Four days of twang is underway in Niles as a the 20-year anniversary of the Niles Bluegrass Festival kicked off Thursday evening at Riverfront Park.
Hosted by the Riverfront Optimist Club of Niles, the festival features about 15 different bands and more than 24 total hours of performances along the St. Joseph River. Festival coordinator and club president Josh Sitarz said the festival is looking to get back to its hometown roots this year.
“Probably 99 percent of our vendors are [from] 20 miles away,” Sitarz said. “From South Bend, here in Niles, Buchanan, Berrien Springs … this is really a local festival.”
Music goes until after 10 p.m. each night except Sunday, when the festival gives way to the Niles Summer Concert series at 6 p.m.
Headliners of the festival include Americana band Stealin’ the Farm on Thursday, Grateful Dead tribute band Fillmore’s Ladder on Friday, and multiple performances from the Benton Harbor-bred Water Street Wranglers on Saturday.
“Our whole focus is the music,” Sitarz said. “I just want people to come down and see what Niles has to offer.”
Festival schedule
Thursday
4 p.m. – Katy Monroe and P. Scott Smith
5 p.m. – – Erudite
6 p.m. – St. Joe Jack
8 p.m. – Stealin’ The Farm.
Stage closes at 10:30 p.m.
Friday
4:30 p.m. – Backwater Revival
6 p.m. – Blue Water Ramblers
8 p.m. – Fillmore’s Ladder
Stage closes at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday
Noon – Open Mic with The Redbuds
1 p.m. – Phil Anderson
2 p.m. – Backwater Revival
3 p.m. – Deadwood
4 p.m. – Water Street Wranglers
5 p.m. – P.Scott & The Prairie Dogs
6:30 p.m. – Jesse Manns and the Bluegrass Band
7 p.m. – Deadwood
8 p.m. – Jesse Manns and the Bluegrass Band
9 p.m. – Water Street Wranglers
Stage closes at 10:15 p.m.
Sunday
11 a.m. The Speros House Christian Service
12:30 p.m. – St. Joe Jack
2 p.m. – P. Scott & The Prairie dogs
Stage closes at 4 p.m.
