Tweed River Music Festival July 3-5

Tweed River Music Festival July 3-5

The Tweed River Festival will rise and be heard in Stockbridge, at the junction of 100 and 107 on the banks of the Tweed River this weekend, July 3-5. The gathering has grown out of informal July 4 weekend celebrations hosted by Bow Thayer of Stockbridge over the past several years.

“These parties grew and grew, until this year, we decided to take it public,” Thayer explained. His group, “Bow Thayer and Perfect Train Wreck,” offers ‘home grown, greasy, soulful and mountain music’ that will be just a part of the diverse offering from the Tweed stage.

Going public has been a steep learning curve for Thayer and his friends.

“We were just a bunch of musicians, but this year we’ve had to amp it up with insurance, town and state notification, a bigger sound system, engineers, a 16,000 watt generator for power, a stage, vendors, port-o-potties, publicity and property preparation,” Thayer said. “We’ve done it with no money up front. Hopefully, we’ll meet all our expenses and have a bit left over to get out to Woodstock, N.Y., to record a new album later this summer.”

Thayer is effusive with praise for his Stockbridge neighbors and town representatives who have been very supportive of this grassroots building of a new festival.

“So many people have been stepping up to help out,” he said from the concert site, Monday, adding, “Zach Freeman is assigned to festival security, Chris Kirchoff is in charge of lighting, Rob and Linda McFadden have provided all round organization, and Jeremy Curtis has done all the booking. These are just a few of the huge group helping out.”

Even the stage has been donated. Chandler was given a portable stage by arts patron Janet Strauss about five years back. It’s going to be put to good use this weekend!

About a dozen groups are going to be on hand for this gathering, including Jabe and the Wheels, Sticky, Tim Gearan, Jeffrey Foucault, Antler, Chris Delmhorst, Cassavettes, The Cush, Delange, and The Kind Buds.

The music will start at 8 p.m. on Friday and again at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Camping space is provided with the weekend fee and a Saturday admission is offered for have the freight of the weekend rate and kids are free. Questions? Go to bowthayer.com.