By Jim Obert

When the City of Roses Music Festival kicks-off downtown later this month, namebrand musicians will entertain with the rambling river as a backdrop.

For the first time, wailing guitars, thumping drums and voracious vocals will emanate from Riverfront Park - inside the Mississippi River floodwall. Headliner musicians will play on a stage near the edge of the river or on a barge.

The festival has been expanded from two to three days and will be held Sept. 28-30.

Well-known singer Eddie Money ("Two Tickets to Paradise," "Take Me Home Tonight") will shake, rattle and roll on Saturday.

The Classic Rock All Stars, made up of former members of big-time bands such as Iron Butterfly, Rare Earth, Blues Image and Sugarloaf will play Friday.

Brad Graham, president of this year's music festival, says some members of the Classic Rock All Stars own rights to some of their music, "so they will be playing some of their hits." Graham said spectators might hear "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," "Green-eyed Lady," "Ride Captain Ride" and "I'm Losing You."

Former Eric Burden and WAR harmonica player and composer Lee Oskar ("Cisco Kid," "Low Rider," "Slippin' Into Darkness") will take to the main stage. He will play with the local group, Rapco Blues Band.

Another group expected to draw throngs is Cannibal and the Headhunters.

In addition to the headliners, about 50 other acts will perform in 13 downtown clubs and restaurants, and on three outdoor stages during the three-day event.

"We've not had headliners like these in past years," said Graham, adding that booking big names is a response to requests from past festival-goers. "It's also a good way to boost attendance."

Last year about 3,000 people attended each night. This year, organizers are aiming at 4,000.

The hours of the festival are Friday 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday, which will be devoted to gospel and contemporary Christian music, noon to 6 p.m.

New to the musical festival this year is Old Town ArtsCape, an arts festival that will be held Saturday on the parking lot of the former Save-A-Lot grocery store on North Spanish Street. Graham said painters, potters and other artisans will help create the atmosphere of a European street market. Musicians from Cape Central High and Southeast University will play classical music.

Oskar, the former member of Eric Burden and WAR, has his own line of harmonicas, six of which will be auctioned during the festival. Two are autographed by Oskar, two by Oskar and noted harp player Charlie Musselwhite, and two by Oskar and the rambunctious Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd.

Proceeds from the auction will go to three scholarship funds established by the festival committee last year in the names of William Shivelbine Jr., Eddie Keys Sr. and Homer Gilbert.

A kick-off party for the City of Roses Music Festival will be held Thursday evening, Sept. 27, in the University Center auditorium.

Major sponsor's of this year's event include the Downtown Merchants Association, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Pyramid Group, the Zimmer Radio Group, KBSI Fox 23, the Southeast Missourian and River Eagle Distributing.

Downtown nightclubs and restaurants where performances will be staged are Jeremiah's, Port Cape Girardeau, Broussard's, Breakaways, Rude Dog, Mudsucker's, Willy Jak's, the Bel Air Grill, Grace Cafe, the Copa, In the Wine Cellar and Ragsdale's.

Tickets are currently on sale. Admission is $10 on Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and $5 on Sunday, Sept. 30.