The 2016 Lagniappe Nappie Award winner for “Best Area Music Festival,” Ten Sixty Five, will be returning to Downtown Mobile the weekend of Sept. 29. With free admission, an impressive line up, and the support of local vendors, this year is sure to be a hit for all ages.
Recently, locals and visitors alike are sure to have noticed the promotional materials, around town, sporting 1065’s mascot, the party animal. This yeti-like creature likes to jam out, and makes an appearance at the festival every year. Much like their fun-loving mascot, the festival website describes the event as a “laid back street party celebrating music, local artists and makers, and locally owned establishments in Downtown Mobile.” This year, 1065 will feature headliners, Cage the Elephant, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Judah & the Lion, Wet Willie, Muscadine Bloodline, Riley Green, Blackberry Smoke and Riverbend, along with 19 other artists. Maggie Nelson, a SHC senior, says, “I was so disappointed when I could not attend last year, but I am excited for this year’s lineup. Plus, you can’t beat the price!”
Although 1065 is technically a music festival, the Mobile Arts Council has organized visual arts stations to be set up along Dauphin Street during the event. These will include glassblowing demonstrations, a street art contest, and an arts and crafts market. To add to the weekend of arts and entertainment, Mobile Fashion Week will be going on at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center in junction with 1065. They will be hosting a block party with food trucks, and bars and restaurants will be serving beverages. Keep in mind that the festival does not allow outside food or drink, backpacks, coolers, glass containers, metal aerosol cans, carts, tents, chairs, weapons, pets (unless a service animal), roller blades, bikes, scooters or skateboards. Plan accordingly if these are items you would typically bring to a music festival.
In contrast to last year’s event, 1065 has teamed up with their sponsor, Thompson Engineering to start a festival volunteer-based Eco-Team. Those 18 years of age and older, or teens accompanied by a chaperone, may participate in the picking up of recyclable goods to reduce the amount of waste going to local landfills. If you are interested in volunteering, there is a link on the Ten Sixty Five Facebook page that will direct you to the online sign-up sheet. Another exciting aspect of this year’s event is The Road to Ten Sixty Five hosted at the Brickyard every Thursday at 10 p.m. until the festival. On these nights, local artists will play in anticipation of the festival coming the last weekend in September.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, the festival crew can be contacted by phone, at (251)442-8127, or by email at press@TenSixtyFive.com. Their website, tensixtyfive.com, and Facebook page also offer a great deal of pertinent information regarding the quickly approaching festival weekend.