Homegrown El Paso announces new Beats and Eats Music Festival

By Margaret Gallardo / El Paso Times

Posted: 07/30/2014 09:45:19 AM MDT

The newly created Beats and Eats Music Festival will focus on growing the community's passion for El Paso, Homegrown El Paso organizers announced Wednesday.

'One thing you will find as a common thread, not only in the music but in the feeling of the festival, is that love for El Paso,' said Charles Dodds III, president of Homegrown El Paso and organizer of the festival. 'We want to make this event affordable and all we ask from El Paso and the community is to come out and support (the festival and local vendors). We are doing this for you (the community) and we and our sponsors are invested in this city and want to help it grow.'

Organizers are expecting more than 30,000 people to attend the music festival, which will be held Sept. 13 at Ascarate Park and is set to start at 11 a.m., Dodds said.

'This festival started from the hope to bring all of these locally owned businesses together to contribute their services to the community,' Dodds said. 'And also to bring everything together, where not only the music is going to be an unbelievable attraction coming to El Paso, but also the food, and create a family event that is affordable so people can come out and enjoy.'

The festival, sponsored by the Rudolph Dealerships and 915 Live Productions, will have two music stages - one DJ stage, featuring a 30-foot Eiffel Tower replica, and one main stage. It will also feature 30 food vendors, a car show and an activity area for families.

The main stage will feature Los Rieleros del Norte, Tropicalisimo Apache, Mark Farner (former lead singer of Grand Funk Railroad), Maria Mulata, Rod Crosby & the Intruders, Chuco Soul Project, Joe Barron Band, Wildflower and Dusty Low.

On the second stage, dubbed the From Paris With Love Stage, will be Richard Vission, Johnny Kage, J Smoov, The Godfather, Rafa Velasquez, Alby Bocanegra, JC Favela, DJ Klymaxx, DJ R3tro and DJ Netro.

Organizers hope the festival will show not only the community, but surrounding cities, that El Paso can create big events showcasing local talents and business, said Joseph Nester, board member of Homegrown El Paso.

'This (the festival) started as a dream. It's incredible how big it has grown and I think this is a reflection of where we live and the people we have surrounding us,' he said. 'We always talk about other towns and what other towns are doing, and this is showing that we have all the sources here to do something fantastic. We are hoping this will continue to grow into one of, if not, the biggest festival in El Paso.'

Tickets will cost $15 for general admission ($20 at the gate). It will be free for ages 5 and under. A limited number of VIP tickets for $125 and $200 also will be on sale. Tickets are available online through ticketfly.com.

Entities 0 Name: El Paso Count: 6 1 Name: Homegrown El Paso Count: 3 2 Name: Dodds Count: 2 3 Name: Richard Vission Count: 1 4 Name: Charles Dodds III Count: 1 5 Name: Paris Count: 1 6 Name: JC Favela Count: 1 7 Name: Mark Farner Count: 1 8 Name: El Paso Times Count: 1 9 Name: Eats Music Festival Count: 1 10 Name: Maria Mulata Count: 1 11 Name: Margaret Gallardo Count: 1 12 Name: Rod Crosby Count: 1 13 Name: J Smoov Count: 1 14 Name: Rafa Velasquez Count: 1 15 Name: Joseph Nester Count: 1 16 Name: Dusty Low Count: 1 17 Name: Rudolph Dealerships Count: 1 18 Name: Johnny Kage Count: 1 19 Name: Alby Bocanegra Count: 1 20 Name: DJ Netro Count: 1 21 Name: Joe Barron Band Count: 1 22 Name: DJ Klymaxx Count: 1 23 Name: Los Rieleros del Norte Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1pFK53E Title: Unplug to Recharge the Innovator in You: The Story of Pickathon Description: Posted: Print Article Twenty minutes outside of Portland, Oregon, lies Pendarvis Farm -- a pristine mix of meadows and Douglas Fir with miles of hiking trails and views of Mt. Hood. Sometimes our most disruptive experiences have nothing to do with our use of technology.