Fans of Ypsilanti’s annual Crossroads Summer Festival, the free Friday night series of concerts downtown, have something new to look forward to this year — a Folk/Roots Festival in late June.

Jill Jack performs at a past Crossroads festival.

file photo

Crossroads, now in its fifth season, starts June 4 and runs through August 21.

“I guess the key words you’d probably use when describing Crossroads is it’s safe, it’s entertaining and its fun,” said Frank L. Wright, music director. “You’re going to hear some really great music.”

Crossroads operates under the aegis of the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti. Among local acts scheduled are The Martindales, Hullabaloo, Bill Bynum, Horse Cave Trio, Harper and Lady Sunshine.

An inaugural city-wide Folk/Roots Fest on June 25 will feature eight acts on two stages. It will be held in conjunction with the Ypsilanti District Library and other venues.

“We wanted to provide a better venue for folk and roots music,” Wright said, “so we decided to go with an expanded schedule … we’ve got eight acts coming up on that evening. In addition to that, we’ve been working with our local venues so there will be after-glow parties at the Keystone Underground, the Tap Room Annex, Savoy and Elbow Room. In essence, we are going to have folk-roots music downtown from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

“It’s been great working with these venues — they’ve been cooperative helping to plan this and adjusting their schedules and their bookings to reflect this type of music. Some of our performers will be playing a second time in one of the clubs,” Wright added.

Besides the Folk/Roots Fest, there are two other special evenings scheduled this season. June 11 will be a Mini Earth-Day concert held in conjunction with several local organizations featuring alternative energy and earth-friendly practices and products. On June 18, a special Ladies Night, held in conjunction with the American Cancer Society's “Relay For Life,” is planned featuring Detroit rock, soul and blues vocalist Barbara Payton, herself a cancer survivor.

“Relay For Life will be held the next day in Riverside Park — we’re helping jump-start the event for them,” said Wright.

Wright said Crossroads also includes artists and vendors selling selling such items as vintage clothing and jewelry.

“We’re upping the ante this year with more canopies on Michigan Avenue and those are being populated with people selling various kinds of products,” he explained.

Besides offering a terrific musical line-up, the festival has also injected some vitality in the downtown Ypsilanti scene, Wright added. “Crossroads has been a real spark to help redevelop the downtown area."

Wright, who books the bands,credits the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti’s Densie Cutlip and Kevin Hill for much of the event’s success, adding that Pub 13 owner David Curtis has also been an crucial contributor, providing the stage and other items. Ypsilanti radio stations WEMU and AM 1700, as well as the Michigan Music Hall of Fame have also been involved.

In case of rain, shows will go on as scheduled, Wright added, however they will be moved indoors at Pub 13. He also had one more important piece of information to impart.

“There’s plenty of free parking — you don’t have to pay through the wazoo and walk six blocks,” Wright added. “That’s a very pleasant circumstance we have down there.”

The lineup: June 4 - The Martindales with Chris Canas Blues Revolution June 11 (mini-Earth Day) - Hullabaloo with Dragon Wagon June 18 ("Ladies Night" held in conjunction with the American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life") - Barbara Payton with Just Jill June 25 - Folk/Roots Festival (2 stages, 8 acts) July 2 - First Class Band with Martin Simmons July 9 - Rattlebox with Six Foot Poles and Swaybars July 16 - Bill Bynum & Co. with Corndaddy and Hillrays July 23 - Horse Cave Trio with Tracy Mack & The Magic Land Band July 30 - Dave Sharp's Secret Seven with Tracy Kash Thomas August 6 - Bugs Beddow Band with Paul Miles August 13 - Jill Jack with The Detroit Luddites August 20 - Harper with Flying Latini Bros August 21 - Lady Sunshine & The X Band with Eddie Hughes & Friends

Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.

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