By ANDREW MENTOCK

Special to the Star

Several bands will be at the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater Saturday in a free concert for the Arts in Motion and Tomapolooza.

Several different musical acts such as Fillmore’s Ladder, Harpeth Rising, Savannah Smith and Hey Annie will be playing at the concert, in part to honor popular Niles resident Tom Majerek, who turns 50 this weekend.

The concert will last all day Saturday starting at 11 a.m., with the last act beginning at 9 p.m.

Hey Annie is the first band to play and they also play at 4 30 p.m. They are band that has been together for about six years and is heavily influence by many newer and classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd, The Police, Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters. The band also likes playing at the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater.

“It’s ideal,” said Mark Alstott, who moved to Niles three years ago. “It’s a great to be in nature at an outdoor space where music can be enjoyed.”

Harpeth Rising is folk band from Tennessee that is classically trained and will be playing later in the day Saturday. They have previously done the Niles Bluegrass Festival, where they developed a relationship with Majerek, who they are very excited about helping to celebrate his birthday.

“Tom is a wonderful person to be connected with,” said Rebecca Reed-Lunn who plays the banjo for Harpeth Rising. “He has a particular spot in our hearts.”

Another musical act is Savannah Smith, who will also be playing twice Saturday, uses her acoustic and electric guitars to play a mixture of current popular music as well as oldies such as Tracy Chapman.

Smith recently graduated from high school in Okemos, Mich., which is near East Lansing. However, her mom is a former Niles Resident who graduated from Niles High School in 1981.

The last act of the day, Fillmore’s Ladder, is band with Niles roots that is heavily influenced by jam bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers. They are also excited to be a part of Majerek’s birthday celebration.

“We are glad to be celebrating with him,” said Scott Burns, who attended high school with Majerek. “He is a great guy and a great friend.”

Other musical acts for Saturday are Ryan Adams and Scott Thalman. For more information on Saturday’s concert and other concerts at the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater, visit www.nilesbluegrass.com.

Tomapolooza and The Arts in Motion concert are sponsored by DDA Main Street and Majerek’s Readers World.