‘Halfway to Riverroots’
RiverRoots
committee
plans party to promote May event
Music,
microbrew beer,
food and fun on tap for Nov. 10
By
Tess Worrell
Contributing Writer
(November 2012) – When an event hits big, organizers
celebrate the success and look forward to the next year. When RiverRoots
Music and Folk Art Festival hits big, RiverRoots marketing director
Charlie Rohlfing says, “We throw a true party – the Halfway
to RiverRoots Festival.”
|
Halfway
To •
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Livery Stable, 104 Broadway St.,
Madison, IN |
Halfway to RiverRoots is scheduled for Saturday, Nov.
10, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Livery Stable on Broadway Street in downtown
Madison, Ind. Entry is $10 per person. Organizers invite everyone to
attend this mini-RiverRoots event, which combines music, art and a craft
beer display.
“We are making this year’s Halfway more of a festival. You
get all the elements of RiverRoots on a smaller scale. It’s a chance
to enjoy the success of the last RiverRoots and look forward to the
next,” says Rohlfing.
The craft beer tasting comprises a new focus for RiverRoots. “Just
as Ribberfest is known for blues and barbecue, we want to be known for
folk music and craft beers,” says Rohlfing.
The Halfway to RiverRoots event will feature four local microbreweries.
New Albanian (New Albany, Ind.), Great Crescent (Aurora, Ind.), Sun
King (Indianapolis) and Upland Brewery (Bloomington, Ind.) will offer
their prime selections so attendees can explore the variety of flavors
available, he said.
Heather Burress and Heather Cooper serve as joint chairs of the Halfway
event. “We will continue to grow this aspect of the festival,”
Burress said. “We want this to become part of the brand of RiverRoots.”
Because of the open tasting, Halfway to RiverRoots event is open only
to those age 21 and over. “RiverRoots is a very family friendly
event, and we plan a variety of activities for children,” says
Burress.
 |
|
Bill Lancton |
“But Halfway is for adults – a time for
mom and dad to get away for the evening,”
Along with craft beers, the event features the folk music fans love.
Bill Lancton and the Blue Grazz Junction will headline. Inducted into
the Indiana Jazz Hall of Fame in 2005 and one of Indiana’s premiere
guitarists, Lancton “has a love affair with Madison and spends
a lot of time here,” says Rohlfing. “We can’t wait for
his band to lead the night’s music.”
Jessi Ruth Curtis will also play. Cooper notes, “Jessi has a very
distinctive voice – kind of like Melissa Etheridge. People need
to come hear her. They will love what they hear.” Local musicians
also will offer a couple of jam sessions to entertain between the professional
musicians.
“Anyone can bring their instrument and join in,” says Burress.
“One of the highlights of RiverRoots are the times when the bands
sit down with people and jam with them. We want a mini-version of that
aspect. Plus, we keep activity going throughout the night.”
Those who love RiverRoots for the folk art will find a variety available
for perusal and purchase. Seth Bickus, local glass blowing artist, will
bring his glasswork. Ben Hunter will display pottery, while Kris Ziesemer
will offer her handcrafted jewelry. For people who love the folk art
aspect of the festival, Halfway to RiverRoots offers the opportunity
to sample the artists’ most recent work in a smaller setting, and
just before the holidays.
“We focus on two goals with Halfway,” says Rohlfing. “First,
we’re throwing a party for all the volunteers that make RiverRoots
possible by celebrating their work and energizing them for the push
for next spring. We want them to know how much we appreciate their efforts.
Additionally, we use Halfway to raise funds for RiverRoots. We want
people to come enjoy the event and then choose to become supporters
of RiverRoots.”
“We need people to become members to keep the quality going,”
says Burress. The headliner for the 2013 RiverRoots is the Grammy Award-winning
Carolina Chocolate Drops.
“We couldn’t have this quality band without the past support
of local members,” she said. “We need people to come pitch
in by joining so we can continue the quality people have come to expect.
The bonus of joining at Halfway is that cost of admission is credited
toward membership and renewal.”
“Once summer ends and fall days start to turn cold, many people
get sad. We want to say ‘Don’t be sad that summer is over.
Instead, look forward to spring’s RiverRoots.’ ” says
Burress. “Everyone should turn out and get a taste of what they
will enjoy next year.”