This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 23, 2011 - Taste of St. Louis has become a fixture on the early fall festival scene - and there are plenty of reasons for people to come to Soldiers Memorial and find out why that's happened.
Start with the food booths, featuring 45 participating restaurants. There's plenty to choose from, but I'm already salivating for the pork osso buco with caramelized onions, saffron rice and marsala sauce from LoRusso's Cucina. But you've got to leave room for baby back ribs from Pappy's ... shrimp and Andouille sausage mac and cheese from McCormick & Schmick's ... fish tacos from Tortillaria ... and of course, all the goodies from Hank's Cheesecakes.
And you can do more than sample the food at Taste of St. Louis from Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday. The Culinary Stage activities include a Battle Royale between top chefs, wine tasting and art viewing are available and, so too, is a Kid's Kitchen area.
But make sure you break away from the food and other culinary activities every now and then to check out the music at this year's Taste St. Louis. It promises to be a very interesting and eclectic lineup of bands that mixes top local talent with up-and-coming national acts - and wraps up Sunday with an appearance by the English Beat.
2011 Music Schedule
FRIDAY, SEPT. 23
6 p.m. - Steven Woolley Band
8 p.m. - Oil Boom
9:30 p.m. - Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
Saturday, Sept.24
11 a.m. - Fat Pocket
1 p.m. - Battle for the Taste Stage
2:30 p.m. - Patrick Clark Band
4 p.m. - Superjam
5:45 p.m. - Doko Benjo
7:30 p.m. - Civil Twilight
9:30 p.m. - Fitz & the Tantrums (pictured above)
Sunday, Sept. 25
11:30 a.m. - Hip Grease
1 p.m. - Jake Austin & the City Limits
3 p.m. - The Paperclips
4:30 p.m. - Murder City Players
6:30 p.m. - The English Beat (Wakeling pictured above)
It's a lineup that Mike Kociela of Entertainment St. Louis, the production company that created Taste of St. Louis, is especially proud of pulling together.
"The music lineup on the Peabody Opera House Outdoor Main Stage is the best we have ever had," says Kociela during a break between final prep work for the event. "We have some of the hottest acts in the country - including Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights on Friday, Fitz and the Tantrums on Saturday and The English Beat on Sunday.
"Throughout the rest of the weekend, we're featuring some of the best bands in St. Louis, such as Fat Pocket, Hip Grease and Superjam. And just like admission to Taste, all the concerts are free, and all ages are welcome."
As Kociela says, the main stage will be on Market Street in front of the Peabody Opera House. And tours of the grand old building will be held Friday from 5-9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Visit www.peabodyoperahouse.com for more information.
But the fun draw to the opera house this weekend is the music. And here's some quick info - in chronological order - on bands that will hopefully help you find the right music for your own musical tastes and whatever you're munching on at the time.
Friday opens with area guitarist/vocalist Steven Woolley and his band. Woolley recently opened for Barenaked Ladies at Live on the Levee. Definitely an eclectic sound mixing a lot of genres. Next up is Oil Boom, a rootsy, indy-rock trio from Dallas that features St. Louis drummer Dugan Connors.
Headlining Friday is Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights. Another Texas band that's signed to Atlantic records and touring nationally. Influences like the Black Crowes and Guns 'n Roses are apparent in a rockin' live show.
Saturday begins with the inspired funk of Fat Pocket, which is especially recommended if you can get there early.
And yes, Patrick Clark is the same guy who hosted HGTV's "offbeat America" and is a reporter on KPLR.
If you're a fan of '80s rock, definitely don't miss Superjam, made up of musicians from other St. Louis bands that have a great time rocking out the hits from that decade.
Doko Benjo is a Chicago-area group with a three-piece horn section that blends rock and funk.
Civil Twilight is originally from South Africa, and the trio is into alt-rock.
Headliners Fitz and the Tantrums are an L.A. group that goes retro into Motown and Stax-inspired sounds on three solid CDs.
Sunday again has a strong lineup of St. Louis acts featuring the soul/jazz/funk of Hip Grease, followed by the red hot alt-country rock and horns of Jake Austin & The City Limits.
The Paperclips are a Kansas City band that retains a roots music feel but can also rock like classic '60s British rock. Don't miss this band!
And Murder City Players have been bringing feel-good reggae to St. Louis for a lot of years.
The English Beat broke up in 1983 after releasing a string of hit singles such as "Tears of a Clown" and "Mirror in the Bathroom." The American-based version of the band - led by original member Dave Wakeling - reformed in 2009, and that's the band that closes out Taste on Sunday.
Terry Perkins is a free lance writer who often covers music.