MILAN – Mark Gaynier made two major changes to his music festival in Milan in honor of his 25th anniversary.
Milan Music Festival replaced the Milan Bluegrass Festival.
“I’ve been wanting to change it for a while,” Gaynier said. “I’ve been waiting for the 25 years. I usually have a few country acts, so I can’t say it’s all bluegrass. Now we can have different kinds of music. But, it will always be acoustic, no heavy metal. He likes listening to music.”
Then, he extended the event to five days. Previously the festivals were three and four days.
“Five out of 25 have a good ring to them,” Gaynier said.
The expanded and rebranded Milan Music Fest will be held Aug. 2-6 at KC Campground, 14048 Sherman Rd. Tickets are available at the gate and range from $25 to $45 per day. Three-day and five-day passes are also available. Discounts are offered every day after 5 p.m.
Gaynier hopes the new name will attract a more diverse audience. Some, he said, listen to “bluegrass” and decide not to attend.
“‘Music Fest’ makes them look at the bands and check out their music,” he said.
This year, 22 bands will be on stage over five days. There are five new bands, including Carley Arrowood from North Carolina.
“This is our first big summer tour as a band,” Arrowood said recently. “We can’t wait. It will be a really good time. After Milan we are in Ohio and West Virginia.”
Also new is Crandall Creek, who have released a new album.
“We’re excited to be at the festival,” said the band.
Gaynier likes to bring young bands and new singers to the festival.
“Anyone who is coming up, youngsters, I give them a chance to shine. A lot of up-and-coming bands played here,” he said.
Returning bands include Russel Moore & IIIrd Tim Out, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Breaking Grass and bluegrass legend Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.
Several returning acts have been coming to Milan over the years.
“Milan is one of our favorite festivals,” said Breaking Grass. “We’ve been there most of those 25 years. Everyone in Milan is always great to us.”
Blake Williams is returning as master of ceremonies.
Prizes will be awarded. Food will be sold. Many vendors will also have booths with handmade items, musical instruments and accessories, arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing, home improvements, recreational vehicles, cars, trucks and more.
The festival was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Last year, Gaynier offered a three-day music event and was surprised by the response.
“We had a good turnout. I was pleasantly surprised. My goal was to maintain it, but the number of people increased,” said Gaynier.
He was expecting a decrease because the border with Canada was closed.
“Canadians love bluegrass. This is the closest bluegrass festival to them,” Gaynier said. “Last year there were between 300 and 400 Canadians here. This year I expect 2,500 to 3,000 people a day.”
For more information, call (734) 439-1076.
On the Internet: MilanMusicFest on Facebook and milanmusicfest.com
Schedule:
August 2: Special Consensus and The Grascals See the article : OH MY GOD! The Outdoor Music Guide Is Now Available | City of Madison.
August 3: Midnight Hollow, Corda Total, Jim Hurst, Carley Arrowood and Jimmy Fortune
August 4: Larry Efaw & The Bluegrass Mountaineers, Little Roy & Lizzy Show, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers and Lonesome River Band
August 5: Deeper Shade of Blue, Larry Stephenson Band, Amanda Cook Band, The Malpass Brothers and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tim Out
August 6: Dave Adkins Band, Breaking Grass, Crandall Creek, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Alex Miller
Festival fundraiser to benefit Tuttle
This year’s Milan Music Fest will feature a fundraiser for Jeff Tuttle.
Tuttle, 61, of Monroe’s Nash Icon 98. Read also : Deaf actors question the rules of theater in the film ‘The Music Man’.3, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
News report: Monroe radio personality Jeff Tuttle battles cancer
“He’s in the fight for his life,” Mark Gaynier said.
Organizer Milan Music Fest is selling raffle tickets and donating proceeds to Tuttle to help pay for medical expenses. The winner will receive a package that includes camping and festival tickets.
“They can come back next year for an all-expense paid trip,” Gaynier said.
Gaynier also reached out to bands, and donated a lot of merchandise to give away as part of the raffle.
Tuttle hosts a bluegrass radio show and is a regular at the Milan Music Fest, sometimes even broadcasting from the venue.
