WARWICK — As the eighth annual Old 78 Farm Fall Festival draws near, organizer Phil Simon hopes to amp up performances’ sound quality through improvements at the farm.
In particular, Simon, who owns Old 78 Farm with his wife, Angel, said one large generator will be used as a power source instead of numerous smaller generators that previously peppered the festival grounds at 823 Orange Road. Having just one, Simon believes, will make for a quieter power source that won’t detract from the performances.
“We’re bringing in more sound and electrical infrastructure, which should elevate us into a more efficient, less hometown infrastructure,” he explained. “We’re stepping up in production this year. It may be the kind of thing people don’t notice outwardly, other than ‘I don’t hear all those generators like last year.’”
The eighth annual festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, starting at 11 a.m. The festival incorporates music, art, food and craft vendors, including “more craft vendors than ever before,” Simon said, explaining there are 15 vendors compared to the usual eight or 10.
Simon has worked in the music business for over 25 years, currently owning Simon Says Booking in Orange. Since 2010, he, along with Angel Simon and Angel’s mother Lynn Englen, have worked together to organize the festival, with a goal of “bringing high quality entertainment, craft and food symbolizing autumn to the Pioneer Valley community and beyond.”
Through Simon Says Booking, Simon books musicians to play on two stages, including a number of new acts this year. New performers include Patty Tuite and Friends, out of Connecticut; the improvisational rock band The Diamondstones; the bluegrass, jazz and gypsy band Lunar Carnival; the Duppy Conquerors, a Bob Marley tribute band; and The Alchemystics, a reggae band from Northampton.
Simon said a children’s band, Shiprock & Anchordog, will perform at 11:30 a.m., providing early entertainment for children. Mademoiselle Pixie Belle the Clown, who does face painting and makes balloon creations, also returns for the eighth year.
Returning bands include rice: An American Band, out of Warwick; the reggae rock band Rebel Alliance; and Flux Capacitor, described as a neo-psychedelic rock band of three brothers out of Pennsylvania.
Vendors will offer jewelry, tie-dyed materials, Henna tattoos, honey products and folk art, to name a few, Simon said. The farm will sell homegrown goods like relish, beets, pickles and beans, and Simon’s brother, Eric, will sell locally sourced barbecue.
Simon said the event has grown over the years, attracting around 100 residents in 2010 and around 500 last year from across New England and beyond.
“It’s definitely not a locals-only festival,” he said.
The festival is held rain or shine, with gates opening at 11 a.m. Starting with Shiprock & Anchordog at 11:30 a.m., music will continue until around 11 p.m.
The cultural councils of Athol, Orange, New Salem and Petersham all sponsor the event, along with commercial sponsors like the Orange Innovation Center, Crocker Communications, Montague WebWorks and the North Quabbin Trails Association. Anyone from the sponsoring towns or Warwick can get into the festival for $10 in advance or at the gate, though nonresidents will need to pay $15 at the gate.
For more information, contact Phil Simon by phone at 978-544-1845 or by email at aenglen@hotmail.com. Tickets can be purchased at the Old 78 Farm, located at 823 Orange Road in Warwick; at Simon Says Booking, located in the Orange Innovation Center at 131 West Main St. in Orange, Suite 208; or online at http://old78farm.com/tickets/.