Wordstock 2004

Hot bands like the JFJ Band (“Sold Me Out,” “Spiral”) and Dogmen Poets (“Birth of the Cool,” “Vampyr”), food booths from restaurants across the city, rock-climbing walls and other hip thrills … it’ll all be on the scene at Wordstock 2004, a back-to-school bash for the entire city.

Students from across San Antonio will be on hand to launch the 2004-05 school year with a city-wide bash that promises to be rockin’.

The show runs from 5-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the University of the Incarnate Word, which is sponsoring the event to support the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the San Antonio Educational Partnership, and the University of the Incarnate Word Endowed Scholarship.

The event is sponsored by Bud Light, Regal Cinemas, San Antonio’s Fox/WB, KROCK 102.7, and The San Antonio Current.

Admission is $3 for students and $5 for the general public. Children 12 and under are free.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. for hungry folks who want to dive into the offerings from dozens of food vendors, including the Blanco Café, Chinatown Café, Maui Wowi, Hawaiian Shaved Ice and other food vendors offering brisket, tacos, hamburgers and fries, funnel cake, sausage on a stick, turkey legs and more.

Beverages of all kinds, including iced beer from Bud Light, will be for sale. Other vendors will offer up energy drinks, hand-outs from local businesses, prizes and games. The event features a Kid’s Corner with games for the little ones, a rock wall for adventurous athletes and other interactive booths.

The music starts pumping at 5:30 p.m. when local band Zepher takes the stage to share their brand of melodic rock, including crowd favorites “Angel of Love” and “Jen’s Song.” They’ll be followed at 6:30 p.m. by local favorites Dogmen Poets who promise a high-energy acoustic funk-hop set that will get everyone on the floor. Voted 2003’s Best Music Newcomer by the San Antonio Current, the Dogmen Poets are a local college favorite with hits like “Slowdown,” “Pretty Lady,” and “Birth of the Cool.”

Next on the bill is Cord, an Austin-based band with a guitar edge to jam out to. Closing out the night will be the JFJ Band, led by San Antonio favorite Jerry Fuentes Jr. The JFJ Band, flying high after the success of the single “Sold Me Out” and the critically acclaimed album “The Apartment,” promises an evening of what Fuentes calls the “Americana version of Brit pop,” strong guitar riffs and cutting lyrics that echo Oasis.

“This is a chance for one big party to kick off the fall semester for San Antonio’s college kids,” said Martha Gutierrez, event coordinator. “And with the great variety of food booths, bands and other activities, it promises to be a great, affordable family night out for everyone who comes.”

For information on the event, call 210-829-6001.