To-Do in RI: Wakefield Music Fest. 6 bands, food, vendors, children’s activities, RiverFire

The Wakefield Music Festival will kick off summer on Saturday, May 25, with a mix of funk, rock, blues, country and reggae, costumed characters for the kids, food tent, local brews and wine, and the second RiverFire of the year.

In addition to the six bands, enjoy the bike path, the Saugatucket River, downtown Wakefield merchants, vendors, RiverFire and a range of entertainment from 2 to 10 p.m. at the stage behind Phil’s Main Street Grill at 323-327 Main St. The rain date is Sunday, May 26.

“I love bringing people together and shining a spotlight on downtown Wakefield,” said Ken Tetzner, owner of Phil’s and the event organizer. “We’ve built on every event we’ve done –they’re bigger and better, with different genres of music and different foods. We want to change up the experience every time while always keeping it really fun.”

Main Street will remain open during the event. Artisans will be selling their wares along the river, and Phil’s food tent will serve the popular rock ‘n’ roll burger, Phil’s famous house-smoked corned beef Rueben, fried Oreos and many more favorites. Wine and South Kingstown-based Whalers and Shaidzon beers will be available, along with specialty cocktails at the Contemporary Theater Company bar. Phil’s deck, restaurant and bar will be open during the festival as well. 

Kicking it off will be Mystic Dead, which takes a deep dive into all things Grateful Dead. Timeless is a young, high-energy band that performs hits that keep you rockin’. Dan Moretti’s Soul Jazz Collective features guitarist and powerful singer Sonya Rae Taylor. Bulletproof gets your boots moving with its popular southern-style country rock. Local band Guess Method, which entertains with their infectious beats and irresistible grooves, was Motif magazine’s best jam band of 2022. Rounding out the night is 10-piece horn band Brass Force, which has been performing funk around New England for 38 years.

The festival is one of the biggest fund-raisers of the year for the downtown Wakefield nonprofit Contemporary Theater Company.

Tickets are $20 at the event or online at https://www.contemporarytheatercompany.com/music-fest. 

Active-duty military personnel and veterans are welcome at no charge with ID, and children under 12 are free.

The event is behind Phil’s Main Street Grille and The Contemporary Theater Company.

Wakefield Music Fest Schedule

Main stage schedule: 2 – 3 p.m. – Mystic Dead; 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. – Timeless; 4:30 – 5:45 pm – Dan Moretti’s Soul Jazz Collective featuring Sonya Rae Taylor; 6 – 7 p.m. – Bulletproof; 7 – 8:30 p.m. – Guess Method; 8:45 – 10 p.m. – Brass Force 

Special character appearances: 2 p.m. – Bluey; 3 p.m. – Chase, Paw Patrol; 4 p.m. – Super Mario

For more information, email [email protected] , call 401.218.0282 or go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/WakefieldRIFestivals.