Kettle Falls Rallies to Build Community Stage

By Liv Stecker

Generations of Native Americans gathered on the flats above the roaring falls to celebrate their culture and traditions. Up to fourteen tribes over the course of thousands of years met in the resource rich Kettle Falls area to trade, hunt, fish and potlatch. Centuries later the glorious falls are buried under water that sits behind the Grand Coulee Dam, but the heritage of the area lives on as an eclectic group of artists from all walks of life emerge above the historic falls to etch their story into time. Instead of rocks, local musicians are carving memories on the audiences of generations in Stevens and Ferry Counties.

In the true spirit of the northern communities, musicians in our little corner of the state have been dedicating their time and talents to raising funds and bringing attention to needs all around us. Rallying support for every cause imaginable, from local food banks to family tragedies, their dreams of platinum recording sales are secondary to giving back to the towns and families that have raised them up.

Born out of a shared love for music and the culturally rich region, plans for the Crossroads Stage emerged as the brainchild of David Keeley and Dave Blanck, who kept bumping into each other at music festivals in the region. They began to imagine a venue for the local artists who have tirelessly given to the community, and new talent that springs out of the woods on a regular basis, the stage would provide a permanent showcase for both local and visiting artists to perform. The "Daves"  (Keeley and Blanck) see the stage as a way of saying thank you to the musicians that have given so much to the community. Building the outdoor stage at Kettle Falls’ picturesque Happy Dell Park made perfect sense.

Beginning in 2013, donation of logs and roofing metal for stage construction began pouring in. Volunteers peeled and moved logs last spring as the first steps toward the community project. While materials pile up, the vision for the stage has developed into a one stop entertainment center that will host shows for local festivals, traveling acts, and an alternative venue for regional theater, dance and educational acts. In the spring of 2013, volunteers helped to move and peel the massive logs earmarked as the first structural pieces of the Crossroads Stage. Styled after a similar community stage in Curlew, the Crossroads stage will be built out of locally harvested and donated logs, offering a roomy 32’X24’ performing area.

Although some of the parts and pieces lie in wait for the real construction to begin, funding for the community stage sits at less than one third of the projected need to complete construction. Generous donations from Bill Berrigan, Boise Cascade, Colville Fish Hatchery, David Presley and others have given the stage a jump-start toward completion. On March 28th, 2015, Northern Ales will be hosting a fundraising night of music, featuring a consortium of local artists, including Michael Pickett, Midnight Run, The Northern Aliens, Stazya and the Naturals, Borderland Blues Band, Brown Mountain Boys, Vantage Point and Paul Smith. Donations will be taken at the door and throughout the night, and proceeds from one of their beer varieties will benefit the cause.

Keeley and Blanck envision the stage as a center point for community events, including the Festival of Neighbors, Town and Country Days and weekly concerts throughout the summer. Family movie nights and other neighborhood get-togethers are also planned for the theater in the park. Positioned in the back corner of the baseball field at Happy Dell Park, the location maximizes the use of the grassy outfield and shade of towering pine trees. On city property, the Crossroads stage will be constructed entirely by volunteer labor and donated funds. Launching the project at an ideal time, the new stage will be completed in conjunction with new public restrooms at the park, a project sponsored by The Kettle Falls Rotary Club. For information about donations, fundraisers or volunteering, contact Dave Keeley at Kettle Falls Town Hall. You can contribute securely online at http://www.gofundme.com/nanbhw. Check out the Crossroads Stage Facebook page to keep up to date on progress and to find out how you can get involved.