![New Earth Army will kick off the festivities at Triple B. [PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW EARTH ARMY]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-4ac996f0-c2a4-6184-e053-0100007fd0dc-776a8c68.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW—The Triple B festival traditionally focuses on pitmasters and barbecue, but that’s just one aspect of the annual event. Attendees can also visit vendor booths and listen to live music.
The second “B” in Triple B has traditionally stood for “bluegrass,” but 2017 has brought a branding change. The word has been replaced with “bands,” though the change wasn’t part of a larger marketing push, according to Crestview Area Chamber President Valerie Lott.
LURING MORE BANDS
“Bluegrass was just something we decided to venture away from,” Lott said. “One of the bands still has a bluegrass sound, though, so we’re not completely ditching it.”
The shift reflects that artists from other genres can participate in the festival, which is exactly what attendees will notice this year.
The Triple B will feature three bands — New Earth Army; Luke Langford and the 331 South Band; and Continuum.
New Earth Army, based in Destin, blends various musical genres into their performance, encompassing funk, jazz, blues and jam rock. Their set will kick off the Triple B, taking the stage at 10 a.m.
Langford and his band from Freeport will follow with a set beginning at about 12:30 p.m. The five-piece band is country at heart and makes it known in their high-energy set.
The event concludes with Destin-based Continuum, scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. The band is self-described as “electronic soulk,” which their Facebook page says is a blending of folk and soul genres. The group also mixes elements of indie rock and pop rock into their set list.
“There are all these festivals in the south part of the county with great bands and we wanted to lure some of that to the north end in Crestview,” Lott said.
The bands will perform under the awning at Old Spanish Trail Park thanks to equipment and parts donated from community sponsors, according to Lott.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES
Approximately 75 vendors have registered for Triple B, and Lott expects about 20 more to register this week leading up to the event.
An official vendor list has not been released but will encompass a wide range of categories including jewelry makers, craft soap designers, vehicle sales representatives, artists and much more, according to Lott.
There will also be food and beverage vendors aside from the approximately 30 barbecue competitors.
In years past, vendors split into various categories and this determined the registration fee. In an effort to streamline the process, vendors have been lumped into a single registration category and charged a $95 booth fee.
Money collected from these fees is recycled by the chamber and used for future marketing, promotions and events.
The annual event attracts about 10,000 attendees, according to Lott, who said she expects similar numbers this year.
The event will be held at Old Spanish Trail Park this year, as opposed to previous years when it was held in downtown’s Main Street district.
The chamber made this change to accommodate a higher number of barbecue vendors and their equipment needs.
WHAT: The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s 13th Annual Triple B Cookoff
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25
WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview
ONLINE: www.crestviewchamber.com/tripleb
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B brings new mix of music