With the onset of warm weather, people are gearing up for summer. One way to do that is to see the Gear Daddies in an outdoor concert put together by five rural parishes of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It’s called the All Saints Music Festival and it will take place May 20 at the Little Log House Pioneer Village near Hastings.
The music festival was first held in 2014 and is back this year after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19. One of the event’s co-coordinators, Sylvia Belford, joined Patrick Conley to talk about how it got started and what people who come can expect to experience during an episode of “Practicing Catholic” that debuts 9 p.m. May 13 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Sylvia Belford
“We call it the first party of the summer for saints and sinners,” Belford said. “We look forward to just bringing our churches together, bringing our community together, seeing people enjoy the spring weather and have some good time together.”
Belford said the idea for the music festival came from Father Stan Mader, who at the time was serving at three of the five parishes that now put on the event — St. John the Baptist in Vermillion, St. Mathias in Hampton and St. Mary in New Trier. Starting with the first event, they were joined by St. Pius V in Cannon Falls and St. Joseph in Miesville.
“We got almost 2,000 people that first festival, and we saw that happen the last three,” Belford said. “So, that’s what we’re shooting for this coming weekend as well.”
Of course, the wild card is weather. Belford told Conley that prayers for sunshine and mild temperatures would be greatly appreciated. However, she noted that the event will take place rain or shine, with a roof over the musicians. The main band is the Gear Daddies, a rock band that formed in the southern Minnesota city of Austin and is best known for its song, “I Wanna Drive the Zamboni.” Band members will auction off a signed guitar and a chance to meet them backstage. Also appearing at the event will be country artist Chris Kroeze.
The music festival opens at 6 p.m. and is open to adults 18 and older. It will feature food such as brats and hotdogs made by Greg’s Meats near Cannon Falls. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information, visit allsaintsmusicfestival.com.
To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. May 14 and 2 p.m. May 15.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with Patrick Fox, who talks about the Byrne Residence as a home for retired clergy, and a segment on the history of Fatima with Barb Ernster of the World Apostolate of Fatima.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
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