Anderson to host Woofstock music festival Aug. 23

The City of Anderson and Another Chance Animal Rescue are teaming-up for a music festival after the Mosquito Serenade concert series comes to a close.

The festival, Woofstock, will feature six bands on Saturday, Aug, 23, at the Gaia Hotel Amphitheatre in Anderson River Park, 2800 Rupert Rd. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

Monte Montgomery, of Austin, Texas, will headline the festival. His guitar stylings have landed him on the covers of various guitar magazines.

“It’ll be a tremendous show. He’s quite the songwriter and performer.” said Ken Hartman, Director of Anderson Department of Parks and Recreation. “He’s never played in northern California.” 

Hartman said he selected musicians to show off the variety in American music, be it rock, folk, cajun, and blues. He settled on three local bands and three “out-of-towners.” The line-up includes cajun zydeco band Gator Beat from Sonoma, blues and swing band Rube and the Rhythm Rockers from Chico, guitarist Bruno Grossi from Mt. Shasta, Shasta Blues Revue, and rhythm and blues band The Potentials from Redding.

The all-day event will involve several food vendors, including Anderson Kiwanis, Rotary, and FFA. Tickets cost $15.

Hartman was sold on Woofstock when he heard the name, according to founder of Another Chance Animal Rescue (ACAR) Sandy Shelby, the mastermind behind that moniker as well as the organization’s other popular fundraiser, playfully named Fur Ball.

“I initially wanted to rent the park but was thrilled when Ken wanted to partner with us on it,” Shelby said.

“It’s a great way to finish the summer music season,” Hartman said. “Every year someone asks about (Mosquito Serenade) going longer.”

Only 2,000 tickets will be sold for the festival, which, if sold, would leave the park less populated than some of Mosquito Serenade’s bigger concerts. The city is paying for the musicians and sound. Once the cost of the festival is paid, Hartman said that 70 percent of the profit goes to ACAR, and 30 percent goes to City of Anderson.

“It’s the intent of (Dept. of Parks and Recreation) and the city to build and improve upon community events that give Anderson a good reputation,” Hartman said.

Another Chance Animal Rescue, 9384 Ste. C Deschutes Rd. in Palo Cedro, is a no-kill animal shelter that operates by using foster homes for its animals since August 2005. The organization has set its sights to raising money to buy land to build a no-kill animal sanctuary for pets in Shasta County, Shelby said.

Shelby said she has 20 years of experience working for animal welfare, including a no-kill sanctuary in San Diego.

ACAR recently rescued 17 Chihuahuas from a puppy mill as well as several starving dogs in Igo which Shelby.

The organization alsow rescued 21 pet rabbits and a pot bellied pig during an evacuation from the Shasta lightening fire.

For tickets to Woofstock, call 547-7387.