FolsomFest: Folsom's Inaugural Music Festival
Jul 02, 2015 11:42AM ● By Style
Spin Doctors
FolsomFest music festival debuts in Folsom Aug. 8
Inaugural event features nationally known R&B, swing and Americana rock musicians and a music-themed art village
Folsom, Calif. — The sounds of rhythm & blues, Americana rock, swing and funk will have people dancing into the evening on August 8 when five national acts take the stage during FolsomFest at Folsom’s Rodeo Park.
The first-time music festival, presented by Carrera Productions, celebrates the roots of contemporary music by bringing together nationally recognized bands as well as regional visual artists, who will showcase their work in a music-themed art village.
Headline Acts Include:
Spin Doctors — Best known for their early 1990s Billboard hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," the Spin Doctors recently released album, If The River Was Whiskey, returns to the deep-blues sounds of the band’s roots, when its members were flat-broke 20-somethings scraping for dollars on the Big Apple blues circuit.
Mingo Fishtrap — Texas Music Magazine calls Austin-based Mingo Fishtrap “the space where melodic pop meets gritty Memphis soul, with a twist of N'awlins funk.” The soul collective, eight-piece band just released its fourth full-length record, On Time.
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats — Winner of the 2013 Blues Music Award for Best Instrumentalist for his harmonica skills, Estrin serves up fresh, original blues injected with a solid dose of gritty roadhouse rock ‘n’ roll along with his trademark humor. Estrin hails from Sacramento.
Honey Island Swamp Band — HISB’s music has been described as "Bayou Americana," drawing from a variety of influences in the world of roots music. Based in New Orleans, the band came together when several of its members were marooned in San Francisco after Hurricane Katrina. They’ve released four albums together.
Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs! — The singer-songwriter and blues guitarist’s 2011 album, Life Is A Good Place, spent more than 12 consecutive months on the country, pop, and Americana radio charts. His sassy, blues-inflected country rock has earned him a loyal fan base in Austin and the Bay Area. He’s a regular at Grateful Dead legend Phil Lesh’s club, Terrapin Crossroads in Marin County, where Carlos Santana and Elvin Bishop have joined him on stage for impromptu jams
FolsomFest Lineup http://www.folsomfest.com/html/bands.html
Man in Black Art Village
Folsom’s regional artists and most memorable music connection are showcased in the Man in Black Art Village — an homage to Johnny Cash and his iconic hit single, “Folsom Prison Blues.” Much of the art on display will be music-themed. Historical artifacts from Folsom Prison’s early days as well as artwork by Folsom Prison residents will be featured. Scale models of eight larger-than-life art installations planned for the area’s Johnny Cash Trail will be displayed.
FolsomFest tickets are available online at www.folsomfest.com for $35 in advance (through July 27) and $45 through the day of the event. Kids 7-12 are $10, and ages 6 and under are free. Gates open at 2 p.m. and the show runs from 3 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
FolsomFest is general admission with lawn seating, so blankets and low profile chairs are encouraged. Umbrella zones, large shade tents and water cooling/misting areas will keep attendees cool. Food and drinks (craft and domestic beers, hard ciders, wine and non-alcoholic selections) are available onsite.
Special Lodging Package
The Folsom Chamber of Commerce and Folsom Tourism Bureau, the event’s non-profit partner, is offering a FolsomFest Music Lovers Package for $115/night, which includes a room at Lake Natoma Inn, 2 tickets to Folsom Fest and 2 kayak/SUP passes for a fun-filled summer weekend.