NATCHEZ — Two upcoming local music festivals, both in just their third year of existence, are ambitious — aiming to make Natchez the premier music site in the state.

Music at the Mounds and Longwood Afternoon have experienced rapid growth, and organizers of both festivals have set the bar high for their events.

That sentiment is demonstrated by Longwood Afternoon’s 2017 slogan: “We aren’t Woodstock yet … but we are working on it.”

But Music at the Mounds, the first festival of the two to be put on, has the same air to it.

The two-day event will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday from noon to 7 p.m..Sunday at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

“We’re trying to bring Natchez back to the heyday when music was really big here,” local musician Brandon McCranie said.

McCranie founded the festival along with director of the Grand Village Lance Harris, who McCranie said has a little known knack for playing the bass.

Headlining is Runnin Pardners, featuring front man George Porter Jr. Porter’s other band, The Meters, were recently nominated to the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

As for the venue, McCranie said the Grand Village is perfect for hosting a music festival.

“I can’t think of a better venue for a music festival in the state,” he said. “It was built for public functions. It’s just beautiful out there.”

Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and under.

“If you’re a fan of music and family fun, you should come to Natchez you should come to our Music at the Mounds, because for the price, you’re not going to find a better way to spend your afternoon or your weekend,” McCranie said.

All of the revenue from the festival, a non-profit endeavor, will go to the Grand Village, and McCranie said hopefully they would be able to put a portion of the money into next year’s festival.

“This is not about making a profit, it’s not about our egos, it’s just about bringing good music to Natchez,” he said.

That same mindset is being put into Longwood Afternoon, which is scheduled for the following weekend.

Longwood Afternoon organizer Lou Ellen Stout said the festival started off with just less than 200 people in its first year, increased threefold in its second year and organizers hope to double that number this year.

“At least — hopefully more,” Stout said.

The one-day festival is scheduled for Nov. 4 at the historic Longwood. The gates open at 10 a.m., with the entertainment starting at 11 a.m.

The show will be headlined by local Southern rock band Bishop Gunn that has headlined the event for all three editions.

Stout said the festival will supply plenty of food and drink, including a full bar, and vendors such as the Donut Shop with their tamales and the Steampunk food truck.

Longwood Afternoon will even feature a corn hole tournament and a mini petting zoo with goats.

And one of the best parts about the festival, Stout said, is its affordability and value.

The price of entry is $25 per vehicle, meaning that will cover as many people as you can fit in the car.

“There are not too many places you can go or evens you can go to for (that price) with this much to offer … that is enjoyable to every age group,” Stout said.

Attendees of both Music at the Mounds and Longwood Afternoon are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the events.

Here are the complete lineups for both festivals.

Music at the Mounds:

• George Porter Jr. and The Runnin’ Pardners
• Alabama rock and roll band The Dexateens
• Country blues player Jimbo Mathus
• Alabama singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough
• Mississippi singer-songwriter Cary Hudson
• Bluesman Lightnin’ Malcolm
• Mississippi rockers Gunboat, featuring one of Music at the Mounds 2017’s organizers Bubba McCabe
• Mississippi blues artist Matt Willis
• Oxford group Anne Greeman & The Garbage Suns
• Brandon McCranie & The Fellers Grove Band
• New Orleans group Dave Jordan and the NIA.

Longwood Afternoon:

• Bishop Gunn
• Easily Distracted, a Vidalia duo of 13-year-old Tyler Gregg and 12-year-old Bryce McGlothin
• Adams County native Sammy Qadan
• Baton Rouge acoustic duo Clay Parker and Jodi James
• Rock n Roll group Magnolia Bayou
• Baton Rouge group The Anteeks, who play “everything from Southern rock … to today’s hits”

For more information, visit Music at the Mounds’ and Longwood Afternoon’s Facebook pages.

Stout can also be reached directly at 601-807-1595.