I Just Can’t Let It Go

I just can’t let the weekend go by without at least mentioning something that has taken up a lot of my free time since January. Something I work hard at and am so very proud of this year. For the past two years (this is my third) I have booked the stages at the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts. Prior to me working there, I didn’t even know this festival existed. 2009, however, marks its 15th year! It’s free, outdoors, family friendly, and has cheese curds!

Staciaann Photography

It also has excellent music this year, if I do say so myself. I know there are other things to do this weekend, but if you can, stop on down to the riverfront. Remind yourself of its beauty while jamming to bands like The Idle Hands, Me & My Arrow, Roma di Luna, Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps, Spaghetti Western String Co., Chastity Brown, Brad Senne, and so many others.

If you hit up the website here you can listen to mp3s by the bands and read a nice little description (in case you’re not sure who to go see). Never fear though – there’s always a classic car show (oooo! Muscle cars!), a giant magnetic poetry board, a stone arch bridge made of legos, a Shakespeare performance, dancers, and so much more… did I mention it’s all FREE?

The festival runs Saturday & Sunday from 10am – 6pm.

Look for the chic with the red ponytail driving a golf cart and looking frazzled. That’ll be me.

FULL STAGES SCHEDULE:
Saturday, June 20, 2009

Star Tribune Stage (Father Henn Park)

10:30am Mystik Toyz
11:30am Satin Dolls Dance Co.
12:15pm Koo Koo Kanga Roo
1:15pm Adam Svec
2:15pm Dan Israel
3:15pm Spaghetti Western String Co.
4:15pm The Cloud Hymn
5:15pm Hayor Bibimma Dance Company

City Pages Stage (Water Power Park)

11:00 am Crowd Control
12:00 pm The Alrights
1:15 pm Joey Ryan & The Inks
2:30 pm The Pendrakes
3:45 pm The Idle Hands
5:00 pm Roma di Luna

Cities 97 Stage (3rd Ave Bridge)

11:15am Neal Swanger
12:15pm Peter Lochner
1:15pm Bob & Lynn Dixon
2:15pm Thomas Kivi
3:15pm Shawn Gibbons
4:15pm Brad Senne
5:15pm Eliza Blue

St. Anthony Courtyard Stage

11:00 am Aria Souder
12:15 pm The Badinovs
1:30 pm Brian Just Band
2:45 pm Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps
4:00 pm Farewell Milwaukee
5:15 pm The Smarts
6:30 pm Mississippi Mud

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Star Tribune Stage (Father Henn Park)

12:30pm Mystik Toys
1:15pm Café Accordian Orchestra
2:15pm Anna Laube
3:15pm Cromulent Shakespeare Company
4:15pm Jistoray
5:15pm Pezzettino

City Pages Stage (Water Power Park)

12:00 pm Half Demon Doll
1:15 pm We Became Actors
2:30 pm Wars of 1812
3:45 pm The Absent Arch
5:00 pm Me & My Arrow

Cities 97 Stage (3rd Ave Bridge)

11:15 am Scott Wooldridge
12:15pm Andy Juhl
1:15pm Chicane Theory
2:15pm Andy Elwell
3:15pm Dustin Thomas
4:15pm Kyle Turck & Patrick Henz
5:15pm John Swardson

St. Anthony Courtyard Stage

11:00 am Dustin Thomas
12:00 pm The Suits
1:15 pm Lynhurst
2:30 pm Jenny Dalton
3:45 pm Ryan Paul & the Ardent
5:00 pm Chastity Brown