ROSENDALE STREET FESTIVAL
Event to feature food, vendors and over 100 bands over many stages this weekend.
A record 100 plus bands play nine different stages lining Main Street this weekend at the Rosendale Street Festival.
The festival, held off and on over the last 40 years, features a new stage outside at the Red Brick Tavern.
Also new this year is a new staggered schedule where some of the bands start at the top of each hour while others start at the half hours.
“We felt like it’d made things flow more smoothly,” said Carrie Wykoff, the festival’s cochair. “It’ll make it easier not transitioning all the stages at the same time.”
That is a change that will give visitors more of a chance to see their favorite bands, said Bre Liggan, the festival’s hospitality liason, beer admiral and vendor subcommitee member.
“When their favorite local bands, are on stages at different ends, they can hear some of each band’s set,” Bre Liggan said. “Bring your walking shoes.”
This year’s offerings include rock, jazz, dance and world music, Wykoff said.
The lineup features a mix of returning bands and new talent like New Paltz teen Laila Mach, who helps open the Canal Lock Stage at noon Saturday with a set blending, folk, pop and rock sounds, Bre Liggan said.
“She’s got a super voice,” Wykoff said.
The Canal Lock Stage also plays host to kidfriendly favorites like Dog on Fleas at 4 p.m. Saturday and Ratboy Jr. at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
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Returning favorites include Street Festival fixtures Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones, who are returning from a tour of Europe and play the Mountain Stage at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Wykoff added that the Mountain Stage is a very special place for Lara Hope, as she used it for her wedding.
“She’s been a huge supporter,” Wykoff said. “She’s been on the music committee and sold ads.”
As in years past, Wykoff will join Charlie Kniceley with the Street Fest AllStars to play a set at the Midtown Stage Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The Festival closes with a celebration Parade with the Rosendale Improvement Association Brass Brand and Social club, which steps off from the Canal Lock Stage and runs to Willow Kiln Park.
While tickets to some weekend music festivals can cost hundreds of dollars, admission to the Rosendale Street Festival is by suggested donation.
“We do not want to tell people they can’t come,” Wykoff said. “Give us what you can.”
But Wykoff admitted that donations are important part of ensuring the festival, which was not created to make a profit, can raise the $60,000 it needs avoid running a deficit.
Last year they ended up with a $726 surplus, Wykoff said.
“That’s our profit,” Vice Co-Chair Bill Liggan said.
Bill Liggan cautioned that sometimes in the past, the festival has run a deficit.
At the end of its first run it ran a $10,000 deficit and that played a big role in the multi-year hiatus, Bill Liggan said.
The festival also depends on having an army of volunteers who work not only during the festival, but also setting things up before it and breaking everything down afterward.
“Without that crew, the future of the festival is in jeopardy,” Wykoff said. BRIAN HUBERT — DAILY FREEMAN WILLIAM J. KEMBLE PHOTO