Fans of music festivals will have two choices this weekend, and both will feature plenty of music played by local acts or acts with local ties.
For almost four years, brothers Chris and Mike Dial have been sharing their passions for beer, art and live music with locals at their Wanderlinger Brewing Co. on King Street in downtown Chattanooga. This weekend, all three will again be on display as the venue hosts the Wanderlinger Music & Arts Festival Friday-Sunday.
Thirty-three bands including Strung Like a Horse, Opposite Box and Milele Roots will be featured throughout the weekend.
"I'm a huge music fan, and we have bands all the time, so this is definitely something I've wanted to do for a while," Mike Dial said.
Also, the Homegrown Country Music Festival in Whitwell, Tennessee, will take place Saturday at the new Ketner's Mill Arena. The one-day festival will feature Confederate Railroad, Neon Moon, Camden Smith and Chase Baker. The event is produced by Friends of the Festival and presented by Tri Star Beverage, which is donating a portion of every beer sold to local military organizations.
Photo contributed by Pat Rose / Camden Smith is a 16-year-old Dade County high school junior who will perform Saturday in Whitwell, Tenn., as part of the Homegrown Country Music Festival.Tom Buck, general sales manager for Tri Star Beverage, said, "We at Tri Star Beverage, in partnership with Anheuser-Busch, support the Folds of Honor Foundation, which helps to provide the families of fallen and disabled service members with educational scholarships. It is our honor and privilege to support the Chattanooga area and this event that we can aid the local military families in need."
Through an Anheuser-Busch initiative, $1 from every case of beer sold nationwide is donated to the Folds of Honor organization. At the Homegrown Country Music Festival, 35 cents from every can of beer sold will be donated to a local military organization.
Chris Dial said Mike Dial is really behind the three-day event at Wanderlinger and began working on it seriously months ago.
"He is an avid music fan who loves festivals like Bonnaroo, and we thought now is as good a time as any," Chris Dial said.
An outdoor stage and tent will be erected in the parking lot with things going from 6-10:30 p.m. on Friday, 12:30- to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 1-10 p.m. on Sunday, which will have more of a family atmosphere, Dial said.
Admission is $100 for all three days or $50 on Saturday and Sunday and $40 on Friday.
The Wanderlinger lineup features Strung Like a Horse, Opposite Box, Milele Roots, Cold Planet (Danimal Planet X The Fridge), Behold the Brave, Lenox Hills, Dalton and the Boys, The Afternooners, Mystery Box, Rick Rushing, The Other Brothers and the Blues Strangers, Killa Keyz, The White Foley Band, Mountain Cove Bluegrass, Over Easy, Et Cetera, Fantastic Confabulation, Paper Mache, Sleazy Sleazy, Life & Culture, Courtney Holder, Jake Lemons, E.T. Daizy Skies, Anna Baldree, Ryder Pierce, Jonathon Wimpee, Ben Herrmann, Emily Kate Boyd, Mark Andrew, Gino Fanelli and The No Good Deeds with Shana from Louisiana.
Clint Carroll, owner of Mossy Oak Properties, bought the Rivergate Arena in Whitwell last year and has restored the horse arena and added 10 rental cabins for visitors. It's now called the Ketner's Mill Arena.
"A lot of people have fond memories of this place and we want to make it nice again for folks to enjoy," Carroll said. "We are excited, and we think we are coming out swinging and we're looking forward to it."
Sixteen-year-old Camden Smith will be making his festival debut as a performer and, like Carroll, is excited about the opportunity.
"This is the biggest event I will have done," the Dade County High School junior said. It's also the first time he will share a stage with his uncle Johnny Smith, who will be playing drums. Joining them will be Ethen Martin and Ben Birchfield on guitar and Jarred Harris on bass.
The show begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are $25 with a $5 parking fee.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.