The Great Falls Balloon Festival is proud to welcome Jonathan Edwards to the stage at Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Friday, August 17 at 9 p.m.

Warm as summer sunshine, real as the truth, intimate as a long-overdue visit between old friends … such is a Jonathan Edwards concert.

Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of insight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age.

This is one veteran performer who is neither grizzled nor nostalgic. These days Jonathan Edwards, a vital and relevant artist in today’s folk and Americana scenes, is most likely to be found on the road with longtime accompanist Stuart Schulman on bass, piano, fiddle, and vocals and Taylor Armerding, formerly of Northern Lights, on mandolin and high-tenor vocals.

“I’ve been … doing what I do best, which is playing live in front of people. I’ve been concentrating on that and loving it,” Edwards said.

An artist who measures his success by his ability to attract and take good care of an audience for four decades, Jonathan maintains that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going.

“It is really gratifying to hear [someone say], ‘Your stuff has meant a lot to me over the years.’”

The “stuff” he’s referring to is a highly respected repertoire that includes such classics as “Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy,” “Sometimes,” “One Day Closer,” “Don’t Cry Blue,” “Emma,” “Everybody Knows Her,” “Athens County,” and everyone’s favorite ode to putting a good buzz on, “Shanty.” And then, of course, there’s the anthemic “Sunshine (Go Away Today),” that fierce proclamation of protest and independence that resonated with thousands and thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women when it was first released in 1971. Almost 40 years later, at show after show, the song continues to be embraced by faithful followers and new fans alike.

Since 1971, Edwards has released 15 albums, including Blue Ridge, his standard-setting collaboration with bluegrass favorites the Seldom Scene, and Little Hands, his collection of children’s songs, which was honored with a National Library Association award. As for album #16, Edwards said, “Young people that are getting back to the land and trying to get off the power grid encourage me. My next studio album will reflect some of those themes.” With that in mind, it’s no surprise that he closes each night’s show with these heartfelt lyrics:

Calling all dreamers and optimistic fools

Don’t let go of your dream, make it now, make it all come true

If you believe in a brighter day

I know we can find our way

To this island, in a starry ocean

Poetry in motion, this

island earth

A beautiful oasis for all

human races

The only home that we know,

this island earth.

Brought to you by Affordable Business Displays, Ketch Networks and Champoux Insurance, Edwards’ performance is not to be missed. The first night of the Festival’s entertainment lineup begins with the Girls of LA at 5:30 p.m., Terry and the Telstars at 6:15 and the Imara Belly Dancers at 8:15 p.m.

Editor’s note: Some information for this article was taken from press material at

www.jonathanedwards.net/.

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