Mammoth VillageFest turns ten
The tenth anniversary of VillageFest, California’s Highest Rib Cook-off, begins Friday, July 26 at the Village at Mammoth.
The event kicks it off right with a chili cook-off at 4 p.m., live music from Stratusfunk, Joel Scott band, and DW3. The contest winner will be announced at 6:45 p.m.
Saturday are the chicken and rib cook-offs beginning at noon. Multiple buisnesses from around town will cook up some of the tastiest ribs and chicken. Enjoy your tastings while listening to the sounds of bands such as Fiddlin’ Pete, Diamond Hitch, Ian Newbill, and The Just Dave Band. There will be a line dance instructor giving lessons to help you work off that lunch.
In addition, there will be KidsFest from noon-8 p.m., with face-painting , games and a DJ located between Smokeyard and Starbucks.
The chicken cook-off winner will be annouced at 4 p.m. and the winner of the rib cook-off will be crowned champion at 6 p.m.
Sunday, beginning at 4 p.m. is the “Crawdad Boil.” This is a non-judged event for the public to taste a varity of southern foods including Crawdads, jambalaya, and other sides and dishes. Music on Sunday includes StreetHeart and headliners, Pink Froyd.
New this year is the V.I.P. “Clubfest,” which will be held on the gondola platform above the event. Enjoy snacks provided by Bleu with bar and lounge seating. V.I.P. members will recieve a t-shirt and a ballot for the People’s Choice Award. There will be a Margrita Bar co-sponsered by Gomez’s Restaurant. There will also be a beer and wine garden. A portion of the proceeds will go to Mono Council for the Arts.
For more info, visit www.mammothvillagefest.com, or just head up to the Village this weekend and check it out.
Mammoth natives return for Villagefest
Text courtesy Susan Morning
Former Mammoth residents Travis and Derrick Kuppens, who have been living and playing music in Nashville, Tennessee are bringing their band Diamond Hitch home to Mammoth for this weekend’s Villegefest. The “Kuppens twins” whose parents are Debbie and Ron Kuppens, grew up in Mammoth and attended Mammoth High School where they were on the football team, the ski team and band. After graduating in 2004 they went off to college, but returned home in the summer to work at Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit where they joined up with Rex Hayes a friend that they had met during college. The three decided to follow their dream, and at the end of summer packed up and headed to Nashville. It was in Nashville that they formed the band Diamond Hitch and have been playing as such for the past three years. The group signed with Divided Sky Entertainment, LLC and McNay Music Group, Nashville and have played in West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Tennessee.
Band members include Travis who plays drums, Derrick electric guitar and sings harmony vocals; as well as Hayes on bass guitar; Preston Taylor on acoustic guitar and lead vocals; Braxton Calhoun on acoustic guitar and lead vocals; and Mark Stults on electric guitar and harmony vocals.
Derrick noted that their band has been seen on the national TV network The Bravo Network on Tabitha Takes Over and added, “Lots of awesome things coming up for Diamond Hitch within the next year including a new EP record we can’t wait for everyone to hear!”
Diamond Hitch is scheduled to play at Lakanuki on Friday, July 26 at 9 p.m. and Villagefest on Saturday, July 27 at 3:30 p.m.
After Mammoth they will be playing at the Full Moon Saloon on Saturday night during the country music festival, Night in the Country, in Yerington, Nev. Diamond Hitch can be followed on Facebook and Twitter, for more information on the band go to www.diamondhitchmusic.com.
Submitted photo
