Local bands revv up their enthusiasm for the possibilities the new school year brings, and Matt Schumake, member of Andy Van Slyke, sees no better way than kicking it off with a music festival.

“The Woodchuck Festival is all about the music,” said Schumake, co-founder of the festival. “Its about getting people together. It’s about boosting the music scene in Charleston.”

The festival will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and run through Sunday afternoon. Tickets are $10 for a day pass and $15 for weekend admission.

There is also a $5 parking fee, which can be avoided if the free shuttle is taken.

The shuttle bus will run throughout the festival’s entirety and will meet at Campus Liquor and the corner of 6th Street and Monroe, in the square. Parking space is limited.

The event takes place on grounds a quarter of a mile south of town on University Avenue. Signs will mark directions from the intersection of Fourth Street and University Avenue. It is off the first road on the left.

This is only the second installment of the festival, but it has come a long way in less than a year. All contributors are hoping this fall will be much bigger than last semester’s festival.

“Last year we put together the festival in less than a week,” Scott Clements, co-founder of the Woodchuck Festival said. “We had about 300 people show up. This year, we are reinstating the festival as a benefit. The proceeds will be going to three different charities that are local and global.”

The charities Clements speaks of are the local chapter of HOPE Women’s Shelter, which aids victims of domestic violence; St. Vincent DePaul, which helps out families that are suffering dramatically from the economy; and Youth With a Vision, which helps children that are suffering in Dennilton, South Africa.

“This summer I went on a study abroad trip to South Africa,” Clements said. “While we were there we did some social work. It touched me, and now I want to help out more. If we could have an annual event that could help support local charities and promote the live music scene in Charleston, I don’t see any better way of doing it other than a music festival to help support the arts.”

The event will be sponsored by Lincoln Garden and Finishing Touch Ink which are both located on Lincoln Avenue, Sugar Mountain Farm located on 18th Street, Mad Hatters on Fourth Street, H&H Shuttle and Taxi Services Inc. on Old State Rd., and Indio Cigar Shop located on 7th Street in the square.

Despite heavy sponsorship, most of the finances have come out of pocket from the co-founders of the event.

There are more than 25 bands performing over the weekend including Little Boy Jr., Mugwump Specific, Staff Blues Band and Mitch Davis. The festival founders have also brought in performers from surrounding towns and big cities such as Chicago and St. Louis. There are a wide variety of performers from many genres including jam bands, rock, folk, electronica and hip-hop.

In addition to the live music, there will be a bags tournament and a frisbee golf tournament. Patrons can bring their own beverages, alcohol included, but no glass is allowed on the grounds.

This is an all-ages event. Identification must be presented with use of alcohol.

Brad York can be reached at 581-7942 or at bayork@eiu.edu.

Kat Louise S. (Kat Slawson) of the band Andy Van Slyke laughs as Tyler Bixby, guitar, and Luke DeYoung, guitar, joke around at a practice session at the Paper Café in Charleston Monday night in preparation for their performance at Woodchuck Frid

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