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The 22nd Nowoodstock Festival, a music event held every year in the summer in Ten Sleep, will take place this weekend.

“We’ve got an awesome lineup again this year,” said Kurt Steinke, assistant festival director. He added, “We have an excellent lineup, including local acts but also some nationwide bands. Davina and the Vagabonds are kind of our headliners this year.”

According to the band’s website, “Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, level A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time.

“Bringing you 100 years of American music and Davina’s originals, which lend themselves to the American Songbook, the band brings edgy nostalgia to older generations and fresh new music to younger ears. This rollicking quintet is held together by Sowers’ keyboard playing, with acoustic bass, drums, and a spicy trumpet and trombone horn section.”

Steinke highlighted local acts that would be playing the festival such as Liam and Layne Jordan, the 12-year-old twin duo from Hyattville returning to play a second year, and Audrey Truman, a singer/songwriter in Worland.

He also offered thanks to Jalan Crossland, who has been playing Nowoodstock every year since it started, this year included, and mentioned that the Wyoming State Singer/Songwriter competition winner Steve Davis would be playing a set.

Steinke is two years through a three-year process to replace Pat O’Brien as the festival director of Nowoodstock. He said that he hopes to continue the legacy of the festival that O’Brien has started. He said, “As far as my vision for it goes, I just want to perpetuate it. I think that Pat has built an awesome thing. I don’t see any major changes, I just want to see it continue into the future indefinitely.”

Having opened his first public dojo in 1994, Steinke’s work involves martial arts education. He has also taught English as a second language in Korea and has earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in criminal justice. He said that this path has given him background as a police officer and a probation officer.

As for how he came to know O’Brien, Steinke said, “What brought us together was music in the first place. We both have a sincere interest in the artform and sharing it with people.” Steinke’s wife Alanna (who will also be performing this weekend) has run open mic nights in Ten Sleep for the past five years, and put Steinke in touch with O’Brien.

Having directed Nowoodstock for 23 years, O’Brien has been there since the start. He said that it all began in 2001 when he visited Janna Hampton’s espresso shop in Ten Sleep originally with the intent to sell her a sponsorship for his radio show. He arrived and waited for her to finish helping customers, and they brainstormed the idea to host a music festival. He recounted the event, saying, “It just kind of fell out of my mouth, and she didn’t even blink, she asked, ‘one day or two’?”

From there, O’Brien went door-to-door at businesses in Ten Sleep asking about a good time to have such a festival, and the general agreement was the weekend of Sturgis. With a time and place decided, O’Brien assembled a setlist for the first Nowoodstock.

After seeing immediate success, Nowoodstock has grown to become a staple of Ten Sleep and something that O’Brien has become proud of. Now that he is looking to retire, O’Brien said, “I’m pretty confident that when I retire after next year that Kurt will be able to deal with things. I’ll still be around to consult with and help out, but it’ll be in good hands when I pass it along.”

The fun starts on Friday at 5 p.m. at Vista Park in Ten Sleep with Steve Davis taking the stage, followed by Year of the Pig; Nate Champion Band and ending with Davida and the Vagabonds. Saturday begins at 9 a.m. with some yoga. Music starts at 10 a.m. with Alanna Steinke, followed by Truman, David, Boston Catalona, Low Water String Band, Year of the Pig, The Tinderwoods, Jalan Crossland, Davina and the Vagabonds and Nate Champion Band.

Sunday begins with some more yoga at 9 a.m. Music begins with the Jordan twins at 10 a.m., followed by Boston Catalona, Low Water String Band, Shawn Hess and the Country Skillett and, as usual, Crossland, will conclude the festival.

Tickets are available online or at the festival.