Members of Three Beards Strumming are shown in concert and will headline the fourth annual Hogstock fundraiser for the Columbus Area Arts Council at Hog Molly Brewing Co. in Columbus on Saturday.
Lead guitarist Chris Newman swears it’s no big, hairy deal.
In a local band called Three Beards Strummin’, a fourth member has only a quarter face of whiskers at the moment. Heavens to hormones, is this false advertising?
“We decide that if you shave, you have to leave the band,” Newman cracked a moment before.
He laughed — and then confessed that drummer Josh Hatton has time to grow whatever he needs to perhaps properly fit in.
Who knows? By the time the group takes the stage Saturday at the fourth annual Hogstock fundraiser for the Columbus Area Arts Council at Hog Molly Brewing Co. in Columbus, Hatton could be a ZZ Top doppelganger.
The group will be joined by a seasoned brass section consisting of Mike Dorenbusch, Doug Roese, Keith Burton and Bryan Munoz.
Munoz already was in the spirit of the music fest days ago on Facebook when he posted this message about the event: “It will be fun, and you should go! Also, the more beer you drink, the better I sound!”
The event, pared down to four groups from 3 to 10 p.m. at 830 Depot St., will feature 14 or more beers available, and a variety of food, according to the event Facebook page at Hogstock 2024: A Day of Live Music and Cold Beer. The reduction in the number of acts from seven to four with longer sets was done for a basic reason of streamlining and simplicity.
“It takes quite a bit of time and work in between bands tearing down equipment and then getting everybody set back up,” Newman said.
Other local groups performing are Pokey Valley, Milligan, and Flat Earth. Three Beards Strumming is headlining and planning its usual diverse setlist: Prince, Chris Stapleton, Black Sabbath. And yes, Newman stifled a laugh when made the leap from Stapleton in the middle of a sentence.
“A lot of the people who follow us are a lot like me,” Newman said. “They don’t like only one type of music. And really, the variety makes playing much more fun for us.”
Brooke Hawkins, executive director of the Columbus Area Arts Council, loves the support of Hogstock. Last year, it raised $15,000 for the agency’s programming presented free to the public. The year before, it raised $20,000.
“We are very flattered to benefit from Hogstock,” Hawkins said. “And we are extremely appreciative of Hog Molly Brewing and Scott Wilson Insurance allowing us to be a part of it.”
Advance tickets are $20 and $25 the day of the concert.
For more information, visit the Facebook page for Hogstock 2024: A Day of Live Music and Cold Beer.
