Country music and tribute bands performing the songs of legendary artists from the past five decades will fill downtown streets during MusicFest 2022.
Main Street El Dorado announced Thursday the headliners and regional acts who will take to the stage when the 34th annual festival kicks off "vintage style" on Oct. 7 and 8.
MSE, who launched MusicFest in 1988, is taking its flagship event and largest fundraiser "back to the streets" following the dissolution of a five-year partnership with MAD to present MusicFest.
The groups teamed up in 2017 to coordinate the 30th anniversary of MusicFest with the grand opening of the MAD arts and entertainment district.
MAD booked the headliners and moved the concerts to its venues on Locust Street, while MSE's role was to plan the "festival" portion of the event with attractions, vendors and side stages on the Union County Courthouse square, two blocks north of MAD.
As a part of the arrangement, MSE gave up the ticketed shows from MusicFest headliners, thus the revenue.
MAD announced earlier this year that it was stepping out of the festival business and turning the "music" component of MusicFest back over to MSE.
Beth Brumley, executive director of MSE, and Holly McDonald, MSE administrative assistant, said the group immediately set about finding acts to headline MusicFest and strategizing to rebuild the festival in its traditional form and location.
Given such short notice, McDonald previously said, "We think we have good enough entertainment lined up and other things to make it a very successful event."
Headliners
MSE is teaming up with title sponsor Standard Lithium to present MusicFest 34 (this year would have marked the 35th anniversary of MusicFest but the event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Helping to celebrate the return of the festival to Union Square are iconic country music band Shenandoah; American Idol winner and country music superstar Chayce Beckham; Mitch Rossell, a country music singer-songwriter who has toured with Garth Brooks and penned the song "Ask Me How I Know", the second single off Brooks's 2016 album, "Gunslinger"; and rising country music artist Mae Estes, a Hope native who blends a classic country music sound with modern melodies and aesthetics.
Other featured acts on the main stage include:
• Cristina Amaro, a Selena tribute artist who is known as "The Queen of the Stage."
• Josh Walker and the Tennehill Band, a southern rock band who performs the music of The Eagles.
• The Karla Case Band, who performs the music of Stevie Nicks.
Plenty of local and regional acts are scheduled to perform a variety of musical genres during MusicFest.
They are HiSyde, Beaux Atkins, Blackstrap, Coupe Deville, Jacob Flores, Crutchfield, Trey Gauthreaux, Eric Meadows, Mason Halstead, JT Lee, Brody McKinney, The Bennett Hall Band, Josh Stewart, Shaw Revolver, The Side Street Steppers, Wyatt Putman, Huckleberry Jam and as usual, bands, choirs and orchestras from local schools will also perform on the school stage.
The annual Miss MusicFest Pageant will kick off the festival on Oct. 2.
Brumley and the MSE board of directors said the weekend festival will offer activities for the entire family, including KidsWorld with a magician and other attractions, a rib-cookoff, 5K/10K run, beer gardens, sidewalk vendors with food and shopping and more.
Festival attendees are also invited to explore downtown shops and restaurants.
Tickets went on sale immediately following the announcement of the headliners Thursday.
Ticket prices are:
• $25 for Friday (Oct. 7) only and $35 for Saturday (Oct. 8) only. Admission is free before 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is also free for children 10 and under with a paid adult ticket.
• $40 for weekend passes. Weekend passes will not be available for purchase after Sept. 30.
• $10 per day for pit passes. Pit passes allow access into the barricaded area in front of the main stage.
• $10 for all-day access to attractions on Friday and $20 on Saturday. A weekend bundle for attractions is $25. The bundle will not be available for purchase after Sept. 30.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.mainstreeteldorado.org or at the gate on the days of the festival.
For more information, visit the MSE website or Facebook page or call the MSE office at 870-862-4747.
Chayce Beckham
Mitch Rossell
Mae Estes