Ten bands to perform live at second annual Stoogefest on Saturday

Stoogefest, an outdoor music festival at Stooges Restaurant in Jackson, has expanded this year to include live performances by 10 bands Saturday.

Ted Clark, Stooges owner and festival organizer, said the event is a way to spotlight local talent and raise money for them.

"It is a showcase for local bands. This is our second year doing it. Last year we had eight bands. We were hoping for a couple hundred people [last year] and we ended up with almost 400 people here. This year we are prepared for more than 500, so we should be ready," Clark said. He said last year generated more than $1,500 and that he hopes to raise $2,500 this year.

The popularity of last year's festival prompted some additions to the 2010 event.

"We added a couple more bands. We added merchandise tables, people selling jewelry, face painting for the kids and balloons for the kids," he said.

There is also a chicken bingo game this year. Bands will split the proceeds from both ticket sales and the bingo game.

With the 10 bands, Clark said several types of music are represented and it is a family-friendly event that offers "fun and cheap" entertainment. He encouraged people to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

In addition to the restaurant being open during the festival, there will be a full-service concession stand with barbecue, hot dogs and sausages, and beer and soda available.

Clark said after the 2009 festival, he met with organizers and discussed how to improve the event.

"We talked about what went right, what went wrong and what we could do to make it better," he said.

Some of the ideas implemented this year include an RV for the musicians to use to cool down and store their instruments and providing equipment for the bands to share. Clark said last year the bands brought their own equipment, and that meant a lot of time spent changing out the equipment. By sharing equipment and a drum set, there will be less transition time.

"It will be a lot friendlier for the musicians, so there will be less down time in between bands. It will be a lot smoother," he said.

Clark added that during any lull in the entertainment, festival goers can shop the merchandise tables, featuring band merchandise and items from local merchants.

"Bands and local merchants that do the farmers market up here will have an area where they can sell their wares. People will have something else to look and something else to do" he said. Bands and merchants will keep the proceeds they generate at their tables.

Clark said he is glad he can sponsor an event like Stoogefest.

"I just love being able to promote local music. I like music a lot. We do original music here every Thursday night. We have live, original music where local songwriters can come in and show off their stuff," he said.

Those who attended last year's show said they are excited about Saturday.

"Last year was great and I am looking forward to this year," Kelly Mansfield of Cape Girardeau said. While her nephew, Casey Benefield, will be performing with The Stooge Band and Illustrated Man, Mansfield said she looks forward to seeing all of the local talent.

Stoogefest 2010 will be from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Stooges Restaurant, 507 W. Main St., Jackson.

Stoogefest 2010 lineup

• The Stooge Band (blues), noon
• Kaleb Higgins (local songwriter), 12:45 p.m.
• Illustrated Man (jazz), 1:30 p.m.
• Nicky V. Hines (blues guitar), 2:30 p.m.
• The Biggest Car in the County (country, Southern rock), 3:30 p.m.
• Jefferson Fox (Americana songwriter), 4:30 p.m.
• Doug E. Rees (Americana songwriter), 5:30 p.m.
• Southern Brothers (Gospel), 6:30 p.m.
• The Melroys ('60s rock), 7:30 p.m.
• Mark Rees (country), 9 p.m.