Hanstock, a homegrown day-long outdoor music festival, is coming to the Hancock town common on Saturday.
The event will feature seven local bands, a farmer’s market and other local artisanal products. It is slated to run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We hope it’s a fun, festive day outside. Listening to music, hanging out with friends. Just a friendly vibe kind of day,” said town librarian and co-organizer Amy Markus.
Hanstock was conceptualized this spring when Marcus was discussing the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with David Young of the Hancock Depot Association. Markus said she joked that if Hancock hosted a tribute concert, they could call it Hanstock – “and David took it and ran with it.”
Young said he’d previously wanted to host a mini-festival to feature the local musicians from Hancock Depot Cabarets. Hanstock came together “like a perfect storm,” and became increasingly more “Woodstocky” as they planned.
Originally, the event was going to be staged in the field next to the Hancock Depot in the spirit of the original Woodstock’s site at Yasgur’s Farm. The interest and enthusiasm of the Recreation Committee, the library and local businesses, however, lead to Selectmen allowing the event on the Hancock Town Common instead, with the gazebo as the stage. Young said he is excited for the additional space the town common provides.
Markus hosted “Pilgrims of Woodstock” author John Kane at the library in late July, and was impressed that, “in a little tiny town like this,” a full 14 of the 60 attendees had been at the original Woodstock. Markus and Young hope to feature stories from original Woodstock attendees throughout the event. Markus encourages any interested original Woodstock concertgoers to get in touch with her by calling the library at 525-4411. Young said they are also still looking for additional vendors for the farmers market, as well as event volunteers.
Hanstock’s lineup includes seven Monadnock Region bands that represent a range of styles including newgrass, zydeco, funk fusion, and Americana rock and folk. Performers will include Varsity Material, The Folksoul Band, Tumbletoads, The Dirty Double Crossers, Eyes of Age, 3 4 the Taking, and The Lied To’s.
Suggested admission is $10, and proceeds go to the upkeep of the Hancock Depot building. Markus said the historic train station-turned-community building is owned by a private nonprofit and relies on donations for its upkeep.
“David’s done amazing work over there to pull people in. Those kinds of things are so important, get off the phone and computer, and hear live music and be with people in your own community,” she said.
Young said Hanstock proceeds will most likely go towards painting the outside of the building and refinishing the floors.
“We’re praying for a sunny day,” Young said, acknowledging attendance for the outdoor concert will likely depend on the weather.
If it rains, the event will go on inside the Hancock Depot.
“If it goes well we might make it an annual event, and we’d like to,” he said.