Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreation will host the first-ever glenWOODSTOCK on July 20 from 5 to 8pm on the lawn of the Community Center. The festival, which is free and open to the public, celebrates local youth by providing a platform for young artists, musicians and entrepreneurs to showcase their talents.
The festival is the brainchild of Cath Adams, who works within Parks and Rec’s teen programming. She explained the inspiration: “The idea for glenWOODSTOCK came because we wanted to create a space where teens could express themselves, connect and learn valuable life skills.”
Emphasizing the importance of personal interaction and community support, Adams noted, “We need to celebrate our youth and give them opportunities to shine. This festival is about bringing people together, just like the original Woodstock, but tailored to the interests and needs of local teens.”
There will be musical performances by six local teen bands, plus the headline act Whiskey Stomp. The festival will host teen vendors selling handmade crafts and art, along with local food trucks selling food and beverages.
Tabatha Galicia, a 2024 Roaring Fork High School graduate, and Edie O’Byrne, a Glenwood Springs High School sophomore, took the lead in creating concert posters and stickers, which are displayed throughout the Roaring Fork Valley to promote the event.
The festival will also provide mentorship opportunities with experienced community members, including Whiskey Stomp bandmates, offering guidance and sharing their expertise with aspiring young musicians. “It’s amazing to see professionals reaching out to these kids, inviting them to [radio] studios and helping them grow their talents,” Adams said.
Musical mentors
Clint Thompson, drummer and founding member of Whiskey Stomp, has been involved in music and music education for most of his life. “Any opportunity I get to be a resource for budding musicians or even seasoned ones needing support or advice, I take it. These people have always helped me, so I feel compelled to give back,” he said.
Thompson hosts a weekly podcast, “Tunes at the Thompound,” which airs on the GrassRoots Community Network’s YouTube channel, featuring performances by local musicians. A recording of performances by glenWOODSTOCK musicians was aired on this week’s podcast offering.
Beyond his podcast, Thompson is passionate about creating performance opportunities for young musicians. “Not just for one event, but as an ongoing resource,” he explained.
Whiskey Stomp has played at various venues, including performing for veterans and at Yampah Mountain High School where his wife, Misty, teaches. “We’ve had a good relationship with those kids and that school in the past,” he added.
Open mic nights at venues like Silt’s Burning Mountain Pizza provide a great atmosphere for young artists to perform and hone their skills. “I’ve been blown away by their musicianship,” he said.
Reflecting on his experiences, Thompson emphasized the importance of young people performing before a crowd. “Part of being a musician is being able to conduct yourself in a way that’s appealing to the crowd and rolling with the punches,” he noted.
AZYEP helps with the promotion
Brendan Girardot, community outreach coordinator for the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program (AZYEP), shared the origins of AZYEP’s involvement with glenWOODSTOCK during a recent interview with The Sun.
He attended an initial meeting with Adams and other adult mentors, during which they discussed the vision for glenWOODSTOCK. He immediately saw the potential for AZYEP to offer support by providing airtime to promote the festival and amplify the voices of the creative team.
This led to a recent roundtable discussion at KDNK studios featuring Adams, singer-songwriter and glenWOODSTOCK poster artist Tristan Trincado and other participants led by AZYEP intern Jem Badgett (DJ Cool Kat) and Girardot. The conversation was edited into a recent public affairs show on KDNK.
AZYEP will have an information table and sell merchandise at the festival. They also plan to capture audio snippets from the audience, sharing their experiences and reflections.
Girardot, who grew up in the Valley, was a musician in high school. “It would have been awesome to have something like this when I was in school,” he shared. “It’s a pretty great thing, and I feel honored to be involved with glenWOODSTOCK.”
“The goal is to have glenWOODSTOCK become an annual event, growing each year as more people get involved and support our youth. We want this to be a night to remember, celebrating our kids and our community,” Adams concluded.
GrassRoots TV episodes can be found at www.youtube.com/@grassrootstv
To listen to a recording of the AZYEP program with glenWOODSTOCK participants and musical performances by Trincado, visit www.tinyurl.com/AZYEPglenWOODSTOCK