LINK TO ACTUAL ARTICLE
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
By Jeff Werner, BucksLocalNews.com Editor - VIEW AND PURCHASE PHOTOS

The first ever Newtown MusicFest will bring 10 hours of free "chillin' and jammin'" to the fields at Shady Brook Farm in Lower Makefield Township on Sunday, Aug. 15. From noon to 10 p.m., the Newtown Corporation and Cambridge Sound Studios of Newtown will present a dozen bands along with food and beverages from Newtown restaurants.

The Temperance House, Joey G's and the Green Parrot have already committed to provide food. Several Bucks County wineries will also be there selling wine by the glass and by the bottle.

The Newtown Corporation will be the exclusive vendor of draft beer at the festival. It will also be selling tickets to its Original Newtown Brewfest and offering a chance to win tickets to the October event.

For the kids, there will be plenty to do with a special play area designated just for them with inflatables, games and lots of fun. Hayrides will also be available. "People can bring their chairs and their blankets and kick back and enjoy," said Paul Salvatore, interim director of the corporation. "It's a day out and it's free. You can't beat it. Where else can you go for free and hear some great music, some great bands."

At the same time, said Salvatore, the event will acquaint people with Newtown. "We'll have information available about Newtown at the event. We're also inviting our Newtown businesses to take part as vendors. We'd like to get 100," he said.

"Our goal is to promote Newtown in a positive light, which this does," said Salvatore. "And hopefully we're going to reach people we never reached before and draw them to Newtown."

Throughout the day, people can come and go as they please as a "phenomenal" line up of bands performs from noon to 10 p.m.

The lineup includes what Cambridge Studios owner and MusicFest producer Jim Salamone terms "XPN-friendly" bands.

Taking the stage will be Slo Mo (featuring Mic Wrecka), Beaucoup Blue, Drink Up Buttercup, Runa, Wissahickon Chicken Shack, The New Connection, Amanda Penecale Band, Chelsea Mitchell, The Mango Men, J.C. Satellite, Rose Parade and Hezekiah Jones.

"It's a little bit of everything, trying to fit the goal of not being strictly bluegrass and folk. We mixed it up a little," said Salamone.

"Slo Mo is an eight-piece band that's sort of Philly funk. It's a very unique vibe. Drink Up Buttercup is an Indie group doing very well on the alternative rock circuit," said Salamone. "Runa is a Celtic band with roots in Newtown. Wissahickon Chicken Shack and Hezekiah Jones lean more towards a folksy, bluegrass and acoustic sound Ð a little more upbeat."

J.C. Satellite is the only "absolute rock band" in the lineup, said Salamone. "They are four young kids out of New Hope. They're awesome. They're a miniature AC/DC," he said.

According to Salamone, the early lineup "will be more family oriented with local acts like the Mango Men Ð very entertaining. As it gets later, we'll start bringing out more of the concert-oriented bands and we expect to draw the mid-20s crowd in the late afternoon and into the evening."

Salamone encourages everyone to come out and support local, live music and get to know Newtown.

"When it comes to food, beer, good local music and a big open field, how can you lose? It costs nothing to come. You can listen to great music. There will be good food to eat and stuff to drink."

The idea for the Newtown MusicFest came from the Newtown Corporation, which was brainstorming ways to bring people to Newtown.

"We thought it was a great idea. So we got different entities together to promote an event that will draw people to Newtown. We have a Newtown business, Cambridge Studios working with us on the event. And we have a facility in Newtown, Shady Brook, as our venue," said Salvatore.

Shady Brook's Dave Fleming Jr., who is no stranger to concert events at his farm, said he's looking forward to this one. "The bands and the stage that are coming in for this event sets it apart," he said. "I'm excited to see how the whole day goes."

"To us, taking part in an event that markets Newtown was a no-brainer," said Fleming. "Our farm is in Yardley, Langhorne and Newtown and we have an affinity for those three communities and want to associate ourselves with them."