2013 Gentlemen of the Road Music Festival

2013 Gentlemen of the Road Music Festival

The city of Troy, Ohio has been transformed into a hipster paradise and the town couldn't be happier. Seconds after getting off the interstate, I saw a large handlebar mustache on the sign of a local business and I knew this was something unique. I have been to dozens of music festivals over the years, but none have ever transformed an entire city quite the way the Mumford and Sons' Gentlemen of the Road Stopover has transformed the small Midwestern city of Troy. The entire city has whole heartedly embraced the two day festival.

Walking down Main Street in Troy, you would think you were on a movie set for the latest Mumford and Sons' music video. The entire city is closed to vehicle traffic and has become one big street festival. Every shop has decorated their windows to reflect the vintage theme of the festival with a particular emphasis on handlebar mustaches. The shop windows are dressed up with mannequins in vintage clothes, mustaches and holding musical instruments. Outside one establishment was a beautiful cigar girl (not a mannequin, this was a real live girl Pinocchio) dressed to the nines and looking like she just stepped off of the set of Madmen. (I don't smoke, but if I were single, she would make me want to start). Numerous statues scattered around the town reflect on small town life in the 1950s. The statues of the men were usually dressed in suits and the women in dresses and pearl necklaces. Some businesses temporarily changed their names to better fit in to the overall theme. Many buildings had murals on them of the festival logo or banners welcoming the public to the festival. Some businesses who sell merchandise that probably wouldn't appeal to festival goers have set up tables outside selling more appropriate merchandise like mustache necklaces, bracelets and eyeglass chains (Seriously, if you are a mustache aficionado this is the place to be). In the center of the town square there are tents selling everything from giant burritos to fresh squeezed lemonade. At either end of town, there is a stage with bands playing almost nonstop. The entire city has become part of the concert and that is the beauty of the whole thing.

Mumford and Sons are one of the most successful acts in the world right now. Their album Babel was the fourth best selling album of 2012 with 1,463,000 units sold. They have been nominated for twelve Grammy awards and won two, including the 2013 album of the year award. The music business has been very good to Mumford and Sons and they have decided to give something back by sponsoring five Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers in small towns that have been hit hard by economic recession.

Troy, a city of about 25,000, was awarded one of only three stopovers in the United States after applying along with thousands of other small towns across America. The two day festival is expected to bring 40,000 people to the city and make an economic impact of over twelve million dollars. The festival is staffed by volunteers from local charities who will receive a stipend that is paid to their charity for working the festival. It really is an extraordinary event that will draw people from forty-eight states. I met some folks from Fresno, California and Minneapolis, Minnesota while walking around Troy. I asked one of the people from California why they were willing to travel so far for a concert and she told me that she had read so many comments on social media after other Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers where people said it was the best experience of their lives that she didn't want to miss out on it.

If you venture across the bridge from the town square, you will see a tent city erected along the Miami River. Many festival goers will be camping out the entire weekend just yards away from the main stage located inside Troy Memorial Stadium. The atmosphere in the campground was one of excitement and free spirited fun. Though the festival has a reputation of being a hipster event, the campground was full of people of all ages and all walks of life. I only wish I didn't live so close to Troy, because I have a feeling the campground is going to be a fun place to be at night.

Friday's musical performances start at 6:00 PM and will be headlined by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. They are best known for their single "Home" (see below for video).

Saturday's musical performances start at 1:45 PM and will be headlined by Mumford and Sons who are riding high after their Album of the Year Grammy for Babel which features the single "I Will Wait" (see below for video).

Read more: Mumford & Sons Gentleman of the Road Music Festival Photos.

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Troy Memorial Stadium

2013 Gentlemen of the Road Music Festival is taking place at Troy Memorial Stadium, which is located at 151 W Staunton Rd in Troy. Troy Memorial Stadium - A pinnacle of sports facilities in Ohio for fifty years.