GAYS MILLS - One of the signature North Crawford County events of the summer season is coming up this week in Gays Mills.

The Stump Dodger Bash celebrates its twelfth birthday this year, and its hosts are extending a warm welcome to friends from near and far to enjoy the music and family activities.

“That first year we went and hired some bands, and we had 200 people who showed up. We still get about 100 of those first ones who show up every year,” said Jim Showen, who runs the festival with a crew of volunteers.

Today, of course, attendance is more like 5,000, but Showen likes to keep its humble roots at the fore.

“It’s not like a jumbotron in front of another jumbotron,” he said. “You can actually meet the artists firsthand, and it’s just a good family friendly event.”

This year’s lineup

The general breakdown of the event is that several bands play on each day, with a higher profile headliner and regional supporting bands.

This year, the Friday lineup includes the JayR Brink Band, Tyler Deaver, and the Cory Farly Band.

JayR Brink Band hails from Waukon and performs at many Wisconsin venues playing a wide variety of cover music.

Tyler Deaver grew up nearby in Viroqua and is now based in Nashville. Deaver’s songs blend traditional country with modern sounds, and you can hear his Wisconsin roots in songs that explore small town living.

With his bossy baritone and no-holds-barred songwriting, Cory Farley leads a hard-driving Nashville now band that doesn’t pull any punches.

Saturday: Dylan Marlowe

Saturday’s lineup kicks off with local guitar picker River Swiggum, a hardworking youth who’s putting in his time and paying his dues, and many locals will be thrilled to see his hard work acknowledged in this year’s lineup.

Smoking Gun Showdown from Prairie du Chien takes over from there with its mix of high-energy country and rock featuring two frontwomen: April Bouzek and Leigh Vorwald.

Local favorite High Mileage comes next, priding themselves on an eclectic mix of music from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, including rock, pop, and country covers.

Rob Leines brings a new approach to outlaw country to this year’s festival. He prides himself on rough and rowdy country with a traditional telecaster twang.

Headlining Saturday night is Dylan Marlowe, a promising Nashville newcomer who’s cutting a swath on the modern country scene and was recently signed to Sony Music Nashville.

Good cause

The spotlight might be on emerging musical artists, but the backstory for the Bash is all about supporting the local community, according to founder Showen.

“I like to give back to the community,” he said, explaining that the money raised through ticket sales and the event’s numerous area business sponsors is donated to the local nonprofit Wheel of Todd. The organization was started by Julie and Craig Bell, after the death of their son Todd, who had a rare form of muscular dystrophy.

The Bells created their non-profit to send disabled children to see Packers home games and defray the cost of their trip to Green Bay.

In addition, the organization gives a special nod to veterans and to children. Both groups may attend the event for free.

Bike giveaway

In a further attempt to give back to the community, the Saturday morning event kicks off with a free-admission family get together with games and goodie bags.

Children of all ages can enter to win a bicycle as part of an event the Showen’s call Allison’s Bike Giveway. The bikes are new and donated by area citizens and businesses.

Combine the music festival with, according to Showen, one of the best fireworks displays around, and a July 4 camping trip to Gays Mills is a no brainer, he said. And that’s good news for the village of about 500 people.

“I’ve lived here my whole life,” said Showen, “and I just want to see the town keep going.”