2019 in Review: Music

A look at any month’s concert calendar from 2019 shows just how diverse music fans are in the Inland Northwest. If you can think of a genre, chances are there was at least one show that fit the bill in the area this year. Here’s a look back at just a few of the many concerts, from local and touring acts, that got Inland Northwesterners grooving this year.

In January, Bellingham-born power-pop group the Posies returned to the Bartlett, as did indie-rock band Cursive, Canadian country singer Corb Lund and Dr. Bob Riggs, who celebrated the release of first album “Cairns.” The Bartlett Awards also honored a variety of local acts, and Bartlett owners Karli and Caleb Ingersoll celebrated the venue’s fifth birthday with three nights of concerts.

Coeur d’Alene’s Larry Almeida performed as part of Friends of the Guitar Hour concert series, and Vanna Oh and the Anys, fronted by Lindsay Johnston, played one of her many shows around the region at the 219 Lounge in Sandpoint. Sammy Eubanks and the Work’in Class took second place in the 35th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and REO Speedwagon sold out Northern Quest. The music of Queen and Billy Joel took over the Fox, soul singer Jacob Banks headlined the Knitting Factory, and Dierks Bentley headlined the Spokane Arena.

After a successful first run of Nashville Sessions concerts in 2018, the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel continued the series in 2019, first with Kenton Bryant and Kylie Morgan.

In February, “Life to Fix” rockers the Record Company headlined the Knit, while musicians Brad Keeler and Linda Parman premiered “The Great Folk Scare: American Folk Music Revival, 1958-65” as part of their library series. James Lowe, who would go on to be named as music director of the Spokane Symphony, auditioned for the role during “Classics 6: Passion’s Pursuit.”

Spokane-raised baritone Thomas Hampson returned to town for “Song of America: Beyond Liberty” at the Fox. Portland’s John Craigie played the Bartlett, while metal band August Burns Red played the Knit and the symphony welcomed the Seamus Egan Project for “Pops 5.”

Kris Kristofferson and the Strangers headlined the Fox, and Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre brought his band to the Bing, while the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival took over University of Idaho campus for the 52nd year.

March saw Northwest BachFest performers in venues around the Inland Northwest, a sold-out show from Young the Giant at the Knit and Chorale CDA performing “Sing Vienna” in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane. Rick Springfield and Stephen Marley played Northern Quest, and the Coeur d’Alene Symphony highlighted the next generation of talented musicians during “Discovering Prodigies With Young Artists.”

The “Holy Roar” tour brought Chris Tomlin to the Spokane Arena, and, for the 24th year, the Inland Empire Blues Society gave back to local organizations that make a difference in the community through its Blues Cats for Kids Concert and Silent Auction Benefit.

In April, Chaconne Klaverenga closed the Friends of the Guitar Hour concert series, and country singer Jessie James Decker brought new music to the Fox. The Imagine Jazz Festival kicked off, and country duo Dan and Shay sold out the Fox.

Rapper Tech N9ne returned to the Knit, and Beatles tribute act the Fab Four played the Fox. The Inland Northwest Country Music Association presented Hagfest Northwest, a Merle Haggard tribute show, at the Bing, while British reggae act Steel Pulse performed at the Knit. The Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest celebrated musicians at Players and Spectators in Spokane Valley, and Karli Ingersoll released her debut full-length as Windoe, “Great Prize.” John Mellancamp headlined the FICA, and Great White stopped by Northern Quest.

In May, country singer Cole Swindell marked the opening of the new event center at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, and Volume: Inlander Music Festival took over downtown venues for the weekend. Eckart Preu conducted his last concert with the Spokane Symphony during “Classics 10: Eckart’s Farewell,” and Coeur d’Alene Symphony conductor Jan Pellant closed his first season with the symphony with “Sounds of Magic” at the Salvation Army Kroc Center.

Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant - Back By Popular Demand” brought him to the Bing, and Carrie Underwood headlined the Spokane Arena. Electro-pop band Frenship, the duo of James Sunderland and U-Hi grad Brett Hite, announced its debut album “Vacation.”

The Angela Marie Project released “In the Shadows” with a show at nYne Bar and Bistro, and Mudhoney sold out Lucky You Lounge. “4U: The Music of Prince With Symphony” celebrated the late Prince at the FICA, and Spokane Symphony concertmaster Mateusz Wolski’s “The M Show: Percussion Edition” featured boxer Chauncey Welliver at the Washington Cracker Building.

Coeur d’Alene’s Jacob Maxwell, who competed on “The Voice,” performed a sold-out show at Hagadone Event Center, and Thomas Rhett headlined at the Spokane Arena with Dustin Lynch. “Chicks With Hits” brought three legendary names in country music, Terri Clark, Pam Tillis and Suzy Bogguss, to the FICA.

In June, Brandi Carlile celebrated her birthday with “Echoes Through the Canyon” at the Gorge, and Lucky You Lounge had its grand opening weekend. Three Dog Night headlined the Fox, and Street Music Week took over downtown Spokane, the Garland District and downtown Coeur d’Alene to raise money for Second Harvest.

Michael Franti and Spearhead played Northern Quest, and “Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles” stopped by the FICA. Buckcherry, Blue October, L7 and the Offspring played the Knit, while Canadian blues/country/folk/rock band Cowboy Junkies played the Bing. Dead and Company and Eric Church treated fans to shows at the Gorge, and John Paul White, formerly of the Civil Wars, played the Bartlett.

Spokane Symphony announced James Lowe as its new music director, and Goo Goo Dolls headlined Northern Quest. The Cave Singers headlined the first Get Out Fest in Republic, Washington, Indigo Girls returned to the Fox, and country singer Brent Cobb played the Knit.

In July, Norah Jones played a sold-out show at the Fox, Walk Off the Earth played the Festival at Sandpoint, and Ani DiFranco performed at the Bing. Disturbed headlined the Spokane Arena, and Trego frontman Matt Mitchell released his EP “Push Vol. 1.”

Rapper and recent “Saturday Night Live” performer DaBaby headlined the Knit, while the Wallace Blues Festival took over the town. Band of Horses sold out the Knit, and Beck and Cage the Elephant headlined the Gorge. Snoop Dogg and Warren G performed at Northern Quest, as did Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and Melissa Etheridge. The Robert Cray Band stopped by the Bing, and Mama Doll called it a day with two final shows, while singer Khalid headlined the arena.

In August, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert and Carly Pearce performed at the 2019 Watershed Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre. Americana-soul act Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and the Avett Brothers performed during the Festival at Sandpoint, and Gleason Fest featured the Grizzled Mighty, Delbert and Left Hand Smoke.

Lonestar stopped by the FICA, and Weird Al and Styx performed at Northern Quest, and the Spokane Symphony and Coeur d’Alene Symphony performed Labor Day concerts. The Eli Young Band headlined the Knit, and Girls Rock Lab showcased singers, songwriters and musicians in grades 3 through 8. Krist Novoselić’s Giants in the Trees played the Bartlett, while Josh Ritter stopped by the Bing, and Amos Lee played the Fox.

Mumford and Sons and Dave Matthews Band played the Gorge, while Creed’s Scott Stapp, rapper Coolio, Southern rockers Black Oak Arkansas and power-pop band the Posies headlined Pig Out in the Park.

In September, Restless Heart, Shenandoah, Trace Adkins, Foreigner and Pop Evil headlined the Spokane Country Fair. Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters played the FICA, and Moscow’s Modest Music Fest welcomed acts like Ural Thomas and the Pain, Horse Feathers, Holiday Friends and the Shivas.

Carlene Carter, daughter of June Carter and Carl Smith, headlined the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, and “Chamber Soirée on the Stage: Fall” sat both musicians and concertgoers on the Fox stage. Ghost headlined the arena, while Mike Watt and the Missingmen headlined Lucky You Lounge.

Jenny Anne Mannan and Her Angel Band released “Carnies and Cowboys,” and Diana Krall stopped by the FICA. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band played the arena, the Distillers played the Knit, and the Coeur d’Alene Symphony performed with Garrison Keillor at North Idaho College. Pitbull performed at Northern Quest, and Michael Cavanaugh brought the Music of Elton John to the Fox with the Spokane Symphony. Runaway Octopus and Dancing Plague celebrated album releases, and, for the second year, local filmmakers and musicians teamed up to create music videos for original songs as part of Music Video Jams.

October saw the return of the Spokane Symphony’s Halloween shows, “Ancient Tales of Magic: Music of Harry Potter and Other Halloween Favorites.” Kip Moore headlined the Fox, and Brent Cobb returned to Spokane for a show at the Bartlett. The Spokane Youth Symphony performed “70 Years of Inspiration” at the Fox, while Deer and Kevin Brown released new albums.

Country singer Tyler Childers sold out the Knit, and singer, dancer, actor and YouTuber Todrick Hall headlined the Bing, while Lucy Dacus played a sold-out show at the Bartlett. Judah and the Lion played the Knit, while Spokane’s Ryan Keberle brought his band Catharsis to town to perform with the Whitworth University Jazz Ensemble.

Whitworth University senior Ryan Dresen made his official Spokane Symphony debut during “Masterworks 3: Soviet Transcendence” at the Fox, Portland-based Pink Floyd tribute band Pigs on the Wing headlined the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center, and singer/violinist Kishi Bashi performed at the Knit while Sleater-Kinney played the Fox.

In November, Matisyahu and Gramatik stopped by the Knit, and the Spokane Fall Folk Festival once again took over Spokane Community College. The Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center welcomed the California Guitar Trio and Montreal Guitar Trio-Myrtle, while the Bartlett hosted its final show.

“Masterworks 4: 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing” featured “Science and Symphony” films from José Francisco Salgado, NASA astronaut and Spokane native Anne McLain and the Spokane Symphony Chorale, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra brought lasers, lights and music to the arena. The Portland Cello Project played the Bing, and the Spokane Symphony provided live accompaniment to “The Nightmare Before Christmas” during “Movies and Music 1.”

Eliza Catastrophe released “You” with a show at Berserk, and Spokane natives Tyrone Wells and Carmen Jane, aka Cami Bradley, played Lucky You Lounge. Spectrum Singers performed “Still Standing: Songs of Protest and Hope” at Spokane Falls Community College, and Chewelah’s Allen Stone released “Building Balance.”

In December, Spokane Kantorei Choir and Collegium Orchestra once again performed George Frideric Handel’s famed oratorio “Messiah” at St. John’s Cathedral, and Mark O’Connor’s brought “An Appalachian Christmas” to the Fox. The Friends of the Guitar Hour Christmas Guitar Summit took the music of Leon Atkinson, the Tonedevil Bros. and Mike Johnson to venues around the Inland Northwest, while Sammy Eubanks continued his Blue Christmas tradition at the Knit, and Mannheim Steamroller Christmas headlined the FICA.

Queensryche headlined Northern Quest, while Clarion Brass performed “This Is What Christmas Sounds Like” at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center. The month also saw sold-out shows from country singer Granger Smith, Mat Kearney, the Dead South and Affiniti.