Festival Celebrates Live Music with 18 Bands Across 36 Hours
The Wallace Music Fest drew more than 1,000 attendees to downtown Wallace over a 36-hour span, establishing itself as a thriving successor to the city’s previous blues festival and cementing the Silver Valley’s reputation as a venue for live entertainment.
The event, held on Sixth and Cedar streets, featured 18 bands performing across two stages, offering free admission to the community. The festival’s broad musical lineup—ranging from rock and jazz to Americana—attracted performers and fans from across the Northwest and beyond.
National and Local Talent Share the Stage
Young Cardinals, a North Carolina-based band, served as a Saturday night headliner and drew particular praise from attendees. The trio includes James Forgey along with Sam Branstetter and Marcus Matile, both of whom are Wallace natives, creating a homecoming dynamic that resonated with the crowd. Festival organizers have already begun planning to invite the band back for next year’s iteration.
Other notable performances included saxophonist Dante D’Angelo, a retired U.S. Marine from Coeur d’Alene, who performed Friday afternoon. One attendee described D’Angelo’s set in glowing terms: “This guy was absolutely fantastic and so multi-talented. A true musician.”
Sammy Eubanks anchored the festival as its main headliner, while additional acts included Sarah Brown, Jim Tilden, Snacks at Midnight—a Spokane-based rock group that performed Friday evening—McGee and the Key, Alison Williams, and Rusty Jackson.
Building on Community Support
Festival committee member Marcy Hayman expressed satisfaction with the performers’ impact, noting that the bands “just knocked it out of the park.” The positive reception stands in sharp contrast to the conclusion of the Wallace Blues Festival two years ago, which ended amid disorder.
The Music Fest’s success demonstrates sustained appetite for live entertainment in the Silver Valley and suggests the community is ready to move forward with a new event centered on celebrating regional and touring musicians. The organizers’ enthusiasm about returning lineups and the turnout figures indicate momentum heading into the second year of what could become an annual tradition for Wallace.
Similar community events in the region continue to gain traction. The SilverHoops Tournament is targeting 200 teams as early sign-ups reach record levels in Kellogg, and Wallace Brewing’s Redlight Irish Red Ale recently earned gold recognition at an Idaho competition, reflecting broader vitality across the Silver Valley’s event and business landscape.