Music: Roots festival tickets

FAYETTEVILLE —  It’s every man and music fan for himself Friday (April 20), when ticket packages go on sale for the 2012 Fayetteville Roots Festival. The third annual event is Aug. 23-26 in various locales around Fayetteville.

Notice the reference to “ticket packages” and not simply “tickets.” With a lineup that blankets all aspects of roots music and headliners like John Prine and David Grisman, more festivarians will want a weekend pass, said musician and co-founder Bryan Hembree. It is unknown whether any single performance tickets will be sold.

Last year, nearly a quarter of festivalgoers came from outside the region to attend, Hembree said.

"We’ve set the stage to put Fayetteville on the map with respect to this event,” he said.

Hembree would like for patrons to think of the pricy ticket packages as “private sponsorships.” If you break down the cost, the passes are worth every dime. The top-end Friend of the Festival four-day deal, at $249, includes three gourmet meals over the weekend, plus access to all late-night festival shows at George’s Majestic Lounge and admission to VIP parties with festival’s performers the night before and the night after the festival.

If one prefers the party atmosphere of George’s, a pass to only the late-night festival shows is $49. And there will be places one can see music for free, such the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market and the Fayetteville Public Library. For a look at options, go here.