Summit County Citizens Voice

Widespread Panic to appear June 22 at Kit Carson Park in Taos, New Mexico.

Popular jam band expected to take a break from touring next year, so catch them this summer

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Widespread Panic’s musical meanderings will take them to high deserts of New Mexico, where the popular jam band will play a June 22 solstice gig at the Taos Solar Music Festival in Kit Carson Park.

For centuries, Taos has been a gathering place where cultures share song and dance. Organizers of the concert said in a press release that it’s great spot for the renowned road warriors to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary tour before Widespread Panic takes an expected break from the road in 2012.

The band will perform in Taos prior to working its way to three sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre The band’s attendance records exceed any other act in Red Rock history with 35 sold-out performances.

What’s attracted artists and off-the-grid settlers for centuries to Taos is what will charm Widespread Panic’s fervent fans to this high desert town. Bluebird skies, a relaxed pace, breathtaking views of Taos Mountain and an eclectic art scene provides a showcase for SolarFest‘s belief that all art forms are universal communicators with Eco-awareness as the future’s chosen life-style.

The Taos show promises to be a unique experience in Widespread Panic’s summer journey. The ebb and flow of the band’s music is an emotional travelogue with the heart of Taos as the place to experience a solstice night of instrumental interplay and indigo-hued guitar lines in this “mountain-part” of the tour.

Communality runs through every aspect of Widespread Panic outreach. It is not only expressed in their music but through their many socially-driven efforts such as an annual benefit concert for the Tune for Tots music programs in Georgia public schools. The band’s efforts to rebuild post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans are supported through their the Make It Right Foundation.

In support of the band’s mission, Panic’s Taos concert will be a food drive event. Panic Fans for Food is a volunteer, food drive organization, run by fans at shows to benefit the local food bank in that market. To date, PFFF has collected over $70,000, thirteen tons of food in twenty-eight cities.

To highlight a local art cause, all proceeds from this year’s sales of the Widespread Panic Taos show poster by artist Randy Pijoan, long time SolarFest art director, will benefit Ventero Open Press Fine Art, a local non-profit that raises funds for teaching the arts and culture to the kids of San LuisValley, www.ventero.org.

Convenient camping will be available again this year. Concert-goers can pitch a tent in town for an inexpensive and convenient way to experience an evening with Widespread Panic at designated sites located on the Solar Music Festival website.

For complete information about the concert, including tickets and lodging (hotel Panic Packages), visit www.solarmusicfest.com. Tickets are $40. Higher the day of show. Purchase tickets online and at outlets throughout New Mexico and Colorado. Gates open 4:00 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m with two full sets. No in and outs.

Filed under: Travel, West Tagged: | concerts, music, Randy Pijoan, summer 2011 Widespread Panic, Summit County News, Taos New Mexico, Taos Solarfest, Widespread Panic