By Mike Romero
Idaho is feeling the effect of Utah’s exploding music scene. As budding Utah musicians begin to gain traction in their communities, they start branching out, typically playing venues along the I-15 corridor in northern Utah and sometimes playing for concert-goers as far north as Rexburg, Idaho.
One popular stopping point for Utah’s talent along the I-15 circuit has been a small, obscure basement studio in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where musicians have been bringing their guitars to play a set for an audience of two or three. This studio is run by a local, grassroots guitar company called Teton Guitars.
One of these musicians is Brady Parks of The National Parks. Parks began his musical career in Provo and was the most recent visitor to the basement studio – affectionately called “Teton Basecamp” – where Teton TV‘s weekly online episodes are filmed. Members of The National Parks performed a stripped down version of their song “You Are Gold.” Other visitors to Teton TV have included Lorin Walker Madsen, Ben and Chad Truman (The Truman Brothers), and Toney Rocks. Parks is the latest musician with Utah roots to be added to Teton Guitars’ roster of endorsees.
The company works closely with a factory in China to provide affordable Classical and Steel String Guitars, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, and Acoustic and Solid-body Electric Ukuleles. They support local, independent guitar shops: three of Teton’s top five retailers are Utah dealers – including Provo’s own Great Salt Lake Guitar Co. on Center Street.
To learn more about Teton Guitars and to see which artists are playing their guitars, visit TetonGuitars.com/Artists. The National Parks will be headlining Downtown Provo’s Rooftop Concert Series tomorrow, July 1st, at 7:30PM on 100 W Center Street. They will be joined by Hive Riot and RKDN. You can hear “You Are Gold” by The National Parks below.
Provo Music Magazine 