Work by Kilauren Gibb will be featured at Roots N' Rails on Saturday, Oct. 9

Kilauren Gibb, daughter of Canadian music icon and artist Joni Mitchell, will be the featured artist at the Station Coffee House and Gallery's inaugural Roots N' Rails art and music festival on Saturday, Oct. 9, from noon to 9 p.m.

Station co-owner Mike Tutt, who has wanted to hold an outdoor event featuring live music and art for some time at the CNR-Via Rail Station eatery, said about a dozen live acts and 20 local artists will be part of the free spectacle, which coincidentally falls on the date that the late John Lennon would have turned 70.

"I found after the fact that it was Lennon's birthday," said Tutt, who explained the timing of the event was contingent on receiving a Brant Community Foundation grant of $3,000 to help with some of the production costs and to pay the musicians.

"Several musicians have said they'll perform a tribute to the Beatles or to John Lennon. Jazz pianist Paul (Fingers) Minard, who performed at the Station last weekend, will return to perform at the festival and has agreed to lead an ensemble tribute to Lennon, which will likely be Imagine, said Tutt, a self-described avid Beatles fan. Adding to the star element of the event will be Astrid Young, who has performed at the Station as part of the Sunday Roots feature in the past and is the sister of Canadian music legend Neil Young.

"This is really an extension of our Sunday Roots performances," said Tutt.

Performers and artists will set up in the Station's breezeway. Seating will be available for about 60 or 70 people, but anyone who is attending should bring their own lawn chair to the free event, advised Tutt, who is hoping to make the festival an annual event.

As an added bonus, Gibb, whose mother Joni Mitchell was once quoted as saying "I'm a painter first and a musician second," has indicated she also will perform.

"She does music herself. There's a good chance she'll perform."