Summer is time for music festivals, and the Granite State Music Festival is a time to carry a lawn chair to Kiwanis Riverfront Park, plunk your butt in it and listen to two days of tremendous funky tunes. It’s also this weekend, FYI.
The fourth annual festival is set for June 20 and 21, and the lineup is tremendous as always, including some national headliners – like Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers, and New Hampshire’s own Alex Preston, who climbed to stardom on American Idol – as well as some outstanding local folks, like Rachel Vogelzang and teenage dynamo Delanie Pickering.
Musicians will be rocking two stages for the two-day show referred to as “non-stop music, artisans, food and outdoor summer fun.”
Event organizer Scott Solsky said he’s excited about the lineup – and the chance to again fulfill the festival’s mission to bring cool local tuneage to Concord residents.
“Every year we get a little better at understanding what we have to do to put on a great weekend,” Solsky said. “It’s important that these kinds of events happen. To highlight the great music we have in New Hampshire right now is really important.”
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. Admission for kids 10-17 is half price with the purchase of an adult admission. Advance tickets are available through the festival website, gsmfest.org.
So head to the website and scope out your favorite acts – it’s well worth it. And definitely don’t hesitate to bring the whole fam, because there’s quite literally something for everyone.
“Seeing the amount of families who show up every year has been the most pleasant surprise,” Solsky said. “It’s great; you see people out there with their whole families enjoying music, and that’s important for the young ones to see.”
