Free music festival in Ephrata expected to draw thousands

EPHRATA - The 2015 Basin Summer Sounds Festival is this weekend in Ephrata, where music fans will take in performances from a host of talented bands and musicians of multiple genres.

The weekend will be headlined by Gregg Rolie, who formerly worked with Santana and Journey and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. The Gregg Rolie Band is slotted for 9 p.m. Saturday on the front lawn of the Grant County Courthouse, and will be putting a cap on the festival as the final performance of the weekend. The Gregg Rolie Band will perform versions of several Santana classics, as well as new songs.

First, the festival will kick off Friday at 5 p.m. with The Joy Mills Band, with special guest Bonnie Guitar. At 7 p.m. Friday, Austin Jenckes, of Duvall, will perform. Jenckes appeared on NBC's The Voice in 2013 and will perform with guitarist Skyler Mehal, a 2007 Ephrata High School graduate.

Rounding out the night Friday will be Chance McKinney, who will provide a blend of country and rock with influences from other genres. McKinney will be on tour with country sensations Trace Adkins and The Band Perry this summer.

The Saturday lineup features a diverse group of eight artists, starting with Larry Murante at 11:45 a.m. Murante will be followed by Big Bang Boom at 1 p.m., Gabo Gonzalez Project at 2:30, Country Lips at 4 p.m., CloverDayle at 5:30 p.m., and Seattle's DoctorfunK at 7 p.m. Then, the Gregg Rolie Band will close out the show Saturday, taking the spotlight at 9 p.m.

Spectators at the Basin Summer Sounds Festival will have more to do than take in the musical performances. The Basin Summer Sounds Car & Toys Show and Shine will be taking place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Ephrata, presented by the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce.

There will also be inflatable toys for kids from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday on C Street and First Avenue. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy food vendors and the beer garden, sponsored by Midway Beverage. The beer garden will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, and from noon to midnight Saturday.

The Rotary Club of Ephrata will also be hosting the "Rim 2 Rim" three-on-three basketball tournament on C Street and Division Northwest. Games will begin for registered teams at 8 a.m. Saturday. The tournament will feature basketball enthusiasts from third-grade through adult levels.

Event organizer Alayna Lodi said a lot of people are expected to make their way to the area for the event. She said usually 11,000 people or more are drawn to the festival. Soap Lake is also hosting their annual Run to the Sun event this weekend as well, Lodi said, so a lot of people are expected to be in the area.

"I think in the general area - in the five mile radius - I think we will have quite a few people coming through," Lodi said.

Lodi also said the car show is expected to be a larger event this year.