New festival, HomeGrown Palooza, to feature nine area rock bands at Sarasota Fairgrounds

Event planned on April 20, with $10 cash admission fee

HomeGrown Palooza headliner Twinkle will perform with her band, Rock Soul Radio. Contributed photo

On Saturday, April 20 — 4/20 — West End 941 Productions will present HomeGrown Palooza, a full day and night of rock ’n’ roll featuring only local acts, the company has announced.

The event will take place at the Sarasota Fairgrounds (3000 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota) on “‘Main Field 8’ (on the western side — follow the music!) from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.,” a news release says.

Attendees also will be able to enjoy food trucks, beer and vendors selling unique arts and crafts, jewelry, clothes and other items, the release adds. The cost for entry will be “just $10 (cash only); the event is restricted to ages 18 and up,” the release points out.

Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio will headline the festival. Other acts slated to perform are Bri Rivera SRQ, Devine AF, Triggerfish, The Alvis Brothers, Sons of Thunder, Version 3.0, Nobody’s Fool and Sound of Fury, the release notes.

“Longtime local musician and music fan Jeff Hardy has been planning this event for years, deciding to make it happen when the calendar provided an irresistible opportunity,” the release explains. “Hardy, who moved to Sarasota in 1989 and has been a part of the music scene ever since, is looking to provide a great day of music at a cost anyone can afford,” the release adds.

“I’ve lived through the noise ordinance of the ’90s, which helped to shut down a number of live music venues,” he said in the release. “I’ve lived through changing musical trends and more changes in my own band lineups than I might care to admit,” added Hardy with a laugh. “But I’ve never stopped loving and playing rock ’n’ roll,” he continued in the release. “This area is rich in musical talent — I hope that local music fans will come out to support [local groups] and enjoy themselves!”

While the calendar date may change, Hardy plans to make HomeGrown Palooza an annual celebration of homegrown acts, he pointed out in the release.

Twinkle, who is headlining the festival, was signed to Warner Brothers for her debut album Haunted By Real Life, “produced by Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Roger Waters, Pink Floyd); it garnered attention on the jazz/pop charts with the title song,” the release continues. Her music video, Can’t Get Love With Money, was featured on VH1, and one of her songs was selected for use on daytime drama Days of Our Lives, the release notes.

Tickets may be purchased at the gate; cash only. For more information, go to westend941.com/events or email homegrownpalooza@gmail.com.