Life in Hailey is ripping the sails off the mast. Those not aware of the boom in the valley's biggest burg are missing much. Kicking off a summer full of activities and entertainment tonight, June 4, at 5:30 p.m., will be the first show of the fifth annual Back Alley Parties at the Wicked Spud on Main Street.
The 13 weekly shows feature regional bands and always benefit a regional non-profit. Tonight, the first Back Alley Party will feature the music of The Damphools, with opening band Frost Heaves starting things off. The featured non-profits are Emmanuel Episcopal Church and La Alianza, a multi-cultural organization located in the Community Campus. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy the music and support the cause.
The concerts are free, but sales of raffle tickets, outdoor "charity" beer (donated for the cause by Watkins Distributing of Twin Falls), T-shirts and donations contribute to the fundraising.
Founded in 2003, the Back Alley Parties at the Wicked Spud are produced by Figgleaf Productions in association with Heidiglyphics, an art-and-design concern run by Heidi Albrecht.
Some of the beneficiaries in that time have been the Blaine County Historical Museum, Blaine County Senior Connection, Camp Rainbow Gold, Citizens for Smart Growth and the Environmental Resource Center.
As well, funds have in the past gone to Expedition Inspiration for Cancer Research, Hailey Ice, Hospice of the Wood River Valley, the Hunger Coalition, nexStage Theatre, Rotarun Ski Hill, Sawtooth Botanical Garden, Snake River Alliance, Sun Valley Adaptive Sports, Tsunami Relief, Wood River Fire & Rescue and Wood River Land Trust.
The casual, family-friendly concerts are held on a performance-quality stage built in the green park next to the Wicked Spud. The Spud has an outdoor palapa where the audience can order wraps and other barbecue specialties. As well, the park features a large chessboard, many tables and chairs and a nice green patch of grass for play and dance.
The Back Alley Parties are held each Wednesday through the summer.
For more information and further events, go to figgleafproductions.com.
Schedule
Openers start at 5:30 p.m.
June 4 Frost Heaves/The Damphools, raising funds for La Alianza/Emmanuel Episcopal
June 11 Disciples of Rock/ Hoodwink, for Hailey Ice & Hailey Fireworks
June 18 Sports / Maladies, for Hailey Ski Team/Rotarun
June 25 Cold Hard Rain/ Up A Creek, for Family Connections
July 2 Headwaters/Straight Up, for BC Senior Connection and BC Historical Museum
July 9 at 6 p.m., The Heaters, for WR Hospice and Hunt Hedrick David Children's Fund
July 16 Fred Crabtree and Jim Paisley/Kim Stocking Band, for Expedition Inspiration
July 23 Cheryl Mae Grace / Finn Riggins, for Citizens for Smart Growth
July 30 FourStroke Bus/ 812 Band, for Camp Rainbow Gold
Aug. 6 Roger Seldon /Slow Children Playing, for Wood River Land Trust
Aug. 13 Ketchum World Beat Street Band/Sonics, for Papoose Club
Aug. 20 Hat Trick/Public Radio, for Hunger Coalition
Aug. 27 Cosmic Beans and friends, for Wood River Fire and Rescue
Sept. 6 Spudapalooza with Finn Riggins / The Damphools / 812 Band, for Wood River Adaptive Program/SV Adaptive Sports/Sawtooth Botanical Garden
The band 812 and friends rock the park next to the Wicked Spud during a Back Alley Party. Photo by Dana DuGan
