Staff Reports
Columbus native and internationally touring folksinger Tim Grimm will be among a lineup of singer-songwriter artists at the inaugural Crossroads Acoustic Fest Friday and Saturday in Seymour.
The event will unfold at several listening room venues in downtown Seymour, including the banquet room at Rails Craft Brew & Eatery and the Jackson County Visitor Center.
Artists expected to perform — all original material, by the way — include, among others:
Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack
The Howlin’ Brothers
Gabriel Kelley
Levi Parham
Jackson County natives Stephanie Lambring and Don Pedigo
The shows will be intimate acoustic performances in the style of VH1’s Storytellers or Nashville, Tennessee’s famous Bluebird Cafe, said festival organizer Shawn Busby of Seymour.
“It’s a very unique concept in terms of being a festival,” he said. “A lot of times when people think of festivals, they think of being outside, huge crowds, hot and sweaty, summertime. It’s none of those things.”
All of the performances are indoors, so it won’t be affected by weather. The venues are small to keep noise down so listeners can hear and appreciate the music, Busby said.
“It’s a quiet listening experience,” he said. “So this is not the place to come and talk with your friends while the music is happening. This is a festival for people who really appreciate music and want to hear lyrics. We want to draw in the people who are there for that personal, intimate experience with the artists.”
He hopes to see the festival attract 300 to 500 people.
Concert goers can purchase a wristband that will get them into any venue and performance, as long as it’s not at capacity, on both days for $40. Tickets will not be available at the door of the venues.
A portion of ticket sales will benefit Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour.
“With the weekend wristband, people can create their own festival experience. If they get to a room and it’s full, there will be space at another room or they can wait to see if someone leaves,” Busby said. “You can move freely from one listening room to another and see the artists you want to see.”
Many of the artists are planning to play both nights.
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What: The inaugural Crossroads Acoustic Fest.
When: Various times Friday and Saturday.
Where: Various small-venue locations in Seymour.
Information and tickets: crossroadsacousticfest.com
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