Blues artist Willie Walker will join The Canoise Band at the Motley music festival July 24, 6 p.m. (Submitted photo) Motley’s annual Two Rivers Music Fest will take place Friday, July 23 - Sunday, July 25, at Veteran’s Park in Motley.

This free family event will feature a variety of music, a parade, talent contest, food and craft vendors, an antique car, tractor and motorcycle show; and a community church service.

People are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

Friday

The music kicks off Friday from 6 - 9 p.m. with the Schimpp Family from Staples, along with Southern born piano man Gary Timbs.

With their tight-knit harmonies, the Schimpps (Gary, Carmen and their daughters Dawn, Andrea and Heather) offer a variety of gospel and country music. They have performed throughout the United States and parts of Canada.

Gary Timbs, who is married to Dawn, hails from Dixie and has sung with a number of nationally acclaimed groups, including Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet; and country music’s Sonny James. He has been nominated for both Grammy and Dove awards.

Joined by Willie Walker, The Canoise Band will perform at the Two Rivers Music Fest Saturday, July 24, at 6 p.m. The Canoise has been performing since 1965 and was inducted into the Minnesota Rock County Hall of Fame in 2005. (Submitted photo) In addition to the music, ‘Art in the Park’ will be on

display Friday, from 4 - 9 p.m.

Saturday

Saturday morning starts with a Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast from 7 - 10:30 a.m. at the Motley Fairgrounds.

In Veteran’s Park, the craft fair opens at 9 a.m. and goes until 10 p.m. Activities for kids will be offered throughout the day. Food vendors and a beer garden will be available from noon - 10 p.m.

Gary Timbs, a transplant from the South, will bring his own style of gospel, country and blues to Motley’s Music Fest July 23, at Veteran’s Park. Timbs will be performing with The Schimpps. A parade, which will travel north along First Avenue (from Eledredge Street to Main), begins at 11 a.m.; and an antique car, tractor and motorcycle show will be held from noon - 10 p.m.

Music begins at noon with Minnesota’s own, The Unbelievable Uglies. Classic rock, country and blues describes the music of this band that first made waves in the 1960s.

Famed for their raucous, unpredictable live sets, the group quickly emerged as one of the most popular acts in the upper Midwest.

They have performed hundreds of shows since that time; and were inducted into the Rock and Country Hall of Fame in 2004.

Taking the stage at 3 p.m. will be the Wadena Whirlaways Square Dancers; followed by the Local Talent Contest. (Amateur soloists, duos and bands are encouraged to enter the competition. A single winner will receive recording time at RockHouse Productions, St. Joseph; and quality cd’s. For more information call Larry Beckner, at 218-820- 8303).

The Schimpp Family from Staples will be performing (along with Gary Timbs) a variety of gospel and country music at the Motley’s Two Rivers Music Fest July 23, 6 - 9 p.m. Throughout the afternoon on Saturday, children’s

storyteller Wendy

Baldinger will entertain ‘kids’ of all ages through

story and song. For more information about her, visit www.wigglejigglejam. com.

Closing the festival on Saturday will be The Canoise Band with blues artist Willie Walker, originally from Memphis.

The Canoise has been performing since 1965 and was inducted into the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame in 2005. Willie Walker has won the Minnesota Music Award for Best Blues Vocalist.

Singer/storyteller Wendy Baldinger will be at the Two Rivers Music Fest Saturday afternoon, July 24. Sunday

A Community Church Service, led by Pastor Jim Johnson of Motley Free Methodist Church and Pastor Greg Ciesluk of Motley United Methodist Church, begins at 10 a.m.

Food vendors and a craft fair will be on site at Veterans Park throughout the day.

Closing out the Music Fest is classic country band Kevin Lange & The Mississippi Drifters, on stage from 1 - 4 p.m. Although they are from Minnesota, this band plays all of the older Nashville classics. Think Hank Williams, Sr., Patsy Cline, early Willie Nelson.