Photos: Chris Farley
Youth musicians will play live music at Stillwater’s Chestnut Plaza on May 22.
Lumberstock is a yearly event that brings live, local music together in one space. “The goal of Lumberstock is to bring together the community and showcase the talent of today’s generation in the music scene,” says Cason Gibson, a sophomore at Stillwater Area High School (SAHS). “Youth musicians have a lot of talent that goes under the radar because, usually, you have trouble finding gigs. Young talent is not seen by the community, which is where Lumberstock is important, as we aim to bring the talent of these musicians to the attention of the community, because all the bands really work hard and have something really special.”
Cason and Gavin Ainsbury, another sophomore at SAHS, are involved with the planning for this year’s Lumberstock music festival. Both students are musicians themselves. Cason sings and plays guitar for Foön, while Gavin plays drums for Farewell, and the two also share a spot in the band 11 Minutes Late—bringing a firsthand understanding of what young artists are looking for in an event like this.
The inspiration for last year’s inaugural Lumberstock came after Cason played in his school’s Battle of the Bands. His bands were left with no near-future gigs. “We were really sad that we had nowhere to play,” Cason says. “I talked to my guitar teacher about it, and he said we should make our own gig.” With help from his family and support from the community, including Stillwater mayor Ted Kozlowski, the idea picked up steam. While the original plan to host the event at Pioneer Park’s Bandshell fell through, the setback opened another door. “[Parks superintendent] Chad Rogness stepped in and offered to find a stage through Lift Bridge Brewery and gave the option of playing downtown,” Cason says.
What started as a small idea has turned into something bigger. “We have a multi-page plan covering planning, programming, marketing, operations, funding and more, and it’s kind of insane,” Gavin says. “Because this is only our second year, I’m planning but also doing everything from video recap production to fundraising, social media management to outreach, and so much more. Lumberstock is the festival, but it’s also a charity, and creating and managing a charity has a learning curve.”
This year’s festival will feature more bands, longer set times and sponsors to help support the festival fees. “I can’t wait to see more bands, and for me, playing for a huge crowd is awesome,” Gavin says.
For both Cason and Gavin, this festival means more than just one night of music. “Events like this are very important for young musicians because they’re a way to show off their talent and creativity, whether that be performing a danceable cover song or introducing their own original material to a bigger audience,” Cason says. “Overall, it’s great for young bands and musicians to gain traction, get new fans and start a following.” Gavin echoes this sentiment, “This festival is to showcase young talent for people who love to perform live music and for people who choose to spend their Friday night loving it too!”
Lumberstock will take place at Chestnut Plaza near the historic lift bridge in Stillwater from 5–10 p.m. on May 22—the last day of school at SAHS. Attendees can expect a variety of music while enjoying the downtown atmosphere, with nearby spots like Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop offering students free ice cream to celebrate the day.
Lumberstock
Instagram: @lumberstockmusicfest
