Walk Off the Earth comes to Festival

SANDPOINT — Take one part folk-pop. Add a dash of sketch group entertainers. And then, for good measure, mix in musical experimentation.

The result? One heck of a good show as Canadian band Walk Off the Earth headlines the Festival at Sandpoint stage at today’s concert.

Formed in 2006 in Burlington, Ontario, Walk Off the Earth became a sensation on YouTube and set the concert scene on fire with their dynamic live shows. Made up of multi-instrumentalists, the band has become known for its innovative cover songs which feature group members trading instruments with one another mid-song or elaborate one-take performances where the song is built piece by piece by a single member playing every instrument. Their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” performed by all the band members simultaneously playing one guitar received over 70 million views in two months, earning Walk Off the Earth not only praise from the original artist, but a contract with Columbia Records which released their album R.E.V.O (an acronym of the band’s motto, “Realize Every Victory Outright”) in 2013.

Kicking off the fun will be Sandpoint natives, The Shook Twins as Katelyn and Laurie Shook return home with their band to perform on the Festival at Sandpoint stage. The Shook Twins’ style is often referred to as “quirky folk,” which incorporates acoustic instrumentation including banjo, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, ukulele, glockenspiel, djembe, and their signature golden egg. Twin harmonies layered on top of acoustic instrumentation are coupled with Laurie’s beatboxing and inventive use of a looping machine, and Katelyn’s repurposed telephone microphone. The use of electronics sets their sound apart, creating an eclectic and eccentric blend of folk, roots, pop and fun.

General admission tickets are $44.95 and gates open at 6 p.m. Early entry tickets are $69.95 and gates open at 5:45 p.m. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.