HRF's new south stage set to rock on Oct. 22

The highly-anticipated 2022 incarnation of the Homochitto River Festival — set for Saturday, Oct. 22 in downtown Meadville — has broadened its musical offerings to include several rock acts on a new third main stage.

HRF Entertainment Chairman Larry Wallace said a smaller stage that had been set up in front of the Franklin County Public Library is being replaced by a larger stage and relocated to Second Street near Sullivan’s Kitchen and Produce and the Wade Creekmore C Spire operations building.

The east and west stages — placed strategically near Meadville’s two traffic lights on Main Street — will remain in their usual spots while arts and crafts vendors will now populate more of Walnut Street between the west and south stages.

Wallace noted several acts with a distinct rock-n-roll flair will perform on the new south stage and will include:

• The Bridge Band, which hails from Brookhaven, will perform original and classic rock starting at 8:30 a.m.

The band includes brothers Tyler and Nick Bridge and features Ron Donegan, Shelley Smith and Scott Shaw.

The group is also slated to perform at 2 p.m., on the HRF east stage.

• ALIBIE The Band, from McComb, will perform its blend of classic Southern rock beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Band members include David Hughes, Glenn Sanders, Ralph Wicker, Dennis Hart, Michael Hart and Jeromy Hughes.

• Spunk Monkees is a group that got its start in the 1990s and is well known for its live shows spotlighting the original and classic rock genre.

They have toured for 20-plus years, but have not forgotten their roots in Mississippi’s Tupelo area.

The Spunk Monkees, made up of Matt Nolan, Jody Lindsey, Mark Lynam and Shaun Miller, will play at 11 a.m.

• Sullivan’s Hollow is a group from the Miss-Lou/Natchez area that is quickly becoming one of the better-known bands that perform in the style of grunge rock.

Franklin County’s own Zac Case is part of the band, which has built a reputation as the “Pioneers of Southern Grunge.”

Sullivan’s Hollow will play starting at 1 p.m.

• Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster is known for totally entertaining crowds for more than 20 years. This Memphis, Tenn.-based band plays an eclectic blend of tunes.

The group plays 100 shows per year, and Wallace said efforts have been under way to get them to come to Meadville for the past six years.

The band will perform 1970s and 80s disco, funk, dance, new wave, pop and rock beginning at 3 p.m.

Other musical genres — including Americana, country and gospel — will take to the other stages throughout the day and will include a variety of local and regional acts including the Young Duncan Band, The Gullyjumpers, REB — Ralph, Earl and Bart, Big Jeff Nunnery Band, The Lincoln Outfit, The Veal Brothers, Hannah Belle, Rona Barrett and J.T. McCaffrey.

Major headliners slated to play at this year’s festival will include:

• Little Texas was part of the “Young Country” movement of the early 1990s, and made its presence felt with a new, energetic sound.

“Little Texas fused the look and attitude of modern rock music with traditional country themes and styles,” Wallace said. “Their four members are back together and, as a footnote, Tim McGraw used to open for them.”

The band has three Grammy nominations along with eight Top-10 hits, four gold albums, one platinum album and one double-platinum album.

Their accolades also include being named as the ACM Vocal Group of the Year and winning the CMA Album of the Year prize.

• Shenandoah — recognized as one of the greatest country music groups of all time, the band has numerous honors for its musical efforts.

The Grammy Award-winning performers have five No. 1 hits along with 15 Top-10 hits and three gold albums.

Shenandoah also was recognized as both the ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year.

Another new addition to this year’s event is the sold-out “Evening With Paul Overstreet” concert on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Franklin Chess Center hosted by Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Bill Ellison.

Wallace characterized the event as a one-of-a-kind concert featuring Overstreet sharing his classic songs and the stories behind them.

This year’s festival will also include a car show, art show, pet parade, a children’s game area, a petting zoo along with a wide range of food and beverage vendors and arts and crafts displays.

Admission to the HRF is $10 per person.

For additional information, visit the HRF Facebook page or go online to www.homochittoriverfestival.org.