Read more: Michelle Tanner's life combines medicine, music
The Ogden Music Festival returns to its home at Fort Buenaventura for this year’s June 1-3 event.
Flooding at the fort in 2011 prompted a move to North Fork Park, but this year, organizer Michelle Tanner says the festival returns to “our little paradise” at the fort.
Robert Earl Keen is the main attraction in a musical lineup that includes the Clair Lynch Band, Swamp Cabbage, Junior Sisk & Rambler’s choice, and Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers.
Also playing on this year’s stage is the indie-folk group Elephant Revival.
“They also call themselves neo-acoustic folk,” says Tanner, founder and president of the host group Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music. “They’re young and innovative with their instruments and with their songwriting.”
The festival typically has a strong bluegrass flavor, Tanner says, but always includes blues, rockabilly, honky-tonk, folk and more, “because that’s what Ogden is, is diverse.”
Now in its fifth year, the 2012 Ogden Music Festival — thanks to Keen’s appearance — is expected to draw about 2,000 fans, up from the usual 1,300 to 1,500 attendees, Tanner says.
Tanner says her group is committed to keeping the festival and its other live concerts in Ogden. However, last year’s event at North Fork Park was so well-received that OFOAM will put together a new music festival in 2013 at that Ogden Valley location. It will be held in August and focus on blues music, Tanner says.
“We already have one band booked and I’ve written grants for it already,” she says.
This year’s Ogden Music Festival at Fort Buenaventura, 2450 “A” Ave., Ogden, also includes the Utah State Instrument Championships, music workshops, Todd’s Musical Petting Zoo, crafts, children’s games and canoeing. Visitors may also camp on-site.
A three-day pass is $50 in advance or $55 at the gate. Friday and Sunday tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate; Saturday admission is $25 in advance and $30 the day of show. Admission is free for those age 16 and younger.
For more information or for a schedule, visit www.ofoam.org.
For camping reservations, call 801-399-8491.
