On Wednesday nights from spring to fall, one can enjoy a free, outdoors, live bluegrass performance set underneath a shady cottonwood tree: Wednesday is bluegrass night at the Backyard Theater, a small stage space nestled along 100 S. between Zax and the Triangle House. Shows are always free, and outside food and drink are welcome.
The Wednesday show features the five-person band Quicksand Soup, with a song line-up that includes covers and originals (and is sometimes themed—on May 24, the band played a “Bob Dylan and Friends” show to celebrate Dylan’s birthday). Eric Jones strums the mandolin in a toe tapping tune, and even throws in a yodel or two. David Steward, on guitar, plays skillfully and sweetly a rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” informing the crowd it was actually written by Dolly Parton. Sand Sheff plays an original that reminds the audience that “a nickel in the cup means the world to me.” Tamara Frieda brings the crowd to sway in unity to “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Wildflowers.” Alan Snow follows up on the bass and leads the band and the audience into a catchy rendition of the “Folsom Prison Blues.” These are arcs of the show that bring fans back every week.
Theater-goers can expect the liveliness of the music to build over the course of the evening. As the tempo picks up, dancers kick up dust in the corner and the audience grows more comfortable on their hay bales and lawn chairs, satisfied with tasty tacos from the nearby food truck, El Local.
While the Backyard Theater has been around for 10 years, listeners can expect some exciting new developments this season. Each week, the band plans to play at least one Hank Williams song, in commemoration of his birth 100 years ago; the theater also welcomes regional bands touring through the area.
Sheff said the band always tries to keep things interesting during the show: last month, a traveling musician boldly asked if she could sing the crowd a night-ending tune, so the band welcomed her on stage. Band members welcome crowd suggestions too, and can quickly pick up new chords.
The vibe is surely sustainable, as the band in its current form has been playing since 2015—Snow was just a teen when it started. The band’s CDs, for sale at every show, highlight the changes the band has been through, mostly in growing hair.
The show starts at 8 p.m.—band members joke that they will perform in speedos and cowboy boots throughout the hot summer.
If you can’t make Wednesday bluegrass, don’t worry: there’s also live music at the Backyard Theater on Thursdays, performed by the band Juniper Drive, and magic shows by Rick Boretti on Saturdays (magic shows are $10 for adults, $5 for kids).
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