<\/p>\n
A perfect summer day of music in the park and whitewater rafting will take place during Dolores River Festival June 1.<\/p>\n
Nine bands will perform between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on two different stages set up at Joe Rowell Park. Admission is $25.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing live music lineup for a great price,\u201d said festival producer Sharon King. \u201cAll the bands are really good and appeal to a wide audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local and national acts are on tap, with a mix of world rhythms, reggae, funk, rock, country and Brazilian percussion.<\/p>\n
The morning sets feature Seven Sharp, Afrobeatnicks and Samba Galactica, a 20-person drumming group. Throughout the festival, the drummers will wade into the audience to spur dancing and direct the crowd from stage to stage.<\/p>\n
The afternoon features Side FX, Elder Grown, Groove Casters, the Garret T. Capps band, Flat Tire, Samba Galactica and Diggin Dirt.<\/p>\n
Capps is a San Antonio-based country musician unafraid to let other influences creep into his tunes, according to his biography. His latest album, \u201cY Los Lonely Hipsters\u201d, has garnered a cult following, and one song was featured on the hit television series \u201cBillions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diggin Dirt is also a big score for the festival. The California band cranks out the funk-reggae and rock music, sure to energize the crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are really fun with a lot of horns,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
Dirt began touring in the spring of 2017 throughout California and Oregon, and was met with a tremendous response, according to a media release.<\/p>\n
\u201cA reputation of quality original music backed by high-energy performance grew around the Dirt\u2019s name, and in turn inspired them to keep growing,\u201d the release states.<\/p>\n
The festival offers many other events as well.<\/p>\n
There will be free raft rides from Dolores River Boating Advocates from noon to 3 p.m. A bus will shuttle rafters to the put-in at Riverside Park, then experienced guides will take people down the river to a drop-off point at the festival grounds.<\/p>\n
The traditional boaters parade will also take place, with locals dressing up in costumes and floating down the river. Also, there will be a supervised kid play area with games and events, relay races, face painting and a swimming pool.<\/p>\n
Dozens of vendors including for food and drinks will serve festival goers. The festival has a \u201cGo Green\u201d component this year. To avoid wasteful, single-use water bottles, a hydration station with free water will be available to fill reusable water bottles. Also, vendors cannot use Styrofoam.<\/p>\n
Camping by reservation is available on the festival grounds, and there are RV spaces as well. Volunteer are also needed. Work a three-hour shift and get into the festival for free, plus a drink ticket and T-shirt. After the festival, the party will continue at local bars The River and Dolores River Brewery who are hosting live bands into the night.<\/p>\n
For more information about the festival and to sign up to volunteer, visit the Dolores River Festival<\/a> website.<\/p>\n