Music weekend

It's hard not to get excited when talking to Mary Ramsey. Her face lights up at any mention of the River City Music Festival, playing out on stages in downtown Cape Girardeau today and Saturday.

This time last year, Ramsey was slightly frantic with loose ends and hanging decisions. She was trying to do almost all of it herself. This year, however, she's surrounded herself with a team of responsible, dedicated people who I know love music as much she does and who want to make this festival every bit the small-town, fun-time success they know it can be.

The committee has altered the ticket prices so they reflect the amount of entertainment you get. Tickets for just Friday night are $8. Tickets for all day Saturday are $10 and after 6 p.m. they are $8. You can also buy a weekend pass for $15.

James Samons was in charge of music this year. Anyone who knows James knows one thing: He loves quality music. Meaning he'll book quality music. The lineup this year includes bands we see once a month or so here because they're off touring and playing St. Louis, Kansas City, other music festivals and so on and so forth.

Most of these acts have enough original material that they'll fill nearly the entire set with their own stuff. Most of them will also probably throw in a few covers to keep the crowd in familiar territory. This weekend is not only a music festival, it's a showcase of original, homegrown talent.

Early Saturday -- 2-ish -- Run Rodent Run (a very Bright Eyes solo act) plays the first show on the Broadway Stage and a few hours later, a speech and debate competition about musical influences around the world and the Rock the Runway fashion show take the Broadway and Themis Street stages, respectively.

I know in years past there's been complaints and there are bound to be more -- there always are. All I ask this year is you give it a shot and try to have a good time. Music festivals big and small are half music, half crowd, so if everybody shows up ready to have a good time, everybody will. If people show up ready to complain and nitpick, it drags down the collective mood. Do everyone a favor and keep an open mind.