Tom Principato Kicks Off Main Street Music Festival

Guitar legend Tom Principato kicked off the Main Street Music Festival Thursday night filling the Kentlands’ Main Street Pavilion with children and adults from all over the area.

Despite a small rain delay that stopped Principato just one song into his set, a crowd of about 100 people still came out for the first night of the festival.

“I was running late so it all worked out,” said Scott Miller, who drove from Laurel with a friend just to see the Tom Principato Band. Like many in the crowd, Miller goes to many of the band’s local shows.

“He’s just contagious,” said Jeanne Fletcher who brought her friend Gail Nouri to see Principato play. Fletcher drove over an hour from her home in New Windsor for the show.

Festival coordinator Joe Pritchard started the summer festival last year to showcase an eclectic mix of regional bands that normally don’t play in Gaithersburg.

“The Kentlands is such an arts and music friendly neighborhood,” Pritchard said.

“The best part of summer is the free music,” said Wendy Aaronson who danced for most of Principato’s set. “We’re lucky to have such great local talent.”

Singer/songwriter Mary Lankford accompanied by Phil Adams on keyboard opened for the Tom Principato Band, which featured Steve Wolf on bass, Joe Wells on drums, Josh Howell on Latin percussion, and Tom Principato on guitar and vocals.

The Main Street Music Festival starts at 6 p.m. every Thursday until Aug. 4 at the Main Street Pavilion in the Kentlands.