June 2 - 8, 2000

Argus Leader
The Scene
Sioux Falls, SD

Rock 'n' Ribs Under the Sun
by Bob Keyes

gb Leighton will be here Saturday.  Let the summer begin.

Fast becoming Minnesota's sure-thing party starter, Leighton and his band headline Saturday at the Sioux Empire Ribfest, a three-day food-and-music festival that opens at 11 this morning in the Arena parking lot.

Although only in its third year, Ribfest has evolved into the unofficial summer kickoff in Sioux Falls.  It's three days of rock 'n' ribs, held under the sun - we hope - and stars.  The music comes from 14 local and regional bands, the food from a half-dozen rib vendors from across the country who compete for end-of-festival bragging rights.

The festival grounds are the north parking lot at the Arena, just east of Howard Wood Field.  With the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team kicking off its season-opening home schedule across the lot in the fancy like-new retrofitted Birdcage, the Arena complex is the place to party this weekend.

Leighton will make sure of that.  He is a younger generation's version of Johnny Holm, but with a whole lot more originality and musical credibility.  A native of Minneapolis, Leighton and his band have made their reputation as heartland rockers with energetic tendencies that mimic John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen.

Around Minnesota, Leighton and his crew are the band promoters ask about first when planning summer parties.  From the north woods to the metro suburbs, the band's feel-good reputation guarantees a busy warm-weather itinerary when community celebrations move outdoors.

"Our music gets people moving, dancing, and drinking.  That seems to be what people like, " says Leighton, who has performed in Sioux Falls only a time or two in the past half-decades.

Fittingly, he is calling his new CD "It's All Good."  Predictably, it is a hook-heavy 12-song disc that Leighton recently finished recording in Minneapolis and Memphis.  Leighton will release the CD on his Moonsong label in August - right about the time he'll be back in Sioux Falls for his gig with buddy Jonny Lang at the Sioux Empire Fair.

Musically, Ribfest has always been diverse, mixing rock, country and blues bands over the first two days while reserving Sunday for more family-oriented fare.  That will be the case again this weekend.  Local heroes Kory & the Fireflies headline tonight, the band's second consecutive Ribfest appearance.  On Saturday, rock-funk wonders Paul Holland and the Supafuzz precede Leighton to the stage, giving Saturday's events a definite Minnesota feel.  The Supafuzz also play tonight at 330 Main Street Blues downtown.

Cooper, a Sioux Falls band with an acoustic edge, kicks things off at 11 today.  Mystic Cowboys, Sugardaddy and the Brookings outfit Katfish & the Whiskey Tangos also play today before the Fireflies.

On Saturday, it's the Cartwright Brothers at 11, followed by Swim and Midnight Crossing before the Supafuzz and Leighton.

Sunday's entertainment begins with the gospel sounds of the Friendship Baptist Quartet and includes children's entertainer Phil Baker, 11-year-old phenom Mallorie Haley and a festival-closing bluegrass jam.

As far as the food goes, five of the six rib vendors are returnees.  The only newcomer on the food front is Nap's Alabama BBQ, which opened a restaurant in Sioux Falls since last year's Ribfest.

The rib vendors take the festival seriously.  They compete against each other all season long, traveling to many of the same festivals while vying for people's choice awards.  They have their choice of bringing their meat with them or buying a weekend's supply from John Morrell & Co.  Most buy locally, putting their stamp on the meat with their spices and cooking techniques.

The food is not cheap, and the lines are rarely short.  A platter of ribs and a beer will set you back the better part of a $10 bill, and it could take 15 minutes or more to get your food during the busy times.  Festival admission is $2.

History suggests the wait and expense are worth it.  The first year, between 15,000 and 16,000 people attended.  Last year, crowd estimates were between 20,000 and 25,000.  With decent weather, promoters are hoping 25,000 people or more turn out this weekend.