The Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce released the names of the songwriters and artists that are to play at the Highway 80 Songwriter’s Festival, which will be held Saturday, July 6 from 6-10 p.m. at the Demopolis downtown square.

The names of the songwriters and artists are: Bedhed & Blondy, Steven Padilla, Steve Wilkerson, Amy Lott, Richelle Putnam, Debbie Bond and Rick Asherton, Joey Etheridge, Old Southwest, Britt Gully, Jill Tutt and Byron Fry, Frank Fields and Mike Rogers, Alan Hartzell, James Edwards, John Paul Dove, Blaine Duncan, Terry Cherry and Bee Peterson and Jeremy Dixon.

The artists are songwriters from both near and far. They will play a variety of genres such as country, folk, Southern rock in the style of “songwriters in the round,” where the songwriters discuss the stories behind their songs in groups of four or more.

There will be two stages set up where the songwriters and artists play. The main stage will be set up in the Demopolis Public Square while the secondary stage will be at the Rosenbush Parking lot behind The Mustard Seed.

“The artists will be playing simultaneously at both stages,” Demopolis Mayor Mike Grayson said. “However, you will be able to hear all acts if you choose to stay at one stage. Yet, if you find that you are interested in a particular artist you can follow them to the next stage they perform on.”

In addition to listening to the songwriters, the Highway 80 Songwriter’s Festival will include food and drink vendors, booths, children’s bouncy house, face painting, a children’s train ride and family fun activities that will be spread out throughout the downtown square.

“Just by the response and feedback that we are getting already, we feel that this event will bring in many people,” Grayson said. “This event is an opportunity to showcase our town to those who have not been to Demopolis before.”