Mill Point Music Festival-Virginian Pilot Newspaper

Several months ago, Casey Haas drove his food truck past Mill Point Park in downtown Hampton and noticed something had changed.

"There was a brand-new stage with a nice new awning and seating," he said. "The city gave the park a nice face-lift."

Inspiration struck soon after at a bar in downtown Hampton.

"I was having a few beers with my brother and a friend, and we got to talking about putting on a music festival."

Next, Haas picked up his cellphone and called a friend who worked for the city's parks department.
"I asked her if it was something that would be hard to do, and she said no."

Before they knew it, Haas, his brother Alex, and Sean Pepe, owner of the Hampton Board Shack, had become concert promoters. On Saturday, five bands will perform on the main stage at the inaugural Mill Point Music Festival. A variety of acoustic-based acts will perform on a side stage.

"The park is gorgeous and underutilized," said Haas. "It's ready for some good cultural programs."
The Haas brothers will pull double duty at the free festival. Their food truck, labeled Stuft, will be one of four mobile eateries offering street food. Local microbrews will be on tap from Hampton's St. George Brewing Co., and local vendors will exhibit their goods.

"Downtown Hampton is really an awesome, forward-thinking community," Haas said. "It's very arts- and music-related, and this festival is a chance to bring it all together."

Saturday's lineup offers an array of musical genres. Here's an overview of the main stage performers:

Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot
With his vivid storytelling and powerful voice, Stainback has quickly made a name for himself in Hampton Roads. The Virginia Beach-based musician's first full-length CD, "Earth & Worm" is a 13-track collection of blistering blues rock and raw country soul.

Jackass Flats
Over the past few years, Jackass Flats has emerged as adept ambassadors for the evolution of Virginia bluegrass. Formed in Richmond more than a decade ago, the band initially stayed true to the traditional high lonesome sound but has since introduced alternative country and rock into the mix.
Dharma Initiative

Employing two keyboards, bass and drums, this Hampton-based band with the sly "Lost" reference brings together an exotic world beat in which trip-hop, reggae and cool jazz comfortably coexist.
The Beets Collective
This quartet, rooted in traditional reggae, infuses elements of blues and experimental rock.

Sean Petersen Experiment
A one-man band, the Chesapeake musician plays guitar while using digital sound- looping technology to create a full band sound. If you've ever wondered how the Grateful Dead would sound playing a Snoop Dogg song, then Petersen's your guy.