Maplewoodstock Marks a Decade with Music and Community

This article is by Carolyn Maynard Parisi.

The 2013 edition of the local two-day music and art festival Maplewoodstock—which marks the event's 10th anniversary—will be one for the history books when it kicks off Saturday at Memorial Park.

"We are very excited about our tenth year," organizer Gary Shippy said. "Our goal always is to put on the best show for the community and of the community.  Our spending budget has grown due largely to community support. We sell merchandise, which becomes our biggest revenue source. This year we ordered nearly 1,000 T-shirts, and we want to sell them all. 

"By purchasing a pledge package, residents are showing their support when they display their lawn sign, bumper sticker and T-shirt." 

The new T-shirt design, by local artist Michael Choi, is emblazoned with the anniversary event's theme: MWSX. 

The big musical highlight of the event comes at its close on Sunday at 8 p.m. Blues-rock singer Joan Osborne, famed for her hit song, "One of Us," will hit the stage with a full band. But the event offers much more in the way of music. Performing Saturday is the veteran Louisiana band, the Iguanas, followed by Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution. (You are warned to wear your dancing shoes.) And the remaining 22 slots will feature mostly local performing artists offering a diverse mix of music from folk to rock to reggae to vintage jazz. 

The weekend event, which starts at noon both days and continues on until about 9 p.m., also features a beer garden for the grown-ups and a Kidzone for the wee set, said Shippy. 

"By having it on July 13 and 14, we have moved away from the Fourth of July weekend, as it seems many are on vacation that week," he explained. "We expect to have a big crowd."

Shippy reflected on another historic musical event that featured "stock" in its name.

"Nearly 50 years ago, Dylan went electric," he said. "Here's your chance to do the same with the Electric Pledge Package."