Bluegrass on Main Street coming Aug. 29

• Bluegrass on Main Street is coming back to downtown Newark on Aug. 29.
• The event includes music on the Main Stage and after-hours performances.
• For more information about the music festival, go to bluegrassonmain.com.

NEWARK – When they started Bluegrass on Main Street last year, some people cautioned Tom Atha and Andy Carlson that it usually takes between five and seven years for a music festival to get off the ground.

So they were thrilled to see a huge crowd when the festival premiered last October.

“Last year was a tremendous success,” Carlson said. “We had a great crowd that lasted all day long, good traffic all day, and the after hours were tremendous.”

There was no question they would bring the festival back this year, but fans of the daylong concert should expect some changes, Atha said.

The event will be from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 on West Main Street, between Third and Fourth streets. The music will continue from 8 to 10 p.m. with six after-hours performances at local restaurants.

Local band Frosty Morning Bluegrass will kick things off, followed by the Wayfarers, New Outlook, Dale Ann Bradley and Mountain Heart.

During that time, visitors can enjoy food from four food trucks: Mikey’s Late Night Slice, Mixing Bowl Asian Grill, Moe’s Original Barbeque and Steamroller Bagel Sandwiches. There also will be a beer garden on West Main Street featuring five craft breweries.

If it rains, musicians will perform at The Midland Theatre, Atha said.

This year, tickets for the Main Stage entertainment will be sold for $5 each and can be purchased online or at the gate.

“It will help us grow the caliber of entertainers we’ll bring in,” Atha said. “We can’t believe we are where we are, and we want to keep the momentum going.”

All after-hours entertainment is free, although people who bought tickets for the Main Stage will be eligible for specials at each location, Atha said.

People can choose to see Northwest Territory at Palumbos, Andy Carlson and Casey Cook at The Draft House, Timberline at The Sparta, Smokey Row String Band at Buckeye Winery, Fox N Hounds at Park Place Bistro, or Sugar Creek Bluegrass at The Midland Theatre.

After having such a positive response from local businesses and bluegrass fans, both Atha and Carlson are looking forward to bringing people downtown to enjoy a day of music.

“A lot of (downtown) events have music as part of them, but this event is completely dedicated to music,” he said. “It’s 12 bands in one day for $5 bucks, and there’s no better place to do this.”

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544

Twitter: @amsjeffries

Bluegrass on Main Street schedule

Main Stage

•Noon to 1 p.m.: Frosty Morning Bluegrass

•1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Wayfarers

•3 to 4 p.m.: New Outlook

•4:30 to 6 p.m.: Dale Ann Bradley

•6:30 to 8 p.m.: Mountain Heart

All concerts will take place on the West Main Street stage between Third and Fourth streets. Tickets are $5 per person for the whole day. Children younger than age 5 are admitted for free.

After-hours bands

•Northwest Territory at Palumbos on the Square, 26 N. Park Place

•Andy Carlson and Casey Cook at The Draft House, 15 W. Main St.

•Timberline at The Sparta, 16 W. Main St.

•Smokey Row String Band at Buckeye Winery, 25 N. 3rd St.

• Fox N Hounds at Park Place Bistro, 10 N. Park Place

•Sugar Creek Bluegrass at The Midland Theatre, 36 N Park Place

All after-hours concerts are from 8 to 10 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

For more information about the music festival, go to bluegrassonmain.com.