By Jack Murray

Although there is a thriving music scene in Jackson Hole, the opportunities for those who are under the legal drinking age to see quality music up close is limited. Most performances in Jackson take place in a bar or other drinking atmosphere. However, the Jackson Hole Music Experience is bringing a concert experience to the adult and underage masses with its Friday Live concert series. 

The Monkey Wrench Gang will play as the Friday Live act this week from 5 to 7 pm on Friday at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary on Jackson Street.  

In 2003, a group of like-minded local musicians formed an organization to promote musical education and performance. This organization became the Jackson Hole Music Experience and has worked since to increase the opportunity for musical performance and to support local artists. One of the organization's pioneering programs is the Friday Live concert series. "The main focus of the event is that it provides an opportunity for families to go see live music that normally would only be available in a bar-type setting," said Heather Scultz, assistant director of Jackson Hole Music Experience. "So kids can see a really cool musical performance with their parents and not for an exorbitant price."

The concert series - which has featured acts such as Rotating Superstructure, Fat Albert, and the Jackson Hole Brass Quintet - costs $10 for adults and $5 for students and is free for those 12 and under. The series is also free for all Jackson Hole Music Experience members. The proceeds benefit the organization directly and contribute to sustaining local music artists and programs it has developed over the years. Local band Rotating Superstructure is made up of alumni of the organization's Rock & Roll Camp and recently has been entertaining feelers for major record labels. 

To supplement the annual Rock & Roll Camp, Schultz said the Jackson Hole Music Experience is expanding its scope. "JHME is all about affordable music education and performance," she said. "We just started a new program that augments music instruction at the middle and high school. A professional musician-instructor meets with students in small groups at the schools." The organization also announced the launch of Experience magazine and Experience Magazine Awards aimed to be an "all things music" guide for Jackson Hole. 

Andy Calder, former JHME president and Jackson Hole bass aficionado, plays with Bob Greenspan and Andy Petersen in Monkey Wrench Gang. He said he is excited to bring a different vibe to Friday Live. "We promot all kinds of music for these shows," he said. "It will be nice to have a straight-ahead rockin' blues band on stage."

The Monkey Wrench Gang is steeped in traditions of blues and rock, from "Hit the Road Jack" to "I Feel Good." Calder also loves the format of the Friday Live series. "Music in Jackson Hole is mainly in bars. This is early, all ages, fun, and mostly just a good time."