It's time to break out the picnic blankets and head to Bellevue Memorial Park for the third annual Big Wood Folk Festival.
The two-day concert series June 19-20 will feature 11 bands, mostly from the Wood River Valley.
Performers include local piano player Aaron Baker as well as singer-songwriter Sheryll Mae Grace. Grace currently resides in Ketchum, where she is gaining a large local following.
Up a Creek—a Bellevue-based group that offers an eclectic mix of sounds including country, rock, blues, folk and hillbilly—is also set to perform. Longtime favorite the Kim Stocking Band will take the stage on Friday night.
Mike White, a co-founder and current director of the festival, said the inspiration for the concert series came from the stage at Bellevue Memorial Park.
"I was looking at this beautiful stage at the Bellevue park and it wasn't getting much use, and I thought what a wonderful place that would be to perform," White said.
In response, White reached out to Steve Fairbrother, former Bellevue mayor and a sitting member of the City Council, and Ted Macklin, a stage sounds specialist. With the support of the city of Bellevue, the three founded the Big Wood Folk Festival in 2007.
White said the emphasis on folk music comes from his interest in the genre, as well as its public appeal.
"I wanted to create a real family-friendly atmosphere," White said. "Absent from this festival is industrial strength music. I wanted people of all ages to feel at home."
This year, White said he expects a decent-sized crowd.
"It grows every year, and we are hoping this year to make it over 200 people," White said.
In addition to musical performances, the festival will feature vendors selling food, drinks and jewelry. Food items include picnic staples as well as more unusual fare such as salmon burgers, sushi and curried rice.
For details, visit www.bigwoodfolk.com.
Della Sentilles: della@mtexpress.com
Folk Festival
The festival will take place June 19 and 20 at Bellevue Memorial Park. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate. Tickets are good for both days of the festival. They can be purchased in advance at Riverbend Coffee House, Notes Music Store, Golden Elk Café and Chapter One Bookstore.
Friday, June 19
4 p.m. Gates open
5 p.m. No Cheap Horses
6 p.m. Slow Children Playing
7 p.m. Kim Stocking Band
Saturday, June 20
11 a.m. Gates open
12 p.m. No Cheap Horses
1 p.m. Aaron Baker
1:45 p.m. Hickory Blue
2:45 p.m. Sheryll Mae Grace
3:30 p.m. Up a Creek
4:30 p.m. Michael White
5 p.m. The Boulder Brothers
6 p.m. Headwaters Band
7 p.m. High Desert Band
Marc Kottraba and Dave Muscavage are the Headwaters Band, a Stanley-based group that plays bluegrass music with an edge.
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