By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – One of the finest aspects of the Niles Bluegrass Festival is not only that it brings together talented musicians from across the region and the nation – but that the event is also a chance for the public to come out and enjoy their performances for free.
Now there's another fine quality to the Niles Bluegrass Festival – it's going green.
Tom Majerek, who has organized the festival for the past six years said that for starters, "We've cut back n the amount of stuff that we print," such as signs, fliers and posters. In the coming years, Majerek said he'd like to add to the festival's green focus and help bring a little education to the people who come out to the festival on how to help the environment.
In addition to those efforts, Better World Books will also be on hand during the festival. A "social venture" that was launched by three friends, each a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Better World Books is a for-profit organization "who collects and sells books online to fund literacy initiatives worldwide."
Better World Books operates by collecting, recycling and reselling used books. Majerek said the organization will set up a "book store" at the festival and will be accepting any used books for donation.
"All the employees of Better World Books will be at the fest," said Majerek. "This is a great thing because we wanted to have a cause and a message to go with our great festival. What better cause than living 'green' and saving the earth we live on."
Jamie Knabet, architect and project manager with Better World Books said in an email that, "from the spring of 2003 through March 2008, Better World Books has collected more than 11 million books, raising more than $4.5 million for over 80 literacy and education non-profit organizations, sending over 900,000 to our partner programs and saving over 6,000 tons of books from landfills."
The company holds book drives at various college and university campuses and through their operations have raised money for organizations like Books for Africa, the National Center for Family Literacy, the Robinson Community Learning Center as well as libraries and thrift-stores and more.
"You'll come down to the festival and enjoy the music, while also learning how to better the world," Majerek said.
Some additional attractions at this year's festival include a 'picker's tent' available for musicians who are looking to "jam."
It's an opportunity for anyone who's interested "to go in and jam," Majerek said.
"It's just very popular for people among these types of festivals to bring their instruments…" Those people may be looking to learn from each other, jam with each other or simply take part in the music that the festival has to offer.
Anyone stopping by the Festival Friday night can stick around for a special outdoor screening of "A Mighty Wind" – the 'mockumentary' film by director Christopher Guest starring Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey and Bob Balaban. The screening will take place at dusk at the Wonderland Stage.
For more information – visit www.nilesbluegrass.com.
Bluegrass schedule
Friday – June 6
Amphitheater Stage
Wonderland Stage
4:00 p.m. About Face
5:10 p.m. Barry &Holly Tashian
5:30 p.m. Eddy Lee
6:00 p.m. Twenty-Three
6:45 p.m. Audie Blaylock &Redline
7:20 p.m. Goldmine Pickers
7:40 p.m. Barry &Holly Tashian
8:20 p.m. About Face
8:30 p.m. Audie Blaylock &Redline
9:30 p.m. Goldmine Pickers Movies in the Park (at dusk)
"A Mighty Wind"
Saturday, June 7
10:00 a.m. Balos Family
10:50 a.m. Hardtimes Bluegrass
11:00 a.m. Open Mic
11:40 a.m. Art Gomperz
11:45 a.m. Balos Family
12:30 p.m. Deadwood
12:40 p.m. Hardtimes Bluegrass
1:20 p.m. Lare Williams &New Direction
1:40 p.m. Twenty-Three
2:10 p.m. Ramblin' Rick &the Travelator
2:35 p.m. Schlitz Creek
2:40 p.m. Balos Family
3:25 p.m. Audie Blaylock &Redline
3:40 p.m. Art Gomperz
4:20 p.m. Balos Family
4:40 p.m. Barry &Holly Tashian
4:50 p.m. Kenny &Amanda Smith Band
5:40 p.m. Deadwood
5:45 p.m. Twenty-Three
6:30 p.m. Barry &Holly Tashian
6:40 p.m. Schlitz Creek
7:30 p.m. Audie Blaylock &Redline
7:40 p.m. Rum Dummies
8:30 p.m. Kenny &Amanda Smith Band
8:40 p.m. Lare Williams &New Direction
9:30 p.m. Rum Dummies