Georgefest to Celebrate Luck O' the Irish March 3 - Get Your Green On!

Dick Earl of Dick Earl's Electric Witness
belts the blues at Main Stage March 2016

Historic Downtown St. George will be sporting green, Friday, March 3, when Georgefest celebrates its “St. Paddy’s Spring Fling.” A nod in equal parts to St. Patrick’s Day and the imminent arrival of springtime, the monthly nightlife event will mark the start of St. George’s most idyllic months for sunshine and outdoor entertainment.

Salt Lake City’s electrifying Andrew Goldring band is sure to deliver when they take Main Stage at 8 p.m. At the Georgefest Jazz Garden, presented by The Desert Pulse, scorching blues will meet ferocious funk when Dick Earl’s Electric Witness teams up with Soul What?! Two of southern Utah’s most revered bands will churn out high-energy, danceable tunes for adults 21 and over. Perennial favorites Soul What?! will be joined by journeyman blues-harpist Dick Earl and his Electric Witness band for an evening of funky, blues-infused covers and original music.

Alice Erickson of Soul What performs
at Main Stage Dec. 2015

Comprised of powerhouse vocalist Alice Ericksen (Earl’s wife), guitarists Michael Moulton and Elaine Stoddard, and drummer Chris Flaig, Soul What?! has been performing together since first meeting at a local blues jam in 2012. Featuring beloved classics from their soul influencers (including Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Aretha), the band’s set list honors younger performers as well. All four members of the group are accomplished musicians who bring decades of experience to the project, drawing appreciative crowds throughout southern Utah.

Georgefest is southern Utah's favorite nightlife event
held every first Friday at Historic Downtown

Dick Earl’s raw, growling vocals and goose-bump-raising assault on the harmonica have been devoured by audiences from New York to Las Vegas. He has opened for such artists as Billy Currington, Firehouse, Janet Robin, and Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and is frequently tapped by performers to add his musical magic to their studio projects. When not touring as a solo act or with Electric Witness, he makes regular appearances at schools across the country to share his passion for music. He and Alice also own The Academy, an after-school program for youths wishing to acquire music performance skills.

Members of The Academy perform with
Dick Earl's Electric Witness at Georgefest March 2016

Along with outstanding entertainment, the Jazz Garden will offer its usual assortment of artisan tapas prepared by Sego Restaurant in Kanab, as well as craft brews from Wasatch Brewery and Squatters, and premium wines from Cedar City’s Iron Gate Winery. The Georgefest Jazz Garden is located in Green Gate Village on Tabernacle Street, next door to One Hot Grill.

Georgefest, a nightlife event designed to celebrate the best of southern Utah, is held on the first Friday of every month from 6-10 p.m., with the Jazz Garden open until midnight April–October. The event is sponsored by the City of St. George, St. George Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Canyon Media, St. George News, Etched Magazine, The Independent, The Desert Pulse, Iron Gate Winery and Wasatch Brewery.

For more information, or to become a vendor, visit georgestreetfest.com, or email info@georgestreetfest.com. Georgefest organizers are now accepting applications for street market vendors, buskers, and food vendors.

Photos by Nick Adams, courtesy Emceesquare Media. 

Kissing Winter Weather Goodbye, Indie Rock Bands Return to Main Stage March 3

When the electrifying Andrew Goldring band takes the stage March 3, spring will have sprung in southern Utah. And while Georgefest diehards danced to the beat of the DJ drum through Georgefest winter months, first Friday nightlife crowds are ready to rock with original sounds of indie performers under southern Utah's warm summer skies.

The Andrew Goldring band of Salt Lake City leads out the springtime
lineup for Georgefest's free first Friday Main Stage concert series March 3.
Photo by Ryan Jorgensen Photography

March 3 features Salt Lake City indie rock band, Andrew Goldring. A fixture in the Utah music scene for many years, Andrew has been part of notable acts including Golden Sun, Sleeping Giant, and All Get Out. Andrew has released several solo albums, and recently announced his next featuring the single, "Cosmic Dance." The album is scheduled to drop Feb. 24, and his products will be available March 3 at The George Store merch tent near Main Stage. Andrew is owner and operator at The Sound Cave music studio in Salt Lake City.

Opening on Main Stage is Telestial, southern
Utah's newest indie rock band sensation.
Photo by Shane Ivy Stewart

Opening for Andrew Goldring is southern Utah's own rising indie rock sensation, Telestial. Recently featured as cover story for the "Where It's At" section of The Spectrum and Daily News, writer Emily Havens described the band stating, "Telestial's sound has less abandon than one might find in a stereotypical hardcore project. It's reminiscent of hardcore punk and strongly resembles noise rock."

Featuring artists Richard Curl and Jade Whitlock, "Telestial is nearly everything we need from community bands," Havens wrote.

Ryan Groskreutz, Georgefest talent booking agent, believes Georgefest's commitment to featuring indie rock artists is a critical element of the event's appeal. "We are always working to bring the best up-and-coming bands and artists to Georgefest," he said. "This has been a big part of what makes the event interesting and worth coming out for."

According to Georgefest founder and executive director Melynda Thorpe, warm spring temperatures offer a welcome return to Main Stage bands. Because cold temperatures make it difficult for bands and their instruments to perform through the winter, Thorpe says, "we have to get creative about our stage talent," she said. DJ dance parties, choirs and vocal groups dominate the stage from December to February, "so we all get excited to welcome the return of indie rock bands with the first signs of spring."

Georgefest is a first Friday nightlife event designed to celebrate the best of southern Utah artists, entertainers and musicians. The event offers a free Main Street concert at the intersection of Main and St. George Blvd. Performances begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue through 10 p.m. The event's Jazz Garden venue presented by The Desert Pulse offers live music until midnight and is open to adults 21 and over at Green Gate Village on Tabernacle Street. Additional event features include a street market, Food Truck Village, and buskers performing for tips.

Follow the searchlight to Historic Downtown every first Friday night. This kind of fun is good for you. More info at georgestreetfest.com. Follow Telestial on Facebook.

Attendees Feel the Love at Lovefest 2017

Couples found fun, food and live music on Main Street Feb. 3

Leaning into the month of Valentine’s Day, Georgefest was awash in a sea of red (and tie-dye) during February’s “Lovefest 2017” at Historic Downtown St. George. Residents and visitors came out en masse to enjoy the spring-like temperatures, along with sweet treats, outstanding music, and the kind of nightlife attractions Georgefest is known for on the first Friday of each month. 

Jessica Manalo of Las Vegas performed at the Jazz Garden

Students from Dixie State University’s Student Association offered a “kissing booth” on Main Street where Hershey’s kisses awaited chocolate lovers. At Main Stage, DJ Spinz cranked up the dance tunes for an after-dark crowd that filled the street.

On Tabernacle Street, and Lisa Mac (backed by The Best Band in Town) and Jessica Manalo of Las Vegas showed off formidable girl-power in the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden at its new venue at Green Gate Village. Georgefest celebrates southern Utah culture and nightlife on the first Friday of every month at Historic Downtown St. George.

Georgefest returns March 3 celebrating St. Paddy's Day. For more information, visit georgestreetfest.com, or email info@georgestreetfest.com.

Photos by Nicole Winona, courtesy Georgefest.

Georgefest Blossoms with Signs of Spring

With warmer temperatures appearing in the forecast, Georgefest crowds are beginning to blossom with springtime. The community nightlife celebration – coming up on its second anniversary in June – rang in 2017 with a transition to 501 (c) (3) nonprofit status, and a change in venue for event's Jazz Garden. With each month, more and more Utah residents and tourists are discovering that Georgefest offers quality nightlife entertainment that everyone can get excited about.
 

Attendees enjoy a free concert and street market
every month on Main Street.

“Achieving non-profit status is a significant milestone that sets the stage for George to become a permanent resident event in our community,” said Melynda Thorpe, Georgefest founder and board chair. “I am very pleased to announce a Board of Directors that is comprised of recognized community leaders and volunteers. Each has made significant contributions to the event since its inception in June 2015, and with their vision and guidance, it is my hope that this beloved monthly event will remain a permanent part of the southern Utah entertainment landscape for many years to come.”

In less than two years, Georgefest has gained
more than 10,000 social media followers.

Thanks to such themed events as the “St. Paddy’s Spring Fling” scheduled for the March 3 edition of Georgefest, and the “April Fool’s” event taking place on April 7, excitement continues to build each month. Look for high-energy performers on Main Stage (located at Main and Tabernacle in Historic Downtown St. George), along with the usual complement of street buskers and market vendors, a food truck village, and an assortment of other attractions. 

Younger guests will enjoy the DJ Spinz dance party and age-appropriate games, while those 21+ can visit The Desert Pulse Jazz Garden. Now located in the newly renovated Green Gate Village development on Tabernacle, the Jazz Garden serves up sophisticated jazz and blues artists, along with craft beers from Wasatch Brewery and select vintages from Iron Gate Winery. Gourmet artisan tapas – prepared by Chef Shon Foster from Kanab’s Sego restaurant – round out the tasty Jazz Garden offerings.

A favorite attraction of Georgefest is the Food Truck Village.
Photos by Nick Adams, courtesy Emceesquare Media Inc.

A new partnership between Georgefest and Arts to Zion/Gallery 35 now gives art patrons and fans the chance to sample the latest exhibits at the gallery during Georgefest each month. Gallery 35 is the largest all-watercolor gallery in southern Utah, and shows the work of nationally and internationally renowned artists as well as local painters on the rise. The creations of acclaimed St. George watercolorist Mel Scott (the founder and first president of the Dixie Watercolor Society) will be on display through April at Gallery 35, located at 35 Main Street in St. George, with special evening hours during Georgefest.

“As always, this spring Georgefest is offering something fun for the whole family,” said George Scott, vice-president of the Georgefest board of directors. “Whether you want to eat, dance, play games, pick up unique gifts or experience outstanding art, just follow the searchlights to Historic Downtown St. George on the first Friday of every month, throughout the year. This kind of fun is good for you!”

For more information, visit the Georgefest website, or follow the event on facebook to receive regular updates, entertainment lineup information, and event themes. Follow Georgefest on Twitter: @GStreetfest.

###

Misty Frampton: From Rooftop Recluse to Main Street Strummer

Misty found her uke in the attic of her family home.
Photo by Nick Adams courtesy Emceesquare Media

Musical talent is in Misty Frampton’s DNA. She’s the youngest in a family that includes older sisters Dia – a runner-up on the inaugural season of NBC’s The Voice, and lead singer in the band ARCHIS – and Meg, with whom Dia performed in the rocker duo “Meg and Dia.”

Watching her siblings honing their singing and songwriting skills while she was growing up, and then witnessing Dia’s success on The Voice, Misty also felt the pull to perform. But her innate shyness prevented her from realizing her dreams – until she was spotted on a rooftop, strumming her ukulele and singing. In short order, she made her debut as a street busker at the March 2016 George Streetfest. And now, as the senior at Desert Hills High School prepares to appear on Main Stage at Streetfest on October 7, southern Utah will have the chance to hear the latest of the Fabulous Framptons.

Though Misty always loved to sing, and had been encouraged to do so by her family, she’d never played an instrument, or thought seriously about a musical career. But her favorite band is Columbus, OH-based alt/indie duo Twenty-One Pilots, whose leader plays the ukulele. “I discovered them about three years ago, and really love them,” she says. “I thought it was really cool that Tyler Joseph played the uke. But I never went out and bought one, because…well, I basically have no money.”

Misty has become a Main Street mainstay at Georgefest on first Fridays.
Photo by Nick Adams courtesy Emceesquare Media Inc.

Then one day, Misty happened to be combing through some boxes stored in the Frampton household, and made a surprising discovery. “It was so crazy; I actually found a ukulele in one of the boxes! I started fooling around with it, and taught myself to play a couple of Twenty-One Pilots songs. It was really easy and super-fun, and from then on I kept learning new songs.”

Despite her sisters’ songwriting prowess, Misty says she’s stayed with performing familiar tunes. “I tried writing a few original songs, but I figured out that I’m terrible at it,” she laughs. “Sometimes I do parodies, which is fun. But mostly I just do covers.”

When asked how she made the leap to performing at Streetfest, Misty confides that when she wants some quiet time to play and sing, she grabs her uke and climbs up to the roof of her house. One evening as she was playing, she glimpsed a white truck driving slowly down her street. She continued strumming, only to see the truck park directly below her.

“At first I stopped for a few seconds, then I thought ‘well, if they don’t like it, they’ll just keep going,’ I couldn’t really tell who was in the truck, and I didn’t know if they could even hear me. But in a little while I saw the people inside pull out food and drinks…and they sat there and ate and drank and listened to me.”

Misty played what was then her entire five-song repertoire, then prepared to go back indoors. The sound of enthusiastic applause brought her up short. “I waved, yelled ‘thanks,’ and went inside. But a few minutes later my mom called me and told me to come downstairs. There were these two ladies there, and they told me they thought I sounded really good and that I should be a street busker at Streetfest. I had no idea what a busker was. But I went to the first Streetfest back in March, and I’ve been performing there ever since.”

Misty’s two new fans were George Streetfest Executive Producer Melynda Thorpe and Emceesquare CEO Amy Thorpe. Both were immediately taken with the young singer’s persona. “Misty is absolutely adorable; her style is extremely friendly and approachable, and she’s been really popular as a busker,” Melynda says. “We’re delighted to have her make her Main Stage debut on October 6.”

With Misty’s friends and family regularly stopping by to hear her play at Streetfest these past few months – and leaving some very welcome tips – Misty has already acquired the poise and experience of a seasoned performer. Her mom even steps up to sing with Misty (usually on the Elvis classic, “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You”). “It’s super-embarrassing, and it’s also really fun,” she admits, laughing again. “She always leaves me 20 bucks, so that part’s definitely cool.”

Misty was asked to perform on Georgefest Main Stage in October, she accepted the invitation calmly. But inside, she admits, she was anything but. “I was in shock; I was completely freaking out! It was such an amazing opportunity.”

It’s safe to say that Misty Frampton’s excitement is shared by everyone at Georgefest. 

Follow her on Twitter at @MistyFramps, and on Instagram at @MISTYFRAMPTON.

Written by Marianne Hamilton. 

Experience Georgefest in 15 Seconds

Georgefest is nightlife you can get excited about every first Friday at Historic Downtown St. George. This kind of fun is good for you. #georgefest