Local music fans can see free performances from several acclaimed folk and roots musicians this weekend.
The Jacksonville Public Library is hosting “Bookstock: A Backyard Roots Music Festival” throughout the day tomorrow.
Director of the Jacksonville Public Library Chris Ashmore says while the library has had similar events in the past, this year’s festival is rather unique.
“We’ve had several acts, in fact one of them has performed at the library before. People seem to really like concerts, especially good musicians that are free, and we decided well maybe we can string a bunch of similar type of folk-slash-roots musicians together and have a little festival. So we started talking about it about a year ago,” says Ashmore. .
Each artist or group will play for around an hour, with thiry-minute breaks in between. The lineup includes Tom Irwin of Springfield, who kicks things off at 10 a.m., followed by Wil Maring at 11:30. Michael Jonathon will pick things back up at 1 p.m, followed by The Tall Trees at 2:30. Wrapping things up will be Harpeth Rising, a group out of Nashville, at 4 p.m.
“Come and go as you like, or you can spend the whole day. There will be five really good concerts for about an hour with a half hour break in between. Locally, Tom (Irwin) is from Springfield, and the last group is from Nashville, they’ve been getting a lot of national notoriety,” Ashmore says.
A concession stand will be available for food and drink and musicians will be selling CDs and other merchandise. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food and drink, as well as lawn chairs and blankets.
Gates open at 9:30 a.m. in the south green space at the Jacksonville Public Library. The final performance will wrap up around 5 p.m.