Let the Love Begin — Maplewoodstock Starts Tomorrow

The wait is over. Maplewoodstock is upon us once again. And Maplewoodians and their neighbors will be donning their tie-dye, festooning their love beads and flinging off their flip-flops as they dance and picnic on the hill in Memorial Park and soak up the rays, breezes and tunes at Maplewood's annual two-day arts and music festival.

Did we mention it's free?

Meanwhile, though many are buzzing about the big acts — like Sunday night's closer The Smithereens — we're more excited about local and innovative performers like Alex Kariotis (see attached video) and the opportunity to meet and see friends from across the towns in the Park all weekend long.

Below is a breakdown of the full concert schedule, plus a list of all 59 vendors. For more information and updates, visit the Maplewoodstock website at http://www.maplewoodstock.com. Updates to the schedule will be announced in real-time on the Maplewoodstock Twitter channel — twitter.com/maplewoodstock.

MAPLEWOODSTOCK SCHEDULE: DAY 1
Saturday, July 9, 2011

• 12:00 P.M. — Almost Canadians (acoustic folk rock and blues; soft with an edge)
• 12:42 — Pyroclast (the result of individuals with chemistry creating their own intense brand of charismatic rock with a decidedly funky aftertaste)
• 1:24 — Mark Murphy Band (Paul Simon meets Sting, meets Nick Drake)
• 2:06 — Shaky Ground (rock, funk, and soul covers)
• 2:48 — Backspin (one of Maplewood’s favorites)
• 3:30 — Rock the Houses of the Holy (Rock The House’s collective Led Zep tribute band)
• 4:12 — Vibe Merchants (If Stevie and Bruce had a four-headed step child)
• 4:54 — Good Luck Mountain (Americana or Alt-Country band, but we think of it as Folk Rock; not unlike The Band but with more atmospheric treatments and guitar sounds)
• 5:36 — AUGUST ROSE presents teau (R&B, Nu-soul, Jazz, and Hip-Hop rhythms)
• 6:18 — featured artist Seth Walker (the driving delivery and infectious down-home style of Walker’s voice and songs resonate with blues and roots music)
• 7:15 — featured artist Alex Kariotis and The Rock Opera Orchestra (Combines grand arias and the emotional subject matter of operatic masters with compositional wizardry, electric guitars and vocal pyrotechnics)
• 8:30 — headliner Raul Malo ( lifetime’s journey, from the Cuban neighborhoods of Miami through years with The Mavericks to one of the most intriguing and talented artists in the Americana and World Music scenes)

MAPLEWOODSTOCK SCHEDULE: DAY 2
Sunday, July 10, 2011

• 12:00 P.M. — New Dakota (fun, eclectic mix of modern and classic rock, blues, and country)
• 12:42 — Three Citations (four-piece funky bluesy rock band)
• 1:24 — Thursday Habit (modern progressive rock; Foo Fighters meets King Crimson)
• 2:06 — Third Gear (a tasty stew of rock, blues and alt-country plus a few originals)
• 2:48 — Mophat (funky, rockin’, dance friendly, reggae, jazzy, family)
• 3:30 — Jimmy Lee Ramblers (classic country music from the 40′s through the 70′s)
• 4:12 — Ray Adkins (blues- and reggae-influenced original singer songwrtiter)
• 4:54 — featured artist Rich Pagano (Maplewoodstock adopted son; New York city drummer, singer, performer, producer, writer, and member of The Fab Faux)
• 5:54 — featured artist The Revelations (no auto tune, no samples: nothing but pure, unadulterated soul sung by a red dirt artist)
• 7:24 — headliner The Smithereens (Jersey legends, with heavy guitars and an unabashed fetish for British Invasion pop)

Maplewoodstock Vendors

• N'IKETIAH
• Jade Eagle
• Spark L Designs
• SUZQ
• Jerry Starr
• Sophisticated Stones by Sue
• Fast Track Distributors
• Maplewood Boot Camp
• WORDS
• Bath Fitter
• Vernakular Photo Designs
• Scrivener's Toys & Collectiables
• Nancy Jean Home
• Green Cow Studio
• Embellish Designs by Kim Young
• Bark Scarf
• Secret Garden Soap of Madison
• Jilybeans
• Simply Super Heroes
• Honey Love Soaps
• Arts Unbound
• Jenuine Original Jewelry
• Lisa Yannelli
• ASG Creations
• Speedy Doodle Studios/ craftworks
• Cowgirl in the Sand
• Face of Contentment Design
• Ellis Design
• A Class Collections
• Yania Creations
• Jammin Up Art
• Betsy Meyer-Donadio
• Judy Kaye
• Nectar Bags
• Yan Yan
• Blue Mountain
• YRC Jewlery Designs
• A Look in the Mirror
• Designs by Aron
• The Button Girls
• Designs for Elle
• Fuxxy Wuzzy
• Ramona's Jewels
• Ursa Minor
• The Beaded Path
• JEMS custom designs
• Jon Gabry Fine Art
• Parteaz
• Three Sisters Face Painting
• Fun for ALl Entertainment
• Crafty Katie
• South Mountain Peace Action
• The New York Times
• Investors Savings Bank
• Maplewood Karate
• Chyten Educational Service
• Kumon
• Maplewood Rotary Club
• Allan Wood Photography