Salmon River Music Adventures
In 2015 we began offering Salmon River music adventures by inviting professional musicians to perform during the rafting trip. The result has been amazing. The guests, musicians and MFRE guides all agree that these trips are the best, as there is a way music can connect the group to nature and the canyon itself, not to mention the “tribe” that is formed through music.
Video: Middle Fork Salmon music adventure – Aug 2017, featuring Johnsmith
2025 Salmon River Guest Musician Lineup
- Johnsmith: Middle Fork Salmon (July 31-Aug 5)
- Joe Crookston: Main Salmon (Aug 14-19)
- Darrell Scott: Middle Fork Salmon (Aug 16-21)
John Smith – Middle Fork July 31- Aug 5, 2025
Johnsmith is one of those artists so often under-recognized – he possesses a genius that cannot be denied, ignored, or overlooked. For the past thirty-plus years, Johnsmith has been sharing his music all across America and abroad. He has become a favorite at festivals, clubs, and house concerts alike. In addition to being a Kerrville New Folk Winner, Johnsmith has released eight solo CDs to rave reviews, leads musical tours to Ireland, teaches songwriting, and has served as a staff songwriter in Nashville.
With his faded jeans, his twinkly blue eyes, and his infectious smile, John immediately connects with audiences. You get the sense of a man who loves his life, his family and friends, and who loves nothing more than sharing that love in song and stories all across this land.
Joe Crookston Main Salmon Aug 14-19 2025
“Joe is a force of nature on stage. Pure magic.
He’s in his power AND communes with his audience.
From touring with Gordon Lightfoot, headlining major US festivals, receiving Folk Alliance International “Album of the Year,” releasing NINE BECOMES ONE (2023) to being named Folk Alliance International Artist-in- Resident, Joe is on fire. He’s played with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, David Francey, John McCutcheon, John Gorka, Judy Collins and 100’s more.”
Darrell Scott Middle Fork Of The Salmon 8/16-8/21 2025
Darrell and his wife Angela joined us in 2017 and 2019 to celebrate Darrell’s 60th Birthday. Darrell is an incredible musician and songwriter who also travels with the Zach Brown band. Please take a look at his site for more information and his Bio!
Darrell Scott has written several mainstream country hits, and he has also established himself as one of Nashville’s premier session instrumentalists. He won the 2007 Song of the Year award from the Americana Music Association for his song “Hank William’s Ghost” which appears on his album The Invisible Man.
How do they work?
All musicians have their different style and personality, of course. Musicians play each evening around the campfire, but also at scenic grottos, waterfalls along the way, and even while soaking in a hot spring. It is up to the musician when and where they want to play but it is always coordinated with the MFRE Trip Leaders.
Many novice guest musicians ask whether they can play with the musicians as well and in many cases this is allowed and encouraged. If you want to bring an instrument please do and we will bring an extra dry bag for you. Just be sure it is in a hard case.
RainSong Guitars Sponsorship
Middle Fork River Expeditions have partnered with RainSong guitars and they allow our musicians to play in the wilderness and not worry about damaging their own super pricey guitars. Plus these guitars sound amazing! Most woods show increasing damping with frequency, making the highest notes sound muddy. Carbon fiber’s damping is almost constant across the acoustic spectrum resulting in a full range of sound — from a treble that rings with crystalline clarity to a bass that is warm without being muddy. And, because of Projection Tuned Layering’s uniform stiffness, the RainSong acoustic sound is impeccably balanced and very, VERY loud. Once you have heard the classic carbon sound you’ll recognize it anywhere, as distinctive as anything on earth.
