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Southern Utah, get ready to jam! It’s Groovefest time again!
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ack to rock patrons for their 8th year, the Groovefest American Music Festival plans to provide a five day music fix dedicated to American music. Whether your pleasure is Blues & Folk, Bluegrass & Country Western, Americana, (just to name a few), there’s sure to be some ear candy to get your toes tapping!
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Groovefest is the brainchild of transplanted Oregoneon, Tim Crestsinger. Owner and operator of the Groovacious music store in Cedar City, Utah, he and his wife Lisa moved to Cedar City in 2000. Realizing there wasn’t any other type of music festival in Southern Utah, Tim, Lisa and a few music loving friends, and music store customers decided that organizing a music festival was an endeavor they would take on. M AY t h r u J U N E 2 0 1 0
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So, they set out to create a festival that resembles a community: likeminded people that love music, want to share it, and want others to enjoy it with them. Art, and the sharing of art. Their idea began as a one day festival, and has morphed into a five day event. “Every year it grows, and every year we strive to make it better and add new things,” says Tim. “We let it take on its own life, and evolve the way it wants to.” And with the help of a lot of great volunteers, sponsors, and musicians to make this festival happen, evolve it has. And they take pride in keeping it “real.” Tim defines this as “music that is felt from the heart and makes the players as well as the
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listeners feel good; music that comes deep from the soul; music that does not try to impress. Real music. It is a feeling as well as a sound.” This year’s festival is June 23-27, and is packed full of performances, art and workshops. Groovefest will open the festival with a few “teaser” events to wet your whistle. These include the “Campfire Concert in the Canyon” on Wednesday night, held one and a half miles east from Cedar City up Cedar Canyon on Highway 14. Thursday night offers a double feature: the “Kick Off” Show” at the Grind Coffeehouse, followed by a first-time late night “kickoff After Hours” at Mike’s Tavern. The Main Street park in the downtown historic district of Cedar City,
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Utah will come alive in full celebration on Friday and Saturday. This familyoriented event is free to the public. Patrons can munch on pizza, shaved ice, hot dogs, or wraps from their choice of the many food vendors, and kick back to back-to-back live bands on the main stage (Fri. 1pm-11pm, Sat. 11:30am-11pm). Great American Taxi, Scott Holt Band, The New Familiars, John Batdorf, Kort McCumber Band, and Gabrielle Louise are just a few of the Groovefest performers. “People always want a “name,” says Tim about the bands. “But I feel you are going to get a much better show out of some of the non-recognizable names. The acts you’ll see at Groovefest may not be names you’ve heard of...but they are still working extremely hard to make their name. You’re gonna get a much better show with these artists.”
The Cedar City Arts Council has partnered with Groovefest this year. The Cedar City Arts Festival will be complimenting the musical performances, including a variety of arts and crafts booths for your art-loving heart! As part of the Groovefest American Music Festival, patrons can take advantage of some fantastic musical workshop opportunities. Whether you’d like to play the drum, guitar, banjo, didgeridoo, or just do a little song writing, you can sit in on a how-to session and get some hot pointers and tips. All learning levels are welcome. There is a minimal charge for the workshops. The festival will wrap up on Sunday with the “Groovefest Gospel Hour” at the Grind. Not limited to just a gospel show, this two hour celebration promises to be the rowdy end to the festivities. “These musicians come from all over the country to play,” says Tim. “I love to see people having a good time and listening to some good music that we’ve provided for them.” For a full schedule of the Groovefest American Music Festival activities, the full line-up of Groovefest performers, and information on music workshops, please visit: www.groovefestutah.com.
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