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Umphrey's McGee. Photo furnished.
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David McClister
Tyler Childers. Photo furnished.
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Cherub. Photo furnished.
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Benjamin Booker. Photo furnished.
Lexington’s MoonTower Music Festival is gearing up for its fourth annual event, taking place this Saturday, Aug. 26, at Masterson Station Park. Progressive jam band Umphrey’s McGee, known for their complex original songs and unexpected covers, will headline the festival, which has been granted a 30-minute curfew extension (to 11:30 p.m.) to account for the band's cutting-edge light show. Other acts on the bill include Travelin' McCourys, a high-energy bluegrass act headed by sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury; Cherub, the electro-indie duo behind the hit song "Doses and Mimosas"; Americana songwriter Todd Snider; psychedelic blues fusion band Blackfoot Gypsies; and New Orleans-based retro blues guitarist Benjamin Booker. Lexington-based acts on the bill include Appalachia-tinged country songwriter Tyler Childers, who has gotten a bevy of national praise in recent months; teenage songwriter Daisy Helmuth, performing with her band People Planet; blues trio DeBraun Thomas Trio; and Warren Byrom and the Fabled Canelands.
Rounding out the line-up – which runs the gamut on genres, from electronic dance music to New Orleans funk – are Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Vita and The Woolf, The Record Company and Elise Davis. The bands will perform back-to-back on two side-by-side stages during the family-friendly and dog-friendly event.
Produced by LexEffect, a local event management company, MoonTower Music Festival has quickly become both a regional and local destination for food, music and art, partnering this year with University of Kentucky's Art Museum and College of Architecture for on-site installations and pop-up art displays. LexEffect aims to host unique events each year, including culinary events, pub crawls, and a bourbon festival. The company also offers free event consulting services to nonprofit organizations.
In tradition with supporting the local community, LexEffect’s 2017 MoonTower Music Festival will include a Kentucky Proud food area with a handful of food trucks, dual beer gardens sponsored by Cincinnati-based Rhinegeist Brewery and Lexington’s West Sixth Brewing and a wine bar by Lover's Leap Vineyards.
“We’re constantly trying to make this an accessible festival for everyone," said LexEffect founder Kaelyn Query. "We’ve lowered ticket prices, included more food and drink pop-ups, and plan to continuously create an experience that is uniquely MoonTower.”
A late-night performance to be held at The Burl directly following the festival will feature the bands Small Batch and Fanged Medicine. A shuttle will be available to provide festival goers with a round trip rides from downtown for just $5. For tickets and full festival details, visit www.moontowermusicfestival.com.