Tru named opener for Gladys Knight

Sandpoint native, Idaho raised, and Pacific Northwest based singer songwriter Sam Tru, will be a special guest at this year’s Festival, kicking off the second weekend and opening for icon, Gladys Knight on Thursday, Aug. 5.

Her music is influenced by jazz, soul, pop and R&B genres as well as her favorite childhood musicians, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. However, Tru has been compared to singers such as Eva Cassidy, Amy Winehouse, and Sara Barielles.

“She is a rare talent that can stop a room twice,” co-writer Jeff Baker has said. “Once when she walks on stage, and again when she opens her mouth."

Blending sounds, breaking rules and crossing genres, Tru possesses a voice that is at the True time both new and familiar. Her incredible vocal talents have been showcased throughout the West at the PDX Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz 'Next Generation Competition', the KIN Summer Concert Series, and in support of artists like Liz Vice, Miles Forte, Biddadat and others.

Tru’s debut album ‘Cycle' featuring Grammy Winning bassist Clark Sommers, pianist Justin Nielsen, guitarist Gregory Uhlmann and drummer Matt Carroll reached #1 on Amazon’s Top 100 New Releases, and was played on over 200 radio stations across the globe. The impact of the release culminated as ‘Cycle’ made the Nominating Ballot for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards in multiple categories including Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

Tickets for Gladys Knight with Sam Tru are available at www.festivalatsandpoint.com.