Fri 7/26 @ 6PM
Sat 6/27 @ 6PM
The Burning River Fest, now in its 13th year, was created to raise awareness about environmental issues. That’s been a key mission of its sponsor, Great Lakes Brewing Company, since it opened its doors in Ohio City. The event, taking place at the historic Coast Guard Station at Whiskey Island, includes displays from area environmental groups, local food and special events devoted to educating attendees about sustainability.
But the two-day festival also regularly provides one of the strongest lineups of local talent of any area event — sustaining the local music scene along with the environment.
Instead of falling back on tribute and cover bands that are standard at so many summer festival, the Burning River Fest offers mostly original artists — both veterans and up-and-comers — in a vast variety of genres. Its three stages will feature 28 acts ranging from acoustic singer-songwriters to hard-rocking bands.
Among the acts lined up for this year: buzz-worthy folk-rock ensemble Bethesda, the KJ Blues Band led by vocalist, guitarist/ trumpeter Kristine Jackson, blazing soul-rock ensemble Winslow, sonic experimentalists the Trepanning Trio, zydeco purveyors Mo’Mojo, reggae favorites Jah Messengers, Brazilian jazz guitarist/singer, dance DJ MisterBradleyP, and singer-songwriters ranging from relative newcomer to veteran Alex Bevan to former Odd Girl Out Alexis Antes who falls somewhere in between.
And that’s just a fraction of the outstanding lineup, all of which you can find here.
http://www.burningriverfoundation.org/artists
Tickets are $12 per day, or $18 for the weekend. Money raised goes to the nonprofit Burning River Foundation, which funds projects devoted to protecting the area’s water resources.
http://www.burningriverfoundation.org/sitemaps/view/attend
Photo: Diana Chittester