As the First City Music Festival gets underway, Nash Dunn, a key organizer, shared insights about preparations for the much-anticipated event. Dunn says the team is hard at work setting up stages and securing tents. “Rain or shine, we’re going to be there, and we’ll be blessed to have everybody there,” Dunn stated.
The festival, running from today through Sunday is being held at the French Commons, also known as the Rendezvous The event is a family-friendly camping and music festival, offering a wide range of activities for all ages, including yoga workshops, children’s activities, and music workshops.
“This is our fifth year, and it’s shaping up to be our biggest yet,” Dunn explained, adding that around 28 bands are scheduled to perform. Some of the genres include progressive bluegrass, folk, country, and blues. Dunn emphasized that the festival caters to a wide audience: “It doesn’t matter what type of music you’re into. I guarantee you’ll enjoy the First City Music Festival this weekend.”
The festival will raise funds for the Evan Twitty Music and Art Scholarship, as well as for community improvements at the festival grounds.
Among the headliners, Leftover Salmon, a Grammy-nominated band from Colorado, will perform on Saturday night, bringing their signature blend of progressive bluegrass. Other notable acts include Arm Chair Boogie, Chicken Wire Empire, and Into the Fog.
Dunn highlighted that the event is not just for bluegrass fans, recounting stories of festival-goers who were new to the genre but left as fans. “Even members of our committee weren’t bluegrass fans at first, but the music and atmosphere won them over,” he said.
For families, there’s an added bonus: kids 12 and under can attend for free, making this a perfect weekend getaway for music lovers of all ages. So, bring your tents, RVs, and dancing shoes — the First City Music Festival is ready to offer a weekend of great music, fun, and community spirit.