POCATELLO — Since its first foray in 2019, Shady Grove Music Camp has grown from a modest gathering to a seminal summer celebration featuring dozens of regional musical acts.

This year the festival is taking a one-time detour from its usual two-day camping weekend for a free, one-day celebration at Lookout Point, nestled in the heart of Historic Downtown Pocatello Sept. 5 — a shift from its traditional third-weekend-of-July slot.

Shady Grove Music Camp was created as a grassroots gathering of regional acts from across Idaho and neighboring states performing original music. It has grown over the years to feature bands and performers from across the U.S., stretching from California to Chicago, while still spotlighting dozens of Intermountain West artists every year for a music-filled weekend of camaraderie, camping, cool drinks and endless entertainment.

“We’ve been doing it for six years now,” said Becky Radenz, one of Shady Grove’s organizers. “Our mission is to really highlight local, original music in Pocatello and surrounding areas to really connect the music scene with everyday people in the community, to provide a really fun, family-friendly environment, somewhere where we can all gather and share art and music.”

For 2026, things are shaking up. Rather than take the year off entirely while organizers work toward what they hope will become a new permanent home for the festival, Shady Grove is hosting a free, one-night downtown event to keep momentum going, give back to the community and build awareness — featuring a series of rotating musical acts on two stages at Lookout Point.

After a late-morning-into-early-afternoon acoustic set at Glean Coffee Roasters, the main event kicks off with performances at the Gate City’s signature downtown park before advancing to three downtown bars.

This year’s single-day format is meant to serve as an introduction to the uninitiated, a chance to put the festival in front of people downtown who may not yet know Pocatello has a music scene worth following.

Becky Radenz said the shift is a deliberate step to widen the festival’s reach while organizers search for a new venue.

“In our previous location, there were just multiple factors that didn’t allow full access for everyone in the community,” Radenz said. “So this year, making it a free one-day event, will give us some space to hopefully grow the event.”

From 3 to 10 p.m., Lookout Point will host acts on two alternating stages so that, true to Shady Grove’s tradition, the music never stops. Several food and drink vendors will be stationed at

Lookout Point throughout the day, including Blubird Pizzeria, Jumbos Xpress Cafe, Angel’s Tacos, Dippin’ Dots and Lemon Smashers.

Shady Grove is partnering with three premier Pocatello craft breweries: Jim Dandy Brewing, Off the Rails and The Martlet, alongside a booth dedicated to Shady Grove swag and band merchandise.

Approximately 15 to 20 vendors will be at Lookout Point selling a variety of wares that include paintings, clothing, crochet, ceramics, jewelry, henna, salves, resin, trinkets, 3D-printed items and more.

A total of 19 bands will perform during Shady Grove Downtown.

At Lookout Point, seven bands will perform, including Lee Rafugee, Moon Owl’s Mages, Stubborn Moth, Loot, Madrona, The Luddites and Druids Heathens & Saints.

All performing bands are welcome to bring their own merchandise, and each will receive dedicated space to sell it, Radenz said.

The early show at Glean from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. features performances from Julie Rowe, Jay Hurley and Jeff Alan Jr.

At 10 p.m., the festival transitions into an after-dark bar-crawl sprawl through downtown Pocatello, with a variety of bands performing at three separate locations.

Gold Dust Chains, The Gerds and Guava Tree will be playing at Misfitz. Jelly, Hot Pursuit and Spudmother will be playing at The First National Bar. Charm Quark, KRC and Weird Science will be performing at Barricade.

The free, one-day format is a temporary shift rather than a permanent one. Radenz said organizers plan to return to the traditional two-day camping festival format next year, with three stages, at a new venue that offers room to grow and that is ideally more accessible for attendees.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer it for free in a very convenient location,” Radenz said.

Much like the musical acts they highlight, many of the organizers and supporting cast of Shady Grove Music Camp are artists themselves or have a basis in the artistic community.

“Over these last six years, we’ve really been able to connect with other artists — as far as helping do murals, or with our vendors, getting to really help support other small local artists, not just with music, but with all different motifs,” Radenz said. “Now we have this very big community of people that are helping. It’s not just music-based, it’s community-based.”

That community now includes podcasters, graphic designers and audio technicians, many of whom volunteer their time. Radenz said several volunteers have stayed involved with the festival for years, trading a few hours of help for a pass to the event, and pointed to muralists and designers — including contributors from the Glen Allen Project — who have offered their work pro bono.

“They’re just happy to help build this event,” Radenz said. “It’s really exciting to just keep growing that and growing our mass of volunteers and people who are involved.”

Shady Grove has long billed itself as a family-friendly event, and this year is no different, though there will be plenty of time once the sun goes down for after-hours shenanigans. Radenz said the goal, ultimately, is less about any single night of music and more about sustaining a scene.

“Come support our local music scene,” Radenz said. “Come chat with others. We really want to keep growing this music community in Pocatello.”