Local Music Tap: Lowertown Guitar Fest Returns For 2nd Year
The Lowertown Guitar Festival is returning to St. Paul's Mears Park after last year's inaugural event that attracted nearly 2,000 people.
This year, the host of the event -- McNally Smith College of Music -- promises that the Saturday, Aug. 9 event will be even bigger and better.
The festival's goal is simple: celebrate one of America's most beloved instruments – the guitar – and the musicians who play it.
Featured guitarists on the Main Stage include Robben Ford, Greg Koch, Jim Campilongo, Rosie Flores, Phil Heywood and more.
St. Paul-based musician Molly Maher (recently featured in our Women Who Rock segment) will be reprising her role as the festival's emcee. She'll be joined by slide guitarist and vocalist Gabriela Sweet and will headline the festival's Acoustic Stage.
Acoustic Stage performers also feature indie rocker Jeremy Ylvisaker and Minneapolis-based guitarist/composer Chris Beaty.
The event also includes a teen guitar contest, free guitar workshops on its nearby campus, brews and food truck.
Main Stage:
• 8:30 p.m. — Robben Ford
• 7:00 p.m. — Greg Koch Trio w/ Roscoe Beck and special guest David Grissom
• 5:30 p.m. — Jim Campilongo Trio
• 4:00 p.m. — Rosie Flores
• 2:30 p.m. — Phil Heywood
Acoustic Stage:
• 8:00 p.m. — Molly Maher and Gabriela Sweet
• 6:30 p.m. — Trevor Wiest (featured McNally Smith student guitarist)
• 5:00 p.m. — Jeremy Ylvisaker
• 3:30 p.m. — Chris Beaty
Click here for more information on the festival.
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Local Music Tap is a blog aimed at promoting Minnesota-based musicians, bands, shows and events. If you have music blog ideas, please email cepremo@wcco.com or leave a comment below. Also, follow the Local Music Tap on Twitter and on YouTube.
