britt to present world-class artists while maintaining its intimacy between performers and the audience.
“Inspired by its intimate and scenic hillside venue, Britt Music & Arts Festival provides diverse live performances, an incomparable classical festival and dynamic education programs that create a sense of discovery and community,” McKee said of Britt’s expanding and ongoing success. “Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the nonprofit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs.”
For more information, visit brittfest.org.
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at 337lee337@charter.net.
