Zac Brown Band headlines Rendezvous Fest

By Doug Hare EBS Staff

JACKSON, Wyo. – On March 19, with the sun setting and thousands of fans gathered at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s base area, the Zac Brown Band took the main stage to headline JHMR’s fourth annual Rendezvous Spring Festival, for the second year in a row.

After a weekend of free musical acts in Teton Village and Town Square in Jackson, and an opening set by reggae outfit Iration, the energy in the packed venue was high from the start of the set and only seemed to wane momentarily for a somber, heartfelt rendition of “My Old Man.”

Lead singer and guitar player Zac Brown was sporting a beaver fur hat and wool jacket despite the relatively warm evening. Brown had come down with the flu that morning, but told the audience that he decided to bundle up and put on a show for his fans, who were mostly dressed in spring attire and willing to sing along. At times, Brown was happy to let bandmates Jimmy De Martini on fiddle and Matt Mangano on bass take the lead on impressive solos.

With a mixture of songs from his latest album “Welcome Home,” old favorites like “Homegrown” and “Knee Deep,” and classic rock covers from The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica, the Zac Brown Band did not disappoint and displayed their musical versatility in full view of the tram.

The country-rock mashup was undoubtedly a highlight of Jackson’s increasingly popular Rendezvous Spring Festival. After performing his hit “Chicken Fried” as a finale, fireworks began to erupt in the sky as fans trickled out from the venue. JHMR has not announced the lineup for next year, but it will come as no surprise if the Zac Brown Band is invited back next year.