Charleston has never really been known as a music hub in East-Central Illinois.

That honor usually is given to Champaign, with its annual Pygmalion Music Festival.

The Broadhead Music Festival is hoping to break any assumptions one might have about the Illinois music scene.

“I think the local music festival idea is great. This area needs more events like this; it helps to let people know that the Midwest has a lot more to offer than just cornfields,” said Zach Anderson, lead guitar player and backing vocalist for the festival-bound band, Old Capital Square Dance Club.

The Broadhead Music Festival is a new festival brought to Charleston by Michael Brown, president of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, and Andrea Applegate, Crossroads Investment Board of Investments Director on the Chamber of Commerce.

“We wanted to bring more new music to Charleston. We wanted to start something locally that could grow,” Brown said.

Brown figures that the community shares his love for music, and he hopes this event will be a hit and will grow in the future.

“This year, it is only bands and music, but we eventually want to expand to offer art and food at the festival. We want this festival to appeal to the family,” Brown said.

The festival will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mother’s, 500 Monroe Ave. There is an $8 charge for the event.

The festival features six bands: Seven Bridges, Whynerryhmers, Old Capital Square Dance Club, Raise High the Roof Beam, Pink Flood and the Magenta Tide and the New Ruins.

Jesse McClary, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Old Capital Square Dance Club, said they are excited to finally play for Charleston and they have wanted to come here for quite some time.

“We want to reach people that haven’t heard us play,” he said. “We want to make new friends and broaden our audience. This isn’t something we’re doing to make money. You can’t put a price tag on playing music.”

The Broadhead Music Festival will open its doors for some bands, like Raise High the Roof Beam, which have never played for a festival setting before.

“Playing a festival is a good opportunity to get new music heard,” said Thomas Fricilone, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Raise High the Roof Beam. “When you play a festival, people come to see all the bands – not just one.”

Fricilone said he and his band draw from many influences in all styles of music.

“You hear something and you’re like, ‘I need to get a sound like that,'” Fricilone said.

All different styles of music will be represented in the festival, ranging from country to indie, rock and pop.

“I think our music means something a little different to each of our members. We’re a big and diverse group and I wouldn’t presume to speak for anyone else, but for me it’s all about what our music brings to the people that come to our shows,” said Dustin Steinman of Pink Flood and the Magenta Tide. “We’ve played in Charleston regularly over the past few years and feel that it is the sort of town that can sustain a good music festival and really deserves one.”