Soul, punk, folk, rock and hip-hop will all be represented in this year’s Nelsonville Music Festival after the newest round of artists was announced Monday.
“I think (diversity) is one thing that separates us from many festivals,” said Tim Peacock, executive director of Stuart’s Opera House and Nelsonville Music Festival. “We want it to be an eclectic festival.”
Soul singer Mavis Staples, indie singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten and punk musician Jonathan Richman were among the biggest artists of the nine acts announced for the annual festival. Other artists announced alongside headliners Wilco and John Prine include Wild Belle, David Wax Museum, Brown Bird, Endless Boogie, Anais Mitchell and Lucius.
Brian Koscho, marketing and promotions coordinator for Nelsonville Music Festival, said the festival’s coordinators are working to keep the festival diverse so that all in attendance can find an act that appeals to them.
“In the past … people go into the weekend being more excited for the big headliners or a certain act that they were going to see, and then they left with a handful of records by a band they hadn’t heard of before that weekend,” Koscho said. “There is a lot of potential for that (this year).”
Mavis Staples is a 1999 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee for her work in The Staple Singers, best known for their 1970s hits “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.”
Jonathan Richman, another big act for the festival because he typically does not play music festivals, is an incredible artist everybody should hear and know, Peacock said.
Richman was the founder of the progressive ’70s punk band The Modern Lovers, most well known for their hit song “Roadrunner.” He also is known as one of the godfathers of punk.
Along with the announcement of new acts comes an increase in the price level for a full weekend pass from $90 to $100. This year, the price at the gate will be $30 more than it was last year, but Koscho said the price increase is well worth it when considering the quality of acts coming through as well as the addition of a fully booked day on Thursday.
“As we grow and bring in more quality acts and try to put on a better event year to year, that increases the expenses on our end too,” Koscho said. “You still have an opportunity, at a reasonable price, to see some amazing bands.
—Emily Bamforth contributed to this story.
wh092010@ohiou.edu
