Free three-day Yardstock festival in Shickshinny, Pa., starts Friday

SHICKSHINNY, Pa. - Chris Castillo makes shows happen.

His latest kicks off at noon Friday, when Yardstock IV starts its first of three days of music, featuring 66 bands on two stages. Free parking and camping is available near the festival area.

The 24-year-old started booking music in 2009 at Phillip's Emporium in Bloomsburg, Pa., but when that went away, Castillo built a stage inside the garage at his Shickshinny home. He outgrew that and so converted his father's old work barn into a homey music venue. Then he looked to his next challenge: a free all-day festival called Yardstock that would use the field-size parcel on his family's property.

"Yardstock started out pretty small. I think we had about 20 bands the first year," Castillo said. "My brother and I built a small stage outside, with the idea of splitting the stage in two - so we could have one band play while the other band sets up. We were just winging it with the idea of throwing a fest and seeing what would become of it."

What became of it was another challenge. In one year, Yardstock grew from a one-day event with 20 bands to a two-day affair with 40; Yardstock III brought that total up to 52, and this year the count is 66. Chris Castillo said he was able to undertake the expansion with booking help from Summer Holds the Earth guitarist/vocalist Derek Jolley, No Less Records owner Bobby Hunt, and Condition Oakland guitarist/lead vocalist Tyler Troutman.

Festivalgoers will find more than music waiting for them.

"People will be selling crafts, jewelry, homemade things," Castillo said. "You'll see people playing outdoor games - one popular game that we've had in the past now has been 'giant beer pong' " - played with buckets and a soccer ball. "Last year, some people were playing giant Jenga. We've had fire spinners. There's a lot going on."

The main attraction of a music festival is music, and this year's lineup features a number of out-of-state bands such as New Jersey's Spirit Breaker and touring groups the Greatest Virtue and Knights of Malice. Local acts such as Spur, Embera, Tired Army, and Skip Monday will play, and Glen Lyon's Death Grip will film a video at the event Sunday night.

Punk band Condition Oakland has played every iteration of Yardstock and look to keep their streak going with a 10:30 p.m. performance Saturday. Guitar/lead vocalist Troutman, 28, talked about helping Castillo book the festival.

"When I was making my list of bands to put on Yardstock, I wanted to make it diverse, so I booked everything from singer/songwriter acoustic to metal-core," Troutman said. "I wanted Yardstock, from my perspective, to be very accessible to everyone, from a DIY punk-rock vet to your normal everyday person that just wants to go and experience a music festival."

Fields and festivals have a longstanding working relationship. Annual mainstays such as Bonnaroo and Firefly make their homes in otherwise nondescript parcels of land that wouldn't attract attention any other time of year except summer, when they're full of people and noise. Castillo's three-day festival offers a low-cost, local-centric option for music fans in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Camping and parking at Yardstock are both free, but bring money for food and drinks (and band merch).