Grab a cowboy hat and low-back lawn chair or blanket and settle under the shade of heritage oaks at the first ever Red Dirt and Gold Dust Music Fest (RDGDMF), set for Saturday, Aug. 6 in Angels Camp.
“This has been a lifelong dream of mine to bring quality music events to the Calaveras County Fairgrounds,” said Jeremy Leonard, owner of Whiskey Slide Productions, LLC, in Angels Camp. “This is going to be an incredible day – seven bands playing the best of Red Dirt music – southern rock, Americana, bluegrass, outlaw country and good ol’ country – it’s all part of Red Dirt music.”
Leonard has teamed up with Smooth and Mechelle Roose of Missouri, owners of Double R Exotics, to bring this one-of-a-kind, inaugural music festival to the golden hills of the Mother Lode.
Tickets are on sale now at www.reddirtandgolddust.com for $25 each, and may also be purchased at the Angels Camp Body Shop, 1270 S. Main St., Angels Camp. Tickets will rise to $30 the day of the event so there is great value in buying early. Parking is an additional $5 charge. No outside food, beverages or coolers will be allowed on the Fairgrounds.
The all-day event will host seven of the Red Dirt industry’s popular and up-and-coming bands, including national recording artists: Cody Canada & The Departed, John D. Hale Band, Matt Stell, Cole Porter Band, Kaitlin Butts and Calaveras County’s own, Grover Anderson and Walt Hoyt.
In addition to “killer Red Dirt music,” Leonard said concertgoers can expect some awesome Gold Country BBQ and other great eats as vendors will be offering grub and libations for sale.
“The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2600 out of San Andreas will be working the beer booth and the Angels-Murphys-Arnold Booster’s Club will be handling parking,” said Leonard, with the $5 fee benefitting the AMA.
A portion of the proceeds will go to Calaveras Recovers, a volunteer group committed to rebuilding lives and homes following the Butte Fire.
“I wanted to make sure our local non-profit groups reaped the benefits of this event,” noted Leonard.
Accommodations for RVs and camping are available onsite at the Frogtown RV Park at the Fairgrounds. Go to www.frogtown.org, click on Facility Rentals then RV Park. Other lodging options may be accessed through the Calaveras County Visitor’s Bureau at www.gocalaveras.com. Additional sponsors of the RDGDMF include Budweiser and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
