Riverfest acts announced

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:33 PM CDT

Three national musical acts will be headliners at this year's Watertown Riverfest celebration, it was announced at a volunteer planning meeting on Tuesday.

Better Than Ezra, which canceled at the last minute last year due to a family death, has been contracted for the festival's closing concert Sunday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m.

In addition, popular country act Trick Pony will be the headliner Thursday at 8:30 p.m., and Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, a high energy contemporary swing-roots-blues band based in California, will be the headliner on Friday, Aug. 3, at 8:45 p.m.

The 21st annual festival will be held Aug. 2-5 at Riverside Park.

A number of other acts have also been signed for this year's event. Johnny Wad, one of the best classic rock bands in the Midwest, has been invited back to perform as the headliner on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m. for a 2 1/2-hour show leading into the famous Bartolotta fireworks show at 10 p.m.

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Geoff Landon & the Wolfpack will open the festival with a concert on Thursday, Aug. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 3, the noon act has not been contracted as of yet, but John Ertl, festival producer, said he is leaning toward an act which will perform around the lunch crowds rather than on the main stage.

Paul Filipowicz, a contemporary blues guitarist from the Watertown area, has been contracted for a 6:30 p.m. show on Friday, Aug. 3, prior to the Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy show.

On Saturday, Aug. 4, Ladies Must Swing will present a concert of authentic big band music from the 1920s to the 1950s. The all-woman band from the Madison area has performed for a benefit in Watertown in the past and was well received.

That concert will be followed by a repeat performance by the Watertown Municipal Band. The municipal band will perform a concert from 2 to 4 p.m.

Twang Dragons, a contemporary rock group with a respect for roots and acoustic guitar, which has strong ties to Watertown, has been contracted for a 5 to 7 p.m. concert prior to the Johnny Wad show on Saturday, Aug. 4.

The Sunday noon spot, typically held for an “oldies” act, has been filled with the Britins, Milwaukee's premier Beatles tribute act. That concert will be from noon to 1:15 p.m. and will be followed with King Comets, a southeast Wisconsin band which presents music from nostalgia to contemporary.

The 2007 edition of Riverfest will also place a special focus on the park's setting along the Rock River with ski shows on Saturday and Sunday by the Must-Skis, an award winning group based in Beaver Dam and which has a number of Watertown connections.

In addition to the musical entertainment, Rainbow Valley Rides will be making another return engagement at the festival's carnival midway, and the Taste of Watertown has been filled once again but there will be several new restaurants and food items.

Saturday morning will once again offer many activities including a tennis tournament, 5K run, carp classic, casting contest, raft race and other activities.

The annual craft show will be held Saturday and Sunday at the island on Riverside Park. Nearly half of the nearly 100 booth spaces have already been reserved with more applications arriving daily.