The Big Event: The first Leilapalooza in Battle Creek

What organizers believe to be the biggest live music event in Battle Creek’s history, featuring 30 musical acts, happens from 11 am. to 10 pm, July 30 on the grounds of Leila Arboretum.

Brass and woodwind concert bands, folk, rock, punk, country, bluegrass, blues and more musicians from all over Michigan and a few neighboring states will appear in a rotating basis on two main stages and a third in a 120-foot-long beer tent.

The music begins at 11 a.m. with the Cereal City Concert Band and continues into the evening with bands like Gun Ship Radio, Lucid Lion, 8 Foot Grimiss, and Tobawah.

The Leila Arboretum Children’s Garden will be open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

“Our love of music, that’s what motivated us to get this up and running,” says Paul Jones, event organizer.

The idea for the free event grew at a meeting of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Area Mustache Society in the fall of 2009. Brett Myers of the Leila Arboretum Society and JJ Ramon got the event rolling.

The name “Leilapalooza” was chosen from a list of a dozen or so that were submitted and voted upon by friends and supporters. It’s named for the sprawling community garden, Leila Arboretum.

The one-day event was made possible with a grant from the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the Calhoun County Visitor Bureau and local vendors and sponsors.

For a complete list of band line-up and information about parking and the beer tent please visit Leilapalooza’s Facebook page. Proceeds for this event will go to Kingman Museum, Inc. and the Leila Arboretum Society.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: JJ Ramon, Leila Arboretum Music Festival