Scottish Festival Hailey Idol competition is this weekend begins Friday at the Spud By KAREN BOSSICK
By KAREN BOSSICK
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hey’ll pass on the haggis. But you can count on men in kilts and the drone of bagpipes wafting through the Valley when the Blaine County Scottish Cultural and Heritage Festival premieres in Hailey Saturday. The all-day festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Nelson Field adjacent to Hailey Elementary School. It will feature dancing to bagpipes and drums, with a demonstration by Irish Dance of the Magic Valley, and Scottish tests of strength. It will also feature competitions between fire and police departments, as well as competitions between the various cities in the Valley. “We hope this will grow into a long-standing tradition,” said Heather Deckard, who heads up the Hailey Chamber of Commerce. “And you don’t have to be Scottish to participate.” At least 51 competitors have indicated they’re coming from as far away as Oregon, Montana and Utah, said Eric Ettesvold, who is organizing the event with Blaine County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Turner. “It’s a nice meeting place for everyone. And who doesn’t want to come to Sun Valley!?” said Ettesvold. Competitors will compete in an obstacle course designed to test speed and agility; an event that involves throwing a weight over a bar; an event throwing a weight for distance; a stone put; and something called the “Scottish hammer” where each competitor throws a shaft from a standing position. There’s also a tug-o-war and the famous caber turn—turning a telephone pole over and away. Ettesvold, who works in the heating and air conditioning business, got hooked on Scottish games when he and his family attend the Boise Scottish Festival three years ago. His favorite test is pitching a 56-pound weight welded to a ring over a bar to see how high he can throw it because, he says, it takes the
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Competitors in Saturday’s event will hold a ceilidh—a traditional Gaelic social gathering involving Gaelic music—Friday evening at the Sun Valley Brewery in Hailey. Photo: KAREN BOSSICK/SUN
most technique and strength. “I’m closing in on 50 and this sport makes you so strong so quickly. It’s a serious sport—and it’s a growing sport,” he said. In addition to the adult competitions, there will be children’s competitions. Children will be assigned the task of climbing up and over and under three dozen hay bales and pick up two- to three-pounds stones and sprint to the finish, among other things. “Last year we had 120 kids come out for this. Those kids slept well that night,” Ettesvold said. You won’t find any haggis available for consumption. But barbecue and KB’s Burritos will be available for sale. Cost is $10 for those 14 and older. Younger children and members of PAL (Police Activities League) will be admitted free. Athletes can register online at http://www.saaaidaho.org/ events.php or at the event. Proceeds will go to the Blaine County PAL program. PAL is a crime prevention program in which police take kids on fishing and other outings to promote trust and understanding between law enforcement and youth. tws
briefs Up a Creek plays Mahoney’s, Thursday Mahoney’s Bar & Grill in Bellevue is pleased to announce that Up a Creek will play Thursday, June 16, as part of their Thursday night concerts on the deck. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and goes to 9:30 p.m. As always, the concert is free and family-friendly. Up a Creek is a Bellevue-based shed-bred group of fellows playing
southern Idaho folk ‘n roll. A little folk and a little rock… and a lot of stories about loving and losing, sinning and fooling, lying, crying, dying… and smiling. Come on out and join our friends and families for some drinkin’ and strummin’ and small-town honkytonkin’! Just a few black eyes and angry wives!
Wood River Youth Football & Cheer FINAL SIGN-UP CHANCE!
e’re looking for a Superstar right here in Hailey, Idaho! “American Idol” may be the most watched TV series going. But “Hailey Idol” could be the most-watched phenomenon locally when it starts up this Friday. Music n’ Me is hosting the competition at the Wicked Spud in Hailey beginning at 6 p.m. this Friday. It will run July 15, Aug. 5, and Aug. 19, as well, with the finals on Sept 9. Contestants need not appear at all the contests. “I think it’s going to be a blast,” sadi Mitzi Mecham, who heads up Music n’ Me and Notes Music. “We’ll get a great big Idol trophy that the winner can hold. And we’ll frame the winner’s picture at the Wicked Spud. And they’ll get to own the stage one night in September.” There’ll be four categories: Age 7 through 10 for the “Small Small World” set. Age 11 through 14 for those who want to do Justin Bieber or Britney Spears. Age 15 through 19. And adults. “Rockin’ mamas. We want to try to get some rockin’ mamas out there,” Mecham said.“There’s a lot of mamas out there who are shower singers. We’re going to provide them with a sound system and three microphones and let them have at it.” Contestants can appear as individuals, duos or trios. They must provide their own guitar, snare drum or high hat. Contes-
tants can also bring an instrumental on iPad and plug it into the sound system. They can sign up ahead of time at Notes Music in the Yellow Brick Road shopping mall or the Wicked Spud. Or they can sign up the night of the competition. Contestants will be judged on their performance by Mecham, Scott Garvin of the band Hoodwink and a guest judge. “I’m going to be Paula or Jennifer Lopez—I’m going to be really nice. Maybe Scott can be Simon. It doesn’t matter wither they’re one singer or three—it will be fun and equal,” promised Mecham. Mecham said “American Idol’s” popularity is based on the idea that it turns nobodies into somebodies, taking someone who would probably never be discovered and giving them recording contracts. “It’s a tough business. I can’t even imagine breaking in without help. But I would rather listen to some of those girls on ‘Idol’ than Britney Spears. Some of the talent is great,” she added. Julie Wiethorn of Shelly’s Deli said she has never seen “American Idol” but she might be persuaded to check out “Hailey Idol.” “I think it’s great for the kids of the community because they’ve all seen ‘American Idol.’ And it’ll be fun for adults and families, too,” she said. Live band karaoke and live bands will appear on the other Friday nights through the summer. The next Live Band Kara-
Mitzi Mecham has come up with some new ways to put pizzazz in a Friday night. Photo: KAREN BOSSICK/SUN
“We’ll get a great big trophy that the winner can hold. And we’ll frame [their] picture at the Wicked Spud.” –Mitzi Mecham Owner, Music n’ Me
oke night, for instance, will be held on July 8. Singers will get a play list that includes “Born to be Wild” and “Smoke on the Water,” and a live band will back them up. “I think it’s going to be the best summer ever with all this going on. I think the whole summer is going to be an absolute blast,” said Mecham. tws
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