More than 16 bands will bring music to the ears of an expected 4,000 at this year’s eighth annual Nelsonville Music Festival.
The list of 16 initial bookings — which include Iron & Wine, M. Ward, Dawes and Charles Bradley — was announced Monday at Stuart’s Opera House. More acts will be announced later this month, rounding the total out to about 50 participating bands.
“The general goal is always to bring some of the best music around to Southeast Ohio and put on a very unique and special festival,” said Brian Koscho, the marketing director for Stuart’s Opera House.
The show is set for the weekend of May 18, said Tim Peacock, executive director of the opera house.
Last year, the revenue from the festival accounted for almost 9 percent of the opera house’s budget, Koscho said.
Koscho said part of what makes the Nelsonville Music Festival so special is that it takes place in the historic city of Nelsonville.
“Being part of bringing people to our community is very important to us. … We focus on working local as much as we can,” Koscho said. “So this is a big thing for Nelsonville and Athens County, and we take it very seriously. It’s important.”
Rob Tanner, a senior studying recreation, said he has high expectations for the event.
“There is always a lot of good music, and (Stuart’s Opera House) always makes some really good picks. It gets better every year,” Tanner said.
Although 9Fest is that same weekend, Peacock said actual music lovers will gravitate toward Nelsonville.
“But the Nelsonville Music Festival is a place where actual music lovers can come to see and hear great music without having to get wasted in order to have some fun,” he said.
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