The third annual Granite State Music Festival will bring two big stages and even bigger sound to Concord this weekend for two full days of family-friendly fun June 21 and 22.
The New Hampshire music scene is always at the heart of this celebration, a weekend of non-stop music, artisans, food and outdoor summer fun. Concord’s Kiwanis Riverfront Park, on the banks of the Merrimack River, combines a riverfront venue with overhanging shade trees, grassy lawn, and plenty of on-site parking for visitors from both near and far away. Attendees can bring their own chairs and blankets and make themselves at home on the festival lawn – where frisbees and hula hoops are king and dancing is encouraged.
This year, the festival organization has teamed up with co-presenters, Parker Education, to continue the festival’s growth as a venue for New Hampshire’s original music. New for 2014 is the Granite State Music Festival KidZone, which will feature activities and music for the smallest festival goers.
Regular Weekend Passes are $40 in advance for the full weekend or $50 day-of. Day Passes are also available at $25 in advance or $30 the day-of-show. Admission is free for children aged nine and under. Children ages 10 to 16 get in for half-price with an adult admission.
The festival features a family-friendly rotation of music by New Hampshire’s best performers, playing all original music. This year’s lineup includes national headliners Lucius, regional headliners the Adam Ezra Group, Roots of Creation, and Kingsley Flood, and local headliners Pat & the Hats. The eclectic bill is rounded out by an array of New Hampshire and regional acts that you will not see on the same stage anywhere else: Karen Grenier, the Ross Livermore Band, Ian Ethan Case, the Jandee Lee Porter Band, the Folksoul Band, Erik “Fingers” Ray, Mines of Paris, Donkilo! Afro Funk Orkestra, Four Legged Faithful, Tristan Omand, People Skills, Dreadnaught, the Brooks Young Band, Ghost Dinner Band, the Chris Peters Band, and Senayit. New Hampshire’s favorite family-friendly artist Steve Blunt will perform in the KidsZone. Genres and miles are bridged by this talented roster, creating a truly perse New Hampshire music experience.
The Granite State Music Festival began in 2012 as the vision of festival director Scott Solsky. Solsky, a professional musician himself, saw the capital city as the perfect location for the festival for a variety of reasons. Concord is a convenient, central location that truly seeks to represent New Hampshire – right in the heart of the state, in the capital city. Beyond the obvious logistics, and the capital city status, Concord itself is a city rich with cultural resources.
Additional information about the Granite State Music Festival is available at the festival website, gsmfest.org. General inquiries regarding the festival may be emailed to info@gsmfest.org, or made by phone to 534-3592.
