Belfast — On Saturday, April 27, more than 30 bands and performers will converge on the city for the fourth annual Free Range Music Festival. The event is an all-day celebration of original music that takes place across multiple venues in the downtown area. Acts represent a wide range of genres and travel from all over the region, state and country to participate.

This week only, a limited number of festival passes will be on sale for a discounted Early Bird price. Full Weekend Early Bird passes are $23 and include a kick-off party with Her Majesty’s Cabaret Friday, April 26. The Early Bird price for Saturday Only Passes is $18. Early Bird passes are be on sale through Sunday, March 10, and can only be purchased through the festival website, freerangemusicfestival.com.

“Over the years, the Free Range Music Festival has built a reputation for introducing new music and providing a platform for attendees to experiment with multiple genres,” said festival director Meg Fournier.

“This Early Bird Sale is a chance for fans of the fest and the event format to show their support early and lock their passes in at a discounted price before we begin announcing the lineup.”

Founded in 2010, the Free Range Music Festival has hosted more than 90 local, national and international acts from multiple genres in its first three festivals. Performers have included The What Cheer? Brigade, Michael Hurley, Spirit Family Reunion, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, The Jazz Mandolin Project, Grass Widow, David Wax Museum, Mary Anne Driscoll, Brown Bird, Shell Shag, Callers, Jonny Corndawg, The Toughcats, The Gawler Family Band and many more; see the website for full artists list.

Her Majesty's Cabaret is a group of Bangor-based comedians, writers, filmmakers, performers and other creative people who, for the past three years ,have brought hilarious, all-original sketch comedy, short films and multiple featured artists to venues all over Maine. Straddling the line between satire, absurdity and generalized silliness, HMC is part variety show, part alt-comedy weirdness and always entertaining. The event, which also will feature live music, will start at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.

Once the festival lineup is announced later in March, full weekend passes will be $25, and Saturday passes will be $20. If available, Saturday passes will be on sale at the festival Info Center on the day of the event for $25. Walk-up cost for the kick-off party will be $10.

For more information about the Free Range Music Festival including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit the website or send email info@freerangemusicfestival.com. The 2013 Free Range Music Festival is presented in partnership with Waterfall Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit community arts center with a global view, devoted to creating community in harmony with nature through the transformative power of the arts.

Courier Publications’ A&E Editor Dagney C. Ernest can be reached at (207) 594-4401, ext. 115 or dernest@courierpublicationsllc.com.