CEDAR CITY – The Summer Jam Music Festival will take place June 26-27 in the Main Street Park, featuring diverse bands all from Southern Utah from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. both days.

Mason Cottam, one of the organizers, said with no other music festival this summer, and a great open weekend at the Main Street Park, they saw an opportunity for locals to get together and do something.

This will be the first time there will be a large event bringing this many Southern Utah bands together, he said.

David Pangan, another organizer, said they hope to increase awareness of local bands, bring the community together at a family-friendly music event.

Cottam said a lot of the bands are not well-known throughout the community, and there are even a few high school bands who are thrilled at the chance to play in front of a real crowd.

It will be a great opportunity for residents to see what kind of talent is available locally, Pangan said.

“It’s a great way for the bands to get their names out,” he said.

Cottam said the festival committee voted on what bands would be able to play, and tried to schedule a large variety of music throughout each day.

Pangan said diversity was one of the most important factors in selection.

“We’ve got a little something for everybody,” he said.

Each set is about an hour, including setup, so if someone doesn’t like a group, they won’t have too long to wait before another group comes on, Cottam said.

Pangan said the short sets also encourage the musicians to play only their best songs, and do fewer covers.

The Muddy Boots Band performs country music, Wood, Skin & Steel offers Swedish, African and American folk tunes, family band Skin & Bones provides a taste of mid-1800s banjo music, Cellomania USA features 12 cellists, and Neil Bradley Owen, of St. George, has won the Solo Acoustic Blues competition at the annual Telluride Blues Festival.

Other performers will include the Western Bone Cleavers, Bottled Monkey,Loose Connections, Slim Skinny, the Karyn Wittemore Band, Bilagaana, Efficiency, Reborn, Halfway Home, Mad Outlet, Crippled Stripper, The Offering, Mason’s Jar of Jam, Dave Durfee’s Bi-Polar Expedition, Jared Johnson and the Jackpines, Steven Swift, Jacqui Sheilds, Apollo’s Army and more.

Vendor spaces are still available, and Pangan said the rates are very reasonable. There is also space available for non-profit groups. Vendor applications are available at Whittlesticks, 535 S. Main St., Suite 5.