The heart and soul of any music festival is, quite simply, the power of song. It can lift you up, infuse your spirit with joy and create a communal, sonic experience with your friends, neighbors and even those you’ve never met.
With a lineup that features Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, thrilling funk-jam band Lettuce, Nashville psychedelic-folk rockstar Liz Cooper & the Stampede, Venezuelan disco-funk trio Los Amigos Invisibles and Bay Area-based La Doña — a Latin-Alternative music project considered to be one of the most sought-after new acts from the Golden State — organizers of the Mill Valley Music Festival are confident that an ear-opening experience will occur.
But as a brand-new event that comes on the heels of more than two years of tremendous turbulence, the Mill Valley Chamber’s Mill Valley Music Festival seeks to be much more than a thrilling musical moment. The multi-genre, all-ages, one-day event will take place at Friends Field behind the Mill Valley Community Center from 12-7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7.
Attendees can expect world-class cuisine from some of Mill Valley’s top restaurants, including Playa, Piazza D’Angelo, Bungalow 44, Floodwater and Rocco’s Pizza, and from a pair of renowned new arrivals in the 94941: MIXTand Mamahuhu. There also will be an incredible menu of curated craft beers, fine wine, spirits and cocktails, spearheaded by The Junction, one of many thrilling arrivals in Mill Valley in recent years. The stunning selection of beverages will feature a pair of local gems: canned cocktails from Salt Point and Maker wine.
Expect a ton of gorgeous visual art at MVMF, including a powerful, heart-centric, healing installation from Life on Earth Art, along with an array of kid-centric activities, including roller-skating from the celebrated Church of 8 Wheels. There also will be an extensive retail market from several creative shops in Mill Valley and Marin.
And in a nod to the ever-growing sense of community support, the Chamber is donating a portion of proceeds to a number of local institutions including Kiddo!, which raises funds for arts education and more within the Mill Valley School District. The 2022 festival also supports the Sweetwater Music Hall’s nonprofit music education program and the City of Mill Valley’s Public Art Program, as well as other year-round initiatives spearheaded by the Mill Valley Chamber.
“With the long overdue reckoning around equity over the past two years, we’re leveraging the incredibly generous support from our sponsors by turning each Community Sponsorship into scholarship tickets for students and artists, a program that’s already generated more than 300 free tickets to people who might not otherwise be able to attend MVMF,” says Jim Welte, the Chamber’s director.
Those sponsors include Assembly, City of Mill Valley, Bank of Marin, Nice Guys Delivery, The Redwoods, a Community of Seniors, Fairview Capital, Marin GreenPlay Camp, Sweetwater Music Hall, Relevant Wealth, Mill Valley Lumber Yard, The Studio, WIGT Printing, Fernwood, Smith & Co., Marin Magazine, Pier Rock Properties, Redwood Credit Union, B12LOVE, Mill Valley Refuse, Hasz Construction, Best Western Corte Madera, Marin Clean Energy, Buildergirl, Chambers + Chambers, Dana Williams, Seager Gray Gallery, Richardson Pribuss Architects, Alexander’s Artisan Rugs, many amazing local individual supporters, and more.
Want to know more? Find more information as well as tickets for MVMF here.
I’ll be in attendance, will note how many black people are in attendance, especially that you state a equity statement.
Secondly, equity does not equal scholarships, equity which is a buzz word now, should equal more of opportunities at resources. Kiddo is supported, Marin City youth should also be supported. Small business opportunities. How about, profits from this concert!? Support Marin City from profits. And, have opportunities for partnership roles from Marin City going into the festival. Without us always having to ask about it, EQUITY