Event coordinators at Boiling Pot Music Festival recently announced a majority of this year’s lineup. This year’s installment wields an Oktoberfest theme and will be held at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo on Sept. 29 – Oct. 1.

Not only do I give a big thumbs up for moving the event so that it doesn’t fall on the Fourth of July (me likes my parades and fireworks), there are several bands that I was especially happy to see on the bill. Here are six of my favorites.

MAPS & ATLASES
Being one of the headliners, this kind of goes without saying (yet I’m going to say it anyway). Kalamazoo and beyond has shown to dig this mathy group of folk rockers, flooding to their two recent shows at The Strutt. Like so many others around the country, I have become a fan just in the past year.

MUSTARD PLUG
When throwing an event in West Michigan, you simply can’t go wrong by throwing these Grand Rapids-based ska heavyweights in the mix. Their presence is also a real sign of the multiple musical dimensions the event has taken on this year, serving as more of a strictly indie rock fest last season.

CHRIS BATHGATE
Chris Bathgate’s latest album “Salt Year” stole the title of my favorite folk album of the year. He was a part of last year’s lineup, and returns with good reason.

CHARLES THE OSPREY
Quite possibly the most mind-blowing and technical band in the area. It took a while for me to actually give their live show a shot, but once I did, I was mesmerized by their performance. This duo plays quite regularly around Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, but is it really possible to see them TOO much?

THE SOIL AND THE SUN
This Grand Rapids spiritual folk act has a knack for two things — producing hauntingly beautiful music and acquiring new members. Starting as a duo, this bnd has spiraled into an all-out music collective (now eight members strong). Implementing elements like oboe, cello, accordion and piano, this is quite possibly the most fascinating band at this year’s fest.

ACKLEY KID
This isn’t your granddaddy’s music festival. I love that some hardcore punk is in the mix to truly run the musical spectrum at this year’s Boiling Pot. While West Michigan is brimming with quality punk, it’s nice to see one of Kalamazoo’s finest on the bill at a Kalamazoo event. I’ll drink to that.

Reach Brandon St. James at westmichigannoise@gmail.com.