Hoot In The Hole

Hoot In The Hole: The Story of the Jackson Hole Hootenanny is a 2008 music documentary that tells the story of the Jackson Hole Hootenanny, a bluegrass and folk music concert that takes place every Monday evening in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Directed by documentary filmmaker Juliet Sonnenberg throughout 2006 and 2007, "Hoot In The Hole" memorializes the show's 14-year history through a number of interviews with weekly performers at the Hootenanny such as Anne and Pete Sibley, John Byrne Cooke, and John Kuzloski, as well as performances from recording artists such as Tom Rush, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the Wilders and The Hot Club of Cowtown.
"Hoot In The Hole" is the first documentary by Juliet Sonnenberg.
History of the Jackson Hole Hootenanny.
During the post-war boom of the 1950s, Jackson Hole, Wyoming became a hub for tourism, the mountaineering counter-culture, and most importantly music. In 1957, "the father of extreme skiing" and renowned local writer/musician, Bill Briggs, channeled this local fervor into organizing events he called "Teton Tea Parties." During these "Tea Parties," Briggs and a number of his climbing and counter-culture peers would sit around a fire under a bridge that crossed Snake River and play traditional, folk and old-time country & western music. The name "Teton Tea Party" comes from the drink that was most popular during these get-togethers: a mix of wine and strong tea brewed in a large pot over an open fire. These "Tea Parties" were a staple of the community for years, bringing both locals and tourists together to celebrate the music that seemingly embodied Jackson Hole. Over time, however, the excitement over the "Teton Tea Parties" slowly waned until the concerts took place less frequently, seemingly becoming a thing of the past.
Fast forward almost three decades, and the Teton Tea Party made its way indoors and was reborn as the Jackson Hole Hootenanny. Every Monday night since 1993 at Dornan's in Moose, Wyoming, the Hootenanny has been playing acoustic music in a traditional hootenanny style to standing-room-only listeners. During its history, it became commonplace for well-known artists and musicians traveling through the valley to stop in at Dornan's to enjoy the weekly performances, including renowned American singer/songwriter, John Denver.
Production.
Beginning in the spring of 2006, director Juliet Sonnenberg and two cameramen traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to begin filming. Shooting on-and-off over the course of a full year, Sonnenberg and crew filmed three live Hootenannies, interviewed 11 different people (including artists, locals, and attendees), and collected over 100 pre-recorded video tapes of past Hootenannies to compile over 550 hours of footage. It took Sonnenberg about six months to sort through the footage and edit, before it was first screened in Jackson Hole in early 2008. The documentary was released by Metamorphose Films.
Reception and awards.
Upon its release in 2008, "Hoot In The Hole: The Story of The Jackson Hole Hootenanny" was screened at a number of film and music festivals across the country, garnering accolades along the way. It won the bronze award for "Excellence in a Music Documentary" at Park City Film Music Festival in addition to being an Official Selection at Big Bear Lake Music Festival, Vail Film Festival, and the Appalachian Film Festival. "Hoot In The Hole" first aired on television on Chicago PBS affiliate WYCC Channel 20 in 2009, and has been in rotation on Public Television's many affiliates ever since.