ROYALSTON – A nearly two-decade tradition continues this weekend when the Royalston Music Fest takes place Sunday afternoon.

A total of seven acts will entertain at the event, which begins at noon at Bullock Park. Music Fest organizer Jim Bennett said the annual celebration of local talent has humble beginnings.

“Somewhere around 2003, we started doing an open mic night during the fall at the Royalston Town Hall,” he said. “Then summer rolled around and we decided, ‘Why don’t we put on a music fest in the middle of the summer to sort of showcase a number of the performers who have performed during the open mic and give them a little more time – not just a 10-minute slot or 15-minute slot, but time for a decent set?’”

Bennett said open mic nights still take place once a month from November to April.

“The goal is to have seasoned performers mixed with up-and-coming kids or new acts – people who are just getting into the business – giving them the chance to mix,” Bennett said. “They get to learn a little tradecraft from the people who have been around. Everybody’s pretty gracious about that.”

Bennett said the Music Fest is supported by the Royalston Cultural with funds provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. This year the event features three solo acts and four bands, all of whom will perform for free. All of the performcers hail from North Quabbin.

“It’ll be all local bands, and a lot of these bands are pros anyway,” he said. “They’re just great about doing this whole thing.”

The lineup for this year’s Royalston Music Fest includes:

12 p.m. – Gary Amidon

12:45 p.m. – Judy Rice

1:35 p.m. – Bluez Katz (Scotty Monette, Jamie Hatch, Doug MacLeod, Charlie Scott, and Jim Bennett)

2:25 p.m. – Tempo-airy Jazz Ensemble (Joel Cameron, Greg Butku, James Mercier, Paul Montero, and Weldon Hendricks)

3:15 p.m. – Doc Arsenault

4:05 p.m. – Psycho Slaphead (Oren Santillo, Bridget Toomey, Ori Levine, Finn McDonough, and Brody Esterbrook)

4:45 p.m. – Sylvia’ Daughter (Sandra Maillet, Ray Maillet, Chris Tetter, Paul Montero, Jim Buzzell)

Bennett, a saxophone player, has been associated with the festival from the beginning.

“Phil Leger, he’s kind of my partner in crime, and we’ve been doing it since it started,” Bennett said.

Bennett said the event is family-friendly. Bullock Park located at 1 Athol Road, Royalston. The Royalston Cultural Council will have hot dogs, ice cream and soda for sale. Honest Weight Brewing from Orange will have beer for sale.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com

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