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Greencastle Music Fest returns this weekend
The biggest event each year in downtown Greencastle will be back this Friday and Saturday.
Boasting two brand-new acts to the event, two returning from last year, as well as a longtime favorite, Greencastle Music Fest will present two evenings of music and other entertainment on Aug. 26 and 27.
“It’s going to be jam-packed solid,” event founder and organizer Gail Smith said. “This is the mother event of all the things that happen in downtown.”
Friday will kick off with Levi Riggs from 6-8:30 p.m., followed by Josh Paige from 9-11 p.m.
On Saturday, the fun begins a little sooner, as Brassfield takes the stage from 3:30-5:30 p.m., followed by The Woomblies Rock Orchestra from 6-8:30 p.m., all capped off with a performance from Music Fest veterans The Crashers (formerly The Louisville Crashers) from 9-11 p.m.
The weekend centers on the corner of Franklin and Indiana streets with the stage facing southwest, and the rest of the festivities taking place on the two streets north and east of the Putnam County Courthouse.
Tickets for each day are $10, though fans to have the chance to purchase an advanced, two-day pass for $15 if they visit www.greencastlemusicfest.com/ by Thursday.
“Obviously, the admission pays for the bands,” Smith said. “We also do our Shamrock 5K in March. As we continue to grow, we can grow our entertainment lineup. You can’t keep it the same, which is exciting.
“Our sponsorships have been great,” she added. “The community has been so generous in supporting this event.”
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Entrances will be at Washington and Indiana streets, Jackson and Franklin streets or Indiana and Columbia streets. Members of the Cloverdale Masonic Lodge will be volunteering at the gates.
Other festivities during the two-day event will include a new kids area each evening, which will include games such as Chicken Flinger, duck pond, Maze Runner, Plinko, Giant Jenga, a photo booth and more, with prizes for all games.
Saturday will include a cornhole tournament with registration from 3-4:30 p.m., and the bags begin flying at 5 p.m.
Food will be available outside with stands from both Almost Home and The Inn at DePauw. Almost Home will also have a beer garden.
Downtown restaurants will also be open on both Franklin and Indiana streets.
On the music front Friday will, as is tradition, have more of a country feel with Riggs and Paige.
A first-time performer at Music Fest, Danville native and Purdue graduate Riggs is no stranger to Putnam County audiences, having played the Putnam County Fair and other area events previous.
He and his band have played across the United States opening for artists such as Jason Aldean, Travis Tritt, Alabama, Josh Turner and more. He has played at iconic American venues such as the Grand Ole Opry, the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby and Daytona 500. Levi won the 95.5 WMFS NashNext Competition and he has scored multiple Top 40 Billboard Indicator and Music Row country chart hits in addition to racking up millions of online streams.
His set list is customizable to each show. To request a song, text “LEVI” to the number 55433.
Paige is back for his second visit to Music Fest, having also headlined Friday night last year.
The Northern California native is now based in Tennessee, and he says he hit the ground running and is now collaborating with “a notable roster of hit makers.”
“I am on Music Row, writing and producing every day,” he said. “I feel so privileged being connected with these writers.”
Paige’s songs run the spectrum from rambunctious party anthems to evocative ballads, and festival organizers say they are excited to welcome him back.
In another way to enjoy the music, there will also be line dancing lessons on Friday, led by the Dance Studio of Terre Haute.
Acknowledging that people have full schedules on Fridays, Smith noted that it will be worth the price of admission.
“There are a lot of things going on Friday night , but you don’t want to miss this,” she said.
On Saturday, traditionally the bigger night in terms of attendance, the music will kick off with first-time performers Brassfield, also out of Nashville.
Brassfield is a country vocal trio comprised of brothers Bradley and Chadley Brassfield, and Chadley’s wife, Jessie Rose Brassfield.
Their sound has been described as “A distinctive, soulful, airtight harmony blend,” and their mission “to write great songs and share their music with the world.”
The trio has opened for Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Lady A, Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, Jeff Foxworthy, Ernest, The Frontmen, and, of course, Exile, since Jessie Rose is the daughter of Exile’s lead singer, J.P. Pennington.
Brassfield just completed a new recording project with hit producer Oscar Charles.
Based out of Indianapolis, the Woomblies bring a big sound to the Music Fest stage with nine musicians, including a four-piece string section, playing some of the greatest rock and Motown music.
“It’ll give you goosebumps to hear them play,” Smith said.
Finally, the music will conclude with The Crashers in their accustomed spot atop the Music Fest lineup.
Widely recognized as one of the nation’s best party bands, The Crashers bring a mix of rock and pop from their six-member lineup.
Led by frontman Mark Maxwell, The Crashers have been a favorite at Music Fest since they first appeared in 2016.
Maxwell endeared himself and the band to local fans that year when he offered a Greencastle couple $1,000 if they would name their baby after the band.
When Crasher Brendon Michael Buttery came into the world two months later, Maxwell was true to his word, even coming to the hospital to meet the baby.
Baby Crasher even made an appearance on the Music Fest stage the following year.
“It’s going to be high energy and it’s going to keep going to the end,” Smith said of the lineup.
The event, as well as setup and teardown time, will mean the closure of Franklin and Indiana streets from Thursday evening through Sunday morning.
