Deep Roots is back in '22
Sep. 26—After two years met with unsuccessful hoping and finger-crossing, the Deep Roots Festival is set to return for its 19th edition next month.
The Covid-19 pandemic played spoiler in 2020 and '21, but all signs point to a full-on festival in the streets of downtown Milledgeville on Saturday, Oct. 22.
"Everyone involved is very excited," Deep Roots co-founder Jimmy Holder said. "There were a lot of ideas developed over the past two years and it feels good to finally be able to implement them."
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The Union-Recorder Locals Only Stage Lineup
10:00 — 10:45 a.m.Caitlyn Carroll
11:00 — 11:45 a.m. Ricky Ruckus
12:30 — 1:15 p.m. Logan Crosby
1:45 — 2:30 p.m. Local Folk
2:40 — 3:30 p.m. Performances by The Vibe and Lake Country Gymnastics
3:45 — 4:30 p.m. High Speed Dreams
5:15 — 6:00 p.m. The Woofs
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Chief among those ideas is a new admission policy. Entry into the festival is free, which means attendees will pay nothing to browse the artist market, see the open car show, watch acts and performances on The Union-Recorder Locals Only Stage, and more.
"The free entry decision came from a few different factors, but we hope it offers more accessibility to the community," said Holder.
Charges do kick in for two key attractions — the main concert stage and KidZone. Families can get into the KidZone area for free, but unlimited passes must be purchased to enjoy the large collection of inflatables, rock climbing walls, velcro walls, and zip lines. Those passes are $10 for kids 6 and under and $15 for kids 7 and up. They can be purchased the day of the festival, and will be valid all day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year the KidZone will be situated in the parking lot between Milledgeville City Hall and the Mary Vinson Memorial Library.
The main concert stage featuring touring acts that have performed around the world will remain in its traditional space, the parking lot beside the post office. Concert tickets are $30 and are available exclusively online at deeprootsfestival.com right now.
Headlining the main stage this year is Shreveport, La. native Willie Jones, whose unique sound blends hip hop and country. He's played multiple large music festivals, appeared on both Jimmy Kimmel's and Jimmy Fallon's late night talk shows, and been featured in Rolling Stone magazine as well as on "Good Morning America." Also playing the main stage is North Carolina-based group, The Collection. The seven-piece boasts an eclectic sound and millions of streams on Spotify. Adding a little local flavor is Champagne Lane. The Atlanta duo of Jackson Welch and Jake Rogers pull sounds and influences from multiple decades in creating their music. Welch and Rogers met while they were students at Georgia College & State University. They won the college's battle of the bands in 2019 and have since recorded a live album at Athens' Georgia Theatre. Deep Roots will be the Champagne Lane's first time back in Milledgeville since graduating, so it will be something of a homecoming for them.
"Keeping with the tradition, the concert stage headliners are chosen by their current trajectory," Holder said. "These are bands that in a couple years' time will be selling out their own tours and playing major slots in the international festival circuit. The concert stage is all about the energy and atmosphere. This year will be a party you don't want to miss."
All concert stage tickets are general admission. Once purchased, they will be available for pickup beginning Monday, Oct. 10 at the Milledgeville Main Street office located at 105 E. Hancock St. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are only 3,000 concert stage tickets available, so festival organizers encourage everyone to buy early.
The admission policy is not the only thing that's new to Deep Roots in '22. What was formerly known as the community stage has been changed to the "Locals Only Stage" in an effort to spotlight the local music scene. Artists from this area will play the free-access stage throughout the day beginning at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. when the main concert stage action kicks up.
As in years past, food trucks will be out offering meals to hungry customers. Adding to the festival smells for the first time is a steak cook-off, which replaces the BBQ cook-off. The steak competition is a one-day event, whereas the BBQ one was three days, making it easier to enter. Links to register can be found online through deeprootsfestival.com, and the entry fee starts at $150. Steaks are provided by the festival, so contestants need only bring a grill and a great recipe. $2900 in cash prizes will be up for grabs, the biggest being $1,000 for best steak. The competition also includes best dessert and best margarita categories, though those entry fees are a separate $25. This is a sanctioned event through the Steak Cookoff Association. Rules and more information can be found through the Deep Roots website.
Pre-pandemic, Deep Roots averaged attendance between 16,000 and 18,000 people, according to Holder. He and other organizers are hoping to at least be in that neighborhood again following the two-year hiatus.
"I think there are a lot of people who are ready to celebrate Milledgeville and enjoy the outdoor fall festival offerings," Holder said. "We have heard from many of our vendors from previous years and they have all said sales and attendance at other events have been at all-time highs. So, hopefully we can pick up where we left off."
