Wheatstock grows to two days
By Terry Murry on Friday, January 20th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HELIX – Wheatstock, the music festival that began in 2007, is growing to a two-day event this August. It features large-scale and local Americana, folk, and country music at the Helix Rodeo Arena. The acts are booked for Aug. 18-19 and early ticket sales begin Feb. 3 for two-day event passes at a reduced rate.
Giovannie and the Hired Guns is the main event Friday. Opening for the Texas band will be Them Dirty Roses. Giovannie and the Hired Guns is a crowd-thrilling band that pushes the boundaries of rock and roll and country to craft their unique, gritty sound. Their number one hit “Ramon Ayala” marked the first time in more than 15 years that a first release reached the top spot on both the Active Rock Radio Chart and the Alternative Radio Chart. Now signed with Warner Music Nashville, their third full-length recording, “Tejano Punk Boyz,” was recently released.
Saturday’s headliner, Pecos and the Rooftops, are a group of friends from northeast Texas who came together while they were in college in Lubbock. Their latest release, “Red Eye,” came out in 2020. Also taking the stage Saturday will be Tylor and the Train Robbers, Kat Hasty, and the Lowdown Drifters.
All proceeds from Wheatstock go to Griswold High School’s (in Helix) senior class scholarships and the Camp Divide Wounded Warriors program. To date, the festival has raised nearly $50,000 for the charities.
In addition to live music, Wheatstock features food vendors, free camping, a beer garden, bouncy castles for the children, merchandise sales, and optional cabana-shaded seating. It all takes place in a grass arena inside the Helix Rodeo Grounds. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
More details will be announced as the time approaches for the early ticket sales. Those who are new to Wheatstock can check out the 2022 festival and find more information at https://www.wheatstock.org/.
