LATE FASHION

Want to go?

What: City of Roses Music Festival

When: Music begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the arts and crafts fair on Themis Street downtown and begins at 1 p.m. on the main stage. Headliner Dave Mason begins playing at 9 p.m.

Where: Riverfront Park and downtown bars and eating establishments

Admission: $12

By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

The weather was perfect and sweet country music filled the sky but the crowd downtown was light Friday night on the first evening of the City of Roses Music Festival.

Wes Wade, president of the sponsoring City of Roses Music Heritage Association, said he had hoped for a bigger crowd. But it was only 9 p.m., and the headlining band Sixwire was due to take the stage in another half hour. The estimated 50 bands in the festival were just starting to perform sets at 11 bars and restaurants in the downtown area.

The St. Louis rockabilly band The Melroys were scheduled to perform after Sixwire.

About 125 people were inside the floodwall to listen to the headliners' opening act, Kennett, Mo., native David Nail at 9 p.m. He noted that a number of those were from Kennett. He showed off a pleasing voice in performing music from his yet-to-be-released album for Mercury Records.

The festival continues today with music beginning at 10 a.m. Bands will play at 11 downtown bars and restaurants throughout the night. Headliner Dave Mason takes the main stage at 9 p.m. Gospel music will be presented in Sunday's conclusion of the festival.

Late starts are almost a tradition for the City of Roses Music Festival. This year's version had the same problem. The barge that serves as the main stage on the Mississippi River arrived late on Thursday, putting the set-up behind. The first band, Neon Nights, started an hour and a half late. The length of the sets was reduced to catch up.

One music fan complained after Neon Nights played all cover songs from the main stage. "You can hear cover songs any place at any time and songs of your own choosing," said Werzel d'Amage of Marble Hill, Mo. "Originality ought to be celebrated. Isn't that the idea of the festival?"

But the St. Louis-based alternative country band Belle Starr pleased d'Amage some by churning out all but one original in their set. Lead singer Lynn Reify brought back memories of Peggy Lee on the song "The Heart of the Truth of the Matter." One tune later the band sounded like countrified Elvis Costello on "Was It Worth It After All?"

The first night of the festival was the first day of business at the Space Walk Cafe at the corner of Main and Themis streets. Owners Deniz Cakir, Victor Kantchev and Hakan Atilgan spent the day getting the plumbing and health inspections taken care of and their menu printed. They received a special 30-day business permit so they could open in time for the music festival.

The owners were still nailing pictures up on the Internet cafe's walls as the Cape Girardeau band Steppin' Out prepared to begin playing.

It was important to them to open on the night of the festival no matter how much trouble they had to go through, Cakir said.

"We were committed to those guys."

Most of the tables were filled at In the Wine Cellar, where the duo Wooden Ships played classic acoustic songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Restaurant owner Bill Wilkins said the music festival is always good for business.

"It has been very successful every year."

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182