Austin Joseph performs at V-Tunes 2009

V-Tunes Music Festival, which takes place outside Lake Powell in Big Water, Utah, will be returning for its third year running. Returning to the festival will be Cory Mon & the Starlight Gospel, who will be headlining the event, while Pat and Rosy Maloney, Steven Swift, Austin Joseph, and Easy Joseph will each return for the 2010 iteration of the festival. The one-day event will hit on June 5.

Announced Lineup

Cory Mon & the Starlight Gospel

Pat & Rosy Maloney

Matt Jennings

Dave McGraw & Crow Wing

Steven Swift

Easy Joseph

Sandy Stevens

Lindi & Company

Austin Joseph

In a week, March 24, Australian rock-blues-soul-world musician Harper will feature at the store; tickets are $8 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

• Check out the Harper show on Facebook

Sister-duo Beliss, who performed in Cedar City during the 2009 southwest tour, will return on March 25. From Portland, Belinda and Melissa Underwood perform an eclectic blend of musical styles and aren’t to be missed. Tickets are available at the door, which opens at 7:30 p.m.

• RSVP to the Beliss show on Facebook

Upcoming Cedar City, Utah concerts

• March 20, 9pm, Worried Minds, Mike’s Tavern (21+)
• March 23, Alwin Nikolai Centennial at Heritage Theater
• March 24, 8pm, Harper at Groovacious Records
• March 25, 8pm, Beliss at Groovacious Records
• April 2, Green-Swift Duo with Bottled Monkey at Toadz
• April 9, Kris Special at Groovacious Records
• April 10, Green-Swift Duo with Kris Special at Toadz
• April 17, Thrift Store Cowboys at Mike’s Tavern

The Packway Handle Band at Groovefest 2007 / Matthew Montgomery

After a multitude of revisions by Tim and Lisa Cretsinger, the lineup for the 2010 Groovefest American Music Festival has been released. Tim and Lisa own Groovacious Records in Cedar City, Utah, and have been organizing Groovefest for nine years. Groovefest is free to the public, and the main event — two full days of music — will take place at the Cedar City Main Street Park on June 25 and 26. Further events are being planned from Wednesday, June 23 to Sunday, June 27.

Friday, June 25

• 1:00 – 1:45 John Sotter
• 2:00 – 2:45 Molly Venter
• 3:00 – 4:00 Kort McCumber Band
• 4:15 – 5:15 Karling Abbeygate
• 5:30 – 6:30 Oakhurst
• 6:45 – 7:45 John Lisi & Delta Funk
• 8:00 – 9:15 Great American Taxi
• 9:30 – 11:00 Traveler

Saturday, June 26

• 11:30 – 12:15 John Batdorf
• 12:30 – 1:15 Joe Baker & His Barefoot Brakemen
• 1:30 – 2:30 The Gabrielle Louise Show
• 2:45 – 3:45 Trevor Green
• 4:00 – 5:00 The Henhouse Prowlers
• 5:15 – 6:15 Chris Laterzo & Buffalo Robe
• 6:30 – 7:30 The New Familiars
• 7:45 – 9:15 The Scott Holt Band
• 9:30 – 11:00 Lubriphonic

Cedar Breaks Out!

Saturday saw the release of the latest project from the home of independent music in Cedar City, Groovacious Records. Cedar Breaks Out!, a 14-track compilation consisting of some of the town’s best singer-songwriters, made its debut last night at the record store, which was nearly bursting at the seams with attention.

The compilation features 14 artists from the Cedar City area, and 11 of those performed at Saturday evening’s celebrations. It serves as a refreshing reminder that not only are Open Mic nights at Groovacious packing a punch with their unique performances and evocative covers, but these musicians can provoke an emotional response with their own music.

The album sees a street release date of Tuesday, when it can be purchased for $9.99 at Groovacious Records. The album is being released on Groovacious Platters, the record label run by Groovacious Records owners Tim and Lisa Cretsinger.

Tim Cretsinger organized the compilation alongside Cedar City musician Chuck Triplett, and its release on Groovacious Platters sees it take the stage next to two releases from regional stalwart Steven Swift.

Groovacious Platters will be donating all profit from the release toward the Southwest Wildlife Foundation, an environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation group from Cedar City.

• Chas Hollingshead – “O.Z.”
• Josh Cash – “Too Young To Decide”
• Kaitlin Sevy – “I’m Sorry Dear”
• Brian Hoover – “Car Chase”
• Emilee Hanks – “It Rains”
• Matt Briggs – “While You Were Sleeping”
• Steven Swift – “Your Way Home”
• Britte Bjerga – “Bring Me Back”
• Rhett Boswell – “Fooled By Nature”
• Ryan Kay – “Small Mountain Town”
• Niall Hodges-Burns – “Papa Jack, Sr.”
• Kipp Howard – “Turn It Around”
• Katherine Moure – “Bled Black”
• Pablo “Of The Mountain” Schwartz – “Outerlude”

The vital details! Open Mic Night at Groovacious is:

• … scheduled every Wednesday night at Groovacious Records in Cedar City, Utah.
• … scheduled to start at 8 p.m., and it very rarely starts even a few minutes late.
• … open to performers of all cuts and styles. Performers need to arrive by 7:30 p.m. to sign up, and there are limited slots — the earlier the better!
• … about two hours long. Not every session lasts two hours, but it’s almost always out by 10 p.m.
• … located at 173 North 100 West in Cedar City.
• … at the site of the only independent record store in southern Utah. Groovacious features a wide selection of high-quality, new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDS and more.
• … fun for all ages!