Music festival takes on hometown flavor

• Regatta

Daily Globe file Photo Ipso Facto performs at the 2004 Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Musical Festival. The group, which has roots in Worthington, will return to the festival stage on June 8.

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WORTHINGTON — Audience members at this year’s Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival, slated for June 8-10, might recognize a few faces on the festival stage.

Some of that recognition factor will be due to the return of performers from previous years. But the 2012 music schedule also has an emphasis on homegrown talent.

The festival’s music committee has informally adopted the theme of “Bring It On Home,” soliciting the talents of musical groups that can boast of Worthington connections in their ranks.

It all began with the booking of Ipso Facto, a reggae-funk group that previously headlined the festival in 2003 and 2004. Formed by former Worthingtonian Wain McFarlane and his siblings, Ipso Facto rose to prominence in the 1980s. The group has performed sporadically in recent years while the family members pursued their own projects and careers.

“We wanted something with a tropical feel, something other than a Top 40 band, something akin to wind, water and beach,” explained music committee member Bill Keitel about why Ipso Facto was targeted. “Ipso Facto, I believe, is the only American reggae band ever to be invited to Sunfest in Jamaica, and Wain, he’s had a fun time here. We work with very few musicians who are as excited as Wain to come here.”

Not all the original Ipso Facto members may be able to make the gig, but Keitel reported that Wain is actively recruiting other Worthington alumni to be part of the show, which will open the festival on the evening of June 8.

“We’ve allowed him some artistic license to assemble who he can for this event,” Keitel said. “I know he’s working on a horn section with some local horn players.”

Wain also put the music committee in contact with Viva Brazil, another group with a tropical flair, specializing in the rhythms of South America. Viva Brazil is on the schedule for the afternoon of June 9.

“It should be a great complement to that tropical feel that we want to achieve,” said Keitel.

The “homey” theme really came together with the recruitment of Charn, a southern rock group that features the talents of former Worthingtonian Alex Hicks.

“A couple of us in my age group were talking about different people who could play music for the festival, and somebody said, ‘You should listen to Charn,’” related committee member Haley Moore. “They’re really big in Minneapolis, have two CDS out and play a lot of gigs in Omaha and Lincoln.”

Another Worthington alumnus taking the festival stage for the first time is Brandon Berger, a 2010 WHS grad. Berger is part of The Glorious Misfortune, a St. Olaf College-based group, which is set to perform June 9.

“Their vocals and harmonies are amazing,” reported Moore. “Brandon will also sing the national anthem for the opening ceremonies on Friday night.”

Also on the festival agenda is Lehto & Wright, a festival favorite from past regattas, playing “extreme Irish folk rock,” slated to perform June 8.

Hometown harmonica wizard Noah Hoehn, who now lives and works in the Twin Cities, will be the featured performer prior to the Daily Globe’s charity Chair Auction, which takes place late Saturday afternoon. Hoehn will perform live looping, a recording process that allows him to play multiple instruments and vocalize in a one-man show.

Other local musicians will have the opportunity to get in on the act once the formal entertainment has concluded during both evenings of the Regatta.

“We will be excited to see other hometown musicians show up for the Shoreline Jam,” said Keitel, referring to the festival tradition of informal gatherings of musicians along Sailboard Beach. “There is an open invitation to the Shoreline Jam. You can expect the unexpected after 10:30 in the evening.”

For more information about the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival, go to www.worthingtonwindsurfing.com.

Daily Globe Features Editor Beth Rickers can be reached at 376-7327

Tags: news, music, festival, regatta