ST. LOUIS — There's a new music festival coming to the St. Louis area this summer.
Contemporary Presentation and The Just Listen Company announced Monday morning the Evolution Festival will kick off in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood this August.
According to a media release, Forest Park, the City of St. Louis, Forest Park Forever and these two co-executive producers of the festival will host “the immersive, two-day Evolution Festival in Forest Park at Langenberg Field and The Boathouse, conveniently located between The Muny and The Dwight Davis Tennis Center.”
Forest Park Forever is a non-profit conservancy that works to restore, maintain, and sustain one of “America’s great urban public parks.”
“With the tagline of ‘This is our town. This is our time. This is our Evolution!’ the festival will offer guests an elevated festival experience that will unfold in an unforgettable weekend with the best in live music, a spotlight on bourbon and unique barbeque creations,” according to the release.
The full lineup spotlights:
- 2023 Grammy-award winner Brandi Carlile
- 2023 Grammy-award nominee The Black Keys
- The Black Crowes
- Brittany Howard
- Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
- Ice Cube
- Morgan Wade
- Cautious Clay
- Michigander
- Modern English
- Nikki Lane
- The Sugarhill Gang
- The Nude Party
- Smidley
- Carriers
- The Knuckles
- Yard Eagles
- Punk Landy Apple
Food will be offered from local barbeque favorites such as Sugar Fire Smoke House, Pappy’s SmokeHouse, Beast Craft BBQ, Gobble Stop SmokeHouse, Heavy Smoke BBQ and Treaux’s Cajun BBQ.
Drinks will also be available from local bourbon brands such as Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Daviess County, Blood Oath, Yellowstone and Withered Oak.
Contemporary Presentations is the sister company of St. Louis-based Contemporary Productions owned by Steve Schankman. The Just Listen Company is a boutique, live entertainment management and consulting firm led by Joe Litvag.
"We're trying to create something that will eventually be woven into the fabric of St. Louis. Something the entire city and metro-area can be proud of for a long time to come," Litvag said.
According to a media release, Schankman and Litvag came together to create a modern event to celebrate the soul of St. Louis in a “forward-thinking way.”
“St. Louis is home. My partner Joe and I are both born and raised here, and we’ve both always worked hard to create unforgettable live entertainment experiences here for our hometown community,” Schankman said. “We both agreed that there is something missing here, an event that will welcome everyone from our great city to come together to celebrate our diversity, inclusion and to offer a renewed focus on our musical culture and the arts.”
Schankman said it's important every part of the event is 'inclusive.'
"Diversity is one of the key pillars of what we're doing. Bringing in not only the music of all types, but people of all types," he said.
The goal was to have a little something for everyone in the music lineup, according to Litvag.
"We really tried to narrow down who we think would be a fit for year one because that's what's important is year one is when we are creating the brand," he said.
It's a brand, that Schankman believes, could live on.
"This is not a one-year festival. We hope this goes on for years to come," he said.
Schankman added that it's not only about who is playing on stage, but it's also about the bourbon and barbeque people can enjoy on the side.
"This is not a concert for two days. Many acts will play. This is an experience. Food and beverage and friends and an experience no one has had in a long time in St. Louis," he said.
An experience, that according to Schankman, will only elevate the city more.
"The economic impact of this thing will be millions and millions of dollars," he said.
While the work is just getting started, the hometown duo is ready to put St. Louis on the map.
"It's something that we feel that Steve and I feel, St. Louis really needs and it's exciting that we are doing it here, where we live and where we work," Litvag said.
"This is the people’s festival. We’re putting it on, but we are putting it on for the public and I just hope that people realize that it’s our town, it’s our time and it really is our evolution," Schankman said.
Lesley Hoffarth, president and executive director of Forest Park Forever, said a portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to Forest Park Forever.
Also, the festival will also work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through its Music Gives campaign to raise money and bring awareness to childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, according to the release.
Tickets go on sale Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. and pre-sale tickets will be available on Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
Weekend general admission ticket prices start at $99.50 plus ticket fees, according to the release. The festival will also feature three levels of Weekend VIP ticket experiences starting at $199.50 plus ticket fees.
The festival line-up will take the stage over a two-day period on Saturday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug. 27 at Forest Park located at 5595 Grand Drive.
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