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Written by George Scott
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| photo by Eric J. Reed |
Cedar City, aka Festival City, has been home to Groovefest from its hopeful beginnings in 2000. The music and arts festival presently resembles a garage band that has made it mainstream. Though Groovefest has made it big time, the festival remains humble and rooted in its purpose.
Groovefest has grown tremendously over the past 15 years. The festival continues to expand throughout the city and brings new additions each year. While the Main Street Park remains center stage, several other venues are utilized to house the incredible week-long event.
The kids got first dibs with Groove-Kids, which opened up the event Monday, June 22, at the Heritage Theater. The next night took the show to the Off the Cuff Comedy Improv Center. The Campfire Concerts in the Canyon at Cedar Canyon Nature Center made for a wonderful evening in the cool air Wednesday evening. Thursday night brought the kickoff shows to the Off the Cuff Comedy Improv Center and Mike’s Tavern.
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| Mustard Courage, photo by Eric J. Reed |
Soul What!?, bringing their superb talent, kicked the door wide-open. Having caught their performance, it was easy to see why this group is so widely revered as a top-notch band. This southern Utah favorite plays a classic lineup, playing a high-energy show filled with classic rhythm ‘n’ blues and funk from James Brown to Joss Stone. This group gels well and are as professional as any band out there. Soul What!? doesn’t just play the music; they make you feel it, making getting up and dancing an irresistible urge only satisfied on the dance floor.
With the kickoff party going until the early morning hours, festivalgoers had a little time to sleep in before heading to the Main Street Park for the opening of the main event. I was lucky to stay at the beautiful Willow Glen Inn that night, located just down the road in Enoch, so that I could get some sleep and hit the festival early the next day. Two stages offered continuous musical entertainment in nearly every musical style. The park turned into a sea of tents, with artists and vendors offering all sorts of festival fare. Beginning at 1 p.m. and playing late into the night, the festival was one gigantic party.
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| Sammy Brue, photo by Eric J. Reed |
As the sun set, the temperatures cooled off, and the lights came up, the vibe was one of celebration, music, singing, and dancing. As the final band entered its last set, the energy was soaring as fans pleaded for more. The entertainers eagerly obliged, playing several encore songs. For those who just couldn’t get enough, the after-party at Mike’s Tavern was the place to be where the music continued well into the early hours of Saturday. My stay Thursday night at the Willow Glen Inn was so pleasant that I chose to return to the charming bed and breakfast Friday night to recharge.
With the festival in full swing, Saturday started off running, literally. A 5k run at Veterans Memorial Park and a 60k/25k bicycle road race got the day spinning. As vendors and artists returned to their tents and musicians took the stage, the festival began again for another party in the park. More people had the day off, and the crowd packed the park. Kaitlin Sevy opened up the day with a stellar performance. Locals will have the opportunity to see her next performance July 3 at the George First Friday Streetfest on the Main Street Stage in downtown St. George.
Once again, the setting sun raised the electricity as John Houston’s Gospel Choir took the stage. This group has perfected their sound, offering traditional gospel songs with a sound that is all their own. Their harmonies made it easy to imagine what heavenly angels must sound like. In addition to being an amazing ensemble, the individual talent of its members is out of this world. Throughout the performance, members stepped out to belt out songs with gripping soul. This must-see local group is a true treasure for the community.
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| The Indulgers, photo by Eric J. Reed |
By the time Dick Earl’s Electric Witness took the stage, the festival crowd was ready to testify. Dick Earl’s Electric Witness played with such tremendous energy and sound that Groovefest was transported into another dimension. Mesmerized by the sound and feel of this blues-rockin’, soul-thumping music, the crowd appeared to have found the groove the festival is famously named for. Fully prepared for his next tour starting this week, Dick Earl was on fire and played it hot!
Those wanting to continue the party moved to the after party hosted at Mike’s Tavern. Sunday morning, the Groovefest Gospel Hour showcased Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers at Off the Cuff Comedy Improv Center.
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| Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers, photo by Eric J. Reed |
Another Groovefest Music and Arts Festival has gone down in the history books. Musicians came from all over the state and nation to play Groovefest. Musicians came from all over Utah, Chicago, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Oregon, Alabama, and even Australia. Groovefest is going strong and certainly gives credence to Cedar City’s claim to the name, “Festival City.”
Check out the spectacular photos captured by Eric J. Reed for The Independent. His talent for capturing musical performances sets him apart from his peers. For more information or to contact Eric regarding your photography needs, call (435) 272-3002.
