Organizers of the ninth annual Main & Mill StreetFest set for Saturday, Oct. 12, in Festus have added a related music event the following day called Bluegrass in the Backlot.
StreetFest runs from 1-11 p.m. Saturday on Festus Main Street, which will be closed to vehicle traffic, and Bluegrass in the Backlot goes from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday behind the Main & Mill Brewing Co., 240 E. Main St. There is no cost to attend either day of the music events.
The Festus Tourism Commission sponsors StreetFest.
“We’re thankful to have the StreetFest nine years running,” said Denny Foster, an owner of the Main & Mill Brewing Co. “We’ve never done Bluegrass in the Backlot before. We feel bluegrass is really made for Sunday.
“StreetFest has become an established event in the city. It brings people here, gets more eyeballs in the city.”
As in the past, Foster expects other businesses on Main Street and Bailey Road in Crystal City to open Saturday if not normally open that day or to extend their normal Saturday hours during StreetFest. The La Pachanga food truck also is scheduled to offer its wares for sale during StreetFest.
Foster said the 2024 StreetFest will offer several new music acts along with returning favorites.
“We’re trying a different approach with more alt-country acts and Americana acts rather than mostly rock,” he said. “We worked to see if we could broaden the demographics of people coming to the festival.”
The featured StreetFest act, The Steve Ewing Band, takes the stage from 9-11 p.m.
“They play a lot of really, really good covers and new music,” Foster said. “They do original rock and covers. Steve Ewing is lead singer for the popular St. Louis band The Urge. This is the third year for him being the 9-11 act. He’s so popular and everybody is excited he’s coming back.”
The following music acts are slated to perform at StreetFest.
■ 1-2 p.m. Meyer’s Music Lessons. The performers are students at Meyer’s Music Lessons and will put on a show something like the one in the 2003 film “School of Rock,” Foster said.
■ 2-3 p.m. Festus High School Jazz Band.
■ 3-4 p.m. Contraband and Country Band. “This is a new band for StreetFest,” Foster said. “They do covers.”
■ 4-5 p.m. Austin Jones. “They’re new,” Foster said. “They play Americana, which is not as country-driven. It’s like alt-country, but with more storytelling in their songs.”
■ 5-6 p.m. Melissa Pupillo. “She’s new,” he said. “She does alt-country.”
■ 6-7 p.m. Adam Gaffney & The Balladeers. “This is another new group to the StreetFest,” Foster said. “It’s a country band.”
■ 7-8 p.m. Hunter Peebles & The Moonlighters. “They play country and Americana,” he said. “They’re new.”
■ 8-9 p.m. Old Capital. “They’ve played here before,” he said. “They’re alt-country.”
■ 9-11 p.m. The Steve Ewing Band.
Bluegrass in the Backlot
Foster describes the Sunday portion of the festival as BYOC – Bring Your Own Chair.
The scheduled bluegrass acts are listed below.
■ Noon to 1 p.m. Zach Hardesty and the Danby Ramblers.
■ 1-2 p.m. The Silver Creek Bluegrass Band.
■ 2-3 p.m. The Lowery Brothers.
■ 3-4 p.m. Riverbend Bluegrass.
■ 4-6 p.m. As the Crowe Flies.
Foster said Zach Hardesty and the Danby Ramblers are based in Festus, while the rest of the acts are St. Louis-area bands.
“We’re just looking forward to a great weekend,” Foster said.
For more information about StreetFest or Bluegrass on the Backlot, go to the Main & Mill Brewing Co. Facebook page.