Being staged this year at Sesquicentennial Park in Middleville, Saturday’s day-long festival will feature sets by Seth Bernard, Big Dudee Roo, Megan Dooley, Peter Madcat Ruth and more.
Rootsy Headliner: Seth Bernard and the Electrons will play the second Barry County Roots Music Fest. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Last year’s inaugural Roots Music Festival took over the Barry County community of Hastings with a day of Michigan musical treasures.
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On Saturday, the second Barry County Roots Music Fest will rev up in a new location – Sesquicentennial Park in Middleville – with more big names from Michigan’s roots music scene, including Seth Bernard & The Electrons, Megan Dooley & The Last Roots, Peter Madcat Ruth, Big Dudee Roo and others.
For musician and festival organizer Tony LaJoye, it’s all about bringing “amazing, Michigan-based talent” to Barry County, south of Grand Rapids.
“I don’t want to say we’re sheltered, but many of the local residents don’t know about the thriving music scene we have here in Michigan,” said LaJoye, who also performs Saturday.
“That’s something that’s improved lately, thanks to events like the Hastings summer concerts and the Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival.”
Big Dudee Roo (Photo/Anna Sink)
Presented by the Thornapple Arts Council of Barry County, this year’s festival has moved from downtown Hastings to Middleville. LaJoye noted that Hastings already hosts a series of “really great” concerts.
“Since the TAC mission is to enrich the arts throughout all of Barry County, and there’s no shortage of great events in Hastings, we decided to move to downtown Middleville,” said LaJoye, noting the festival also will feature workshops and craft beer.
“It’s going to be a great place to hold Roots 2016, and the village of Middleville has been very welcoming and supportive. I’m really excited about the venue. Middleville just recently built a new pavilion downtown and I think it’s going to be perfect.”
Admission to the festival, which runs from noon to 11 p.m., is $15. Children 12 and younger are free. Get more information online here.
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
