Women’s Redrock Music Festival Rocks Torrey
Talented musicians from around the world descended on Wayne County for the eighth annual Women’s Redrock Music Festival August 8-9. The Robber’s Roost Bookstore grounds in Torrey were bursting with over 600 enthusiastic music fans.
Co-sponsored by the Entrada Institute, the two-day event kicked off Friday afternoon with entertainer Julie Wheeler and solo artist Vicci Martinez.
The featured act for the evening was a trio of sisters from Sweden known as Baskery. Breaking the rules of traditional music, their group made unique use of a double bass, a six string banjo and an acoustic guitar to produce a range of music including blues, country, punk, and Americana combined with their global perspective.
During the day Saturday, the crowd continued to grow. The duo Erin & the Project took the stage first. Following them was the recently formed Utah band, Dear Liza. They got the audience dancing with their mix of classics and pop tunes.
Vocalist Alicia Faith and singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson provided some laid-back tunes encouraging the audience to sit back and enjoy the wonderful weather and intimate setting of the festival.
The band Xperience Freedom along with the duo God Des and She kept the audience singing and dancing through the late afternoon.
Between the personal pizzas made by the Sweetwater Gypsies and the gourmet burgers and salads by Cafe Diablo, the crowd was well-fed and ready for more great music and entertainment that continued into the evening.
Toshi Reagon provided a classic R&B performance with some genre-bending twists. Finally, international alternative rock star Sarah Bettens concluded the two days of outstanding women’s music. Many festival goers continued their fun at The Rim Rock Patio with late night performances by Sister Wives and The Saddlery with music by Afterburn.
The Robber’s Roost Bookstore grounds were at capacity for the festival. The Entrada Institute recently purchased property adjacent to the current Torrey location and seek to expand the venue over the next several years. It’s hoped that the new stage and grounds will be ready for the 10th annual Women’s Redrock Music Festival in a couple years.
The Women’s Redrock Music Festival was founded by four women seeing to empower and support independent women musicians from around the world. Founders Carol Gnade, Jeri Tafoya, Lu Prickett and Laurie Wood were introduced by festival emcee Georgette Leventis (shown above).
Check out Facebook photos from the event:
