Jun 20, 2008 - 19:45:19 CDT
The signs here say "Ribfest,"and not "Trib Fest" as Ithought Ihad heard it. So Isuppose Ijust wasted the last hour of my life, looking for the "Poke the Humor Columnist With a Stick for $1"booth I assumed we would have set up at a Trib Fest.Anyway, here Iam for the Rip- Roarin' Ribfest, being put on by the Downtowner's Association and located in Parking Lot D at the Bismarck Civic Center. The crowds are very good for this first day, I'd say. Also, it's very hot out here; please send me water.
I don't like ribs all that much. I'm pure meat-eater, sure. There's just something about tearing into a creature's rib cage that makes me feel a little too carnivorous for my own good. Also, Idon't like standing in the long lines at each of the rib vendors' booth for very similar reasons. No ribs for me.
Instead, I'm here for all the fest of Ribfest. More specifically, 14 bands will be playing across three days, out here in the blazing sun. Braving the hot temperatures and sizzling blacktop, you will be rewarded with some of the best musical acts playing around our region.
The Falcon Brothers kicked things off at noon Thursday, or a close proximation to noon. Truth be told, the noon slot is a brutal one at any rib fest, not just because most of the crowds won't arrive until after business hours on Thursday and today, but also because that's dinnertime, and it's hard to bust a move with barbecue sauce all over your goofy face.
Regardless, the Brothers took complete control over their environment, playing original tunes and some choice covers such as "Taxman"by the Beatles, "Midnight Rider"by the Allman Brothers Band and, always my favorite, "Land Down Under"by Men At Work.
Their set was fun and loose, and the setup of the stage inside the grounds provides plenty of room to dance and move, enjoying the first big live music event of the summer.
GypsyFoot took complete advantage of this open dancing space, overcoming an early timeslot of 4 p.m. and still managing to fill the open area with a good-sized throng of the faithful, and filling the grounds with their brand of good-feeling, celebratory groove. I did a little dancing myself; Idid.
For a festival that boasts itself as a celebration of our local community, Iwould have liked to see at least one Bismarck band headlining on one of the three nights. GypsyFoot or FatDad would have been ideal candidates.
More local favorites are yet to come in the next two days of Ribfest, including acts such as The Luke Graner Band and Ben Suchy today, and McMahon & McMahon, FatDad and Heavy Water Radio on Saturday. Visit www.bismarckribfest.com for a full schedule of the bands playing during the festival.
The Downtowner's deserve a giant pat on the back for putting together such a wonderful showcase for so many of our local bands, and for such a great start to an event that will hopefully just keep getting bigger and better in years to come.
Slather your faces with barbecuesauce, and get out there and dance, Bismarck.
(Reach columnist Kelly Hagen at 250-8259 or kelly.hagen.) @bismarcktribune.com
dance fan wrote on Jun 22, 2008 11:14 PM:
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