Fort Worth has a rich musical history, which is why the Fort Worth Musical Festival added a wider variety of entertainment this year, Marsha Milam, producer of the Fort Worth Music Festival, said.
Milam said the festival has added more music genres the last few years and will add more this year.
“Texas musical taste is so broad,” Milam said.
The festival is put on by Camp Bowie District Inc., which is a nonprofit organization responsible for the beautification, preservation and revitalization of the area along the historic boulevard, Lisa Powers, president of Camp Bowie District, said.
Powers said the festival is the largest event Camp Bowie puts on every year. A majority of Camp Bowie’s proceeds come from the festival, so it is important to make the festival a success, Powers said.
In 2009, the festival had to be canceled due to weather conditions, but last year Camp Bowie was able to bring the festival back and had about 8,500 people attend the event, Powers said.
She said she is excited the festival is back this year and hopes with the changes more people will come.
Last year the festival was called Jazz on the Boulevard and featured mostly jazz bands, with other types of bands mixed in, Milam said. However, this year there will be 20 bands from a variety of music genres such as jazz and rock and will include independent artists.
“We want to celebrate all of Fort Worth’s musical history,” Milam said.
Dawes, Lucero and Gene Ween and Dave Dreiwitz will be some of the big-name bands featured at this year’s festival, Milam said.
A ticket to the festival also gives discounted cover into certain local clubs to see more bands play after the festival, Milam said.
Milam said the festival is a great opportunity to see a variety of different bands in one place.
The festival will take place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 on the Will Rogers Memorial Center’s tree-lined lawn. For more information, go to fwfest.com.
Fort Worth Music Festival
When: Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Where: Will Rogers Memorial Center treelined lawn
Time: Doors open at 4 p.m. on Sept. 30, Doors open at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1
Cost: Advance price $5/day, at the gate $10/day; VIP tickets are also available
Featured bands:
-Marcia Ball
-John David Kent
-Kirk Whalum
-Kermit Ruffins
-Tatiana Mayfield
-Josh Weathers and the True+Endeavors
-Gene Ween and Dave Dreiwitz
-Dawes
-Lucero
-Derek Larson and The Leavers
-Seryn
-Luke Wade and No Civilians
-Whiskey Folk Ramblers
-Quaker City Night Hawks
-Calhoun
-Meat Puppets
-Telegraph Canyon
-The Orbans
-Amanda Walden
Proceeds will benefit Camp Bowie District Inc.
For more information about the festival go to fwfest.com