Ludington Octoberfest announces headline band.

LUDINGTON  – The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will be the headline band at the 2015 Octoberfest Music & Craft Beer Festival Presented by Bell’s on Saturday, October 10.

The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band is described to be strong on authenticity, playing music that blends blues, ragtime, folk, country and other traditional styles with the sleek modern energy of do-it-yourself, homespun, punk fueled rock. And performing tunes plucked from the group’s lives, their community or from the canonical songbook that fed The Rev. Peyton’s formative creative identity. It’s a mix that’s allowed the band to win fans from all corners of the Americana and rock worlds, and bring a new generation to blues and other forms of American roots music.

Tickets are on sale now at www.DowntownLudington.org or at The Mitten Bar. General admission tickets are $25 and include two drink tokens. VIP tickets are $40 (online only) and include the VIP tasting event, a glass Bell’s stein and two drink tokens. Additional tokens are available for purchase at the festival.

The event starts Friday at 7 p.m. for VIP ticket holders with a Bell’s Beer School event. Bell’s representatives will talk about how the beer was made while glasses of free samples are handed out. After the Beer School presentation ends, Jason Hargreaves will take the stage and beer will be available for purchase.

Saturday kicks off with a free Chili Walk from noon until 3:00 p.m. at various locations Downtown Ludington. Maps will be available at the James Street Plaza, at each location and online at www.DowntownLudington.org and Facebook.com/DowntownLudington. Participants can vote for their favorite chili by returning the voting slip to the box at James Street Plaza. Watch the website for a list of participating businesses prior to the event. Thanks to Ludington Area Center for the Arts and the Ludington Area Jaycees there will be free family friendly activities from noon to 3 p.m. in the James Street Plaza. Activities include pumpkin decorating, craft projects, a hay maze and free cider and donuts thanks to Indian Summer Coop and Wesco.

The Music and Beer Festival gates open at 3 p.m. on Saturday near the Community Garden. The entry will be in the alley off Rath Avenue between Ludington Avenue and Loomis Street. Local favorites Awesome Distraction are first to take the stage followed by K Jones & The Benzie Playboys, Afro Zuma, Levi Britton and headliner The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Along with the rocking stage lineup, you’ll find Bell’s beer on draft and The Q Smokehouse, Lakeside Wiener Wagon and Pork-n-Stein serving up hot food including BBQ, hot dogs, brats and smoked pizza.

“We’re really excited about the lineups this year, both on tap and on stage,” said Jen Tooman, Downtown Ludington Marketing and Communications Manager, “You can’t go wrong with Bell’s beer and a high energy headliner. It’s going to be a blast!”