Josephy Fest

The Josephy Center for Arts & Culture is pleased to announce Josephy Fest, a new winter music Festival in Joseph, Oregon.
Taking place over two days, from February 24-25, 2023 in Josephy’s beautiful brick building at the base of the Wallowa Mountains, the Fest will feature six bands and four yoga and movement classes facilitated by Heartbeat Wellness Center and Wallowa Ave Wellness.
The impetus for the festival came when Cheryl Coughlin, Executive Director of Josephy, approached Seth Kinzie, local piano composer and chair of the Wallowa Valley Arts Council, to put together some music for a rare weeklong break in-between exhibits in the gallery. “Winters are long in the Wallowas. I thought it would be a good excuse to bring together the budding folk and instrumental music cultures with the range of amazing yogis who have settled in The County over the past decade. 12 generous business sponsors followed, and so the Fest was born,” says Kinzie.  
The hope is to gather momentum for a new, winter music festival in Eastern Oregon, which features some fantastic gatherings in the summer (Juniper Jam, Pine Fest, Joseph Mountain Jubilee, Jackalope Jamboree, EO Country Music Festival), but none in the colder months.
Friday will feature silent somatic movement and restorative yoga in the daytime, and an evening of country-folk headlined by Bart Budwig (Enterprise), who will be performing with a full band. Budwig, a renowned signer of “cosmic country” in the East Cascades, is “one of the most underrated musicians in Oregon”, says OPB. Opening acts include Taco Tapes (PNW folk) and Gregory Rawlins (La Grande grunge-folk).
Saturday will showcase creative movement and hatha flow yoga in the daytime, with an evening of experimental, instrumental rock, headlined by modern piano quartet Kinzie Steele (Joseph/Walla Walla), which features two drummers and electric guitar. Their label, Shum Derevyev Records, calls them “utmost virtuosity with a grand piano and a drum kit.” Musical support includes Desolation Horse (Moscow stream-of-consciousness rock) and Tispur (PDX dream-folk). Local artist Kolle Kahle-Riggs will be painting a custom backdrop for the performers.
Tickets are on-sale now, with attendees highly encouraged to purchase before the day of the show. Beer by Terminal Gravity will be available to purchase. A Music Fest ticket runs $35, with individual nights priced at $20. A Yoga Fest pass is $25, with individual yoga classes at $10. Youth under 18 are free!
You can get your tickets, and all information, at www.josephy.org/fest.