Lineup set for Saturday's Greencastle Music Fest

The heart of Greencastle will be alive with the sound of music Saturday.

The annual Greencastle Music Festival -- scheduled for 3-11 p.m. with live music starting at 4 p.m. on the north side of the courthouse square -- will help celebrate the 25th anniversary of Almost Home, Gail Smith's award-winning downtown restaurant.

The free concert lineup will include three outdoor performances on the York Family Automotive Stage:

-- Ellusion, a popular regional band from Terre Haute, will return to Greencastle to play from 4-5:30 p.m.

-- Soul Bus, an Indianapolis "super group" featuring Greencastle's own bluesman, Tad Robinson, will take the stage 6-8 p.m.

-- And the night's headliners, The Louisville Crashers -- billed as one of the country's best party bands with late-night TV credits on the shows of David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien -- perform 8:30-11 p.m.

Then at 11 p.m., the music scene will shift inside with The MacDaddy's, a popular cover band from Terre Haute, livening up The Swizzle Stick until 1 a.m.

Gail Smith, who organizes the Greencastle Music Fest each year, is excited about lining up The Louisville Crashers to play. She likens the group to the Flying Toasters, the Indianapolis group who stole the show three years ago.

"If you liked the Toasters, you're going to love them," she said, noting the Louisville Crashers are "very, very popular" and in such demand that they are taking bookings two years out.

"I saw them twice," Smith said, "and they didn't disappoint me either time."

Smith said the Music Fest wouldn't be possible without the backing of such sponsors as York Automotive, First Financial Bank, DePauw University, the National Center for College Costs (Dave and Sue Murray), Dave's Heating and Cooling, U.S. Foods and the Inn at DePauw.

Additional support for the event has come from Therese Cunningham Insurance, J.R. Bowling Excavating, 3G Bowl and Myers' Market.

Smith said a donation area will be set up Saturday for anyone who wants to contribute to help fund continuation of the music fest as annual event downtown. A portion of those proceeds will be split with Main Street Greencastle for future projects.

While the focus will be on music Saturday, the event will also provide fun and games and food as well.

An area featuring kids' games and activities will open at 3 p.m. and continue until dusk. Among the kids' activities will be face-painting, a Dance Workshop event, youth soccer activities, putt-putt, a bowling alley and mini-cornhole.

An adult cornhole tournament is set for 3-5 p.m. with Dave Corbin organizing that effort. Registration is $20 per team with cash prizes to be won. Teams can register Saturday or pre-register by calling Corbin at 653-7346.

In addition to a beer garden, Almost Home will be offering barbecue fare utilizing Myers' Market meat products.

Smith also plans a silent auction with a number of items donated by her distributors, including an electric guitar. Bids on the silent auction will end in time for the winners to be announced just prior to The Louisville Crashers taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.

Festival-goers are also invited to check out a booth featuring photos and memorabilia from Almost Home's first 25 years.