Rick Crogan and Michele Altman are leading a group of volunteers to put on the 2nd Annual Main Street Music and Art Festival, to be held on June 23 and 24, the weekend of the Niagara Homecoming. 
The festival, which debuted last year, will feature 28 bands and a variety of offerings from food vendors and the work of dozens of local artisans. Niagara Hub, a local news and film internet site, will be covering the event.
"This area just seems to breed great musicians," Mr. Crogan said. "It's like they take the struggles that we face here and marry them to our blue collar roots and create something that is unique just to us. It's just great music being performed by great bands." 

This photo from last year's Main Street Music and Art Festival proves that people can put on events without taxpayer subsidies and attract people.

This year's festival headline act is The Peter Novelli Band from New Orleans . The band plays a sound that has been described as an “original blend of swampy, funky rhythm and blues with zydeco-cajun influences.”  
"Novelli's guitar work, recalls Louisiana 's native son Sonny Landreth," wrote Gary Weeks of Blues Blast Magazine. "If you are unable to make it to this year's Mardi Gras or Jazz-Fest, pay it no mind. This music will transport you there with the intoxicating effect of losing yourself in the French Quarter." 
A few years ago, after the Positively Main Street festival folded, the present organizers decided to develop the current festival. Band assembler, Mark Novelli, who is unrelated to Peter Novelli, agreed to recruit numerous area bands to perform at the festival.
"Mark creates the line-up and the rest of us just shake our heads at the bands he is able to pull in," said Mr. Crogan. "The Junk Yard Dogs, High Horse, The Frank Grizanti Band, The Furies, Marie Antoinette, Whiskey Reverb, Amber Lee and more, all playing the same stage - are you kidding me?"
The 2012 festival will feature the advent of a side stage meant to promote up-and-coming bands. Becky Chappell-Marchetti is the driving force behind the side stage acts.
"The side stage project is meant to let new and up-coming musical artists showcase their talents and gain exposure on the local music scene," Ms. Chappell-Marchetti said, "I have sought out exceptional musicians and when they go on to great things, people can say, 'I saw them when ...'"
The festival organizers, with this year's mix of local music, art and food, hope that larger crowds will be drawn to Main Street than have been seen in decades.
"Last year we learned a lot and this year that knowledge is going to make the festival something not to be missed," Mr. Crogan said. "Five or six years down the road this will be an Elmwood-like event, with crowds that rival the Allentown Art Festival. The two-days will probably be three days and (artists and musicians) will be clamoring to get in."
Some of the acts that will play at the festival will perform lead-in events. One of these concerts is on June 7th at the Wine on Third and features the band, Under the Skylight. Last month, the band Scarlet Embrace performed at the event's kick-off party at the Orchard Grill on Main Street . 
A full lineup of musical acts is set for both days. There are still opportunities for artists, vendors and sponsors. Interested parties can visit: www.womadistrict.com to learn more.