Amid a year full of restrictions and closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local musician Jess Rood took a break from performing music for most of 2020. 

However, during this summer and at this year’s Park County Fair, she can be found back on the stage.  

“I’m excited,” Rood said. “I’ve missed performing a lot.”

In fact, Rood has been involved with music, “ever since I can remember,” she said. 

“My mom was musical,” Rood added. “So we’ve all taken piano and voice lessons since we were little.” 

While Rood first picked up a guitar when she was 8 years old, she said she’d always been fairly serious about performing music. After graduating college for music, she began to take up gigs in local bars and restaurants around the area. 

This summer, Rood has been playing here and there, mostly at the WYOld West Brewing Company in downtown Powell and at the WYOld West Taproom in Cody. Often Rood can be found performing older country music, as well as a little bit of bluegrass.

“Sometimes I’ll throw the mandolin in there, but it’s mostly just guitar and voice,” Rood said.

When Rood isn’t playing shows or working at her day job, she can be found heading to the mountains or riding horses with her husband. 

Rood will take to the Pepsi Free Stage at the pavilion on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. 

“I love it,” Rood said. “I’m getting to play songs that I love [with] people watching.”