MT. VERNON - Later this month, they will come from all-around Southern Illinois and the mid-west, converging on a King City farm to hear some of the best musical acts around.

But, that's where the similarity with Woodstock ends.

Wolfstock, the first of what will be an annual event, is dedicating the first year of it's existence to the late Bob Trout, a long-time friend of many, who was known as the "wolf-man."

In 1969, Woodstock drew upwards of 750,000 people to Max Yasgur's farm in up-state New York.

By comparison, Wolfstock is expected draw hundreds for the two-day event, that begins on Friday, August 22 from 7 p.m. till midnight. On Saturday, the music will begin at 1 p.m., lasting until midnight once again.

Among the acts scheduled to appear are Gary and Roberta Gordon appearing as "The Gordon's", from Sparta, playing bluegrass music. Gordon is also a guitarist and lead vocalist for another local band, "Farm".

Another Farm alumnus who will be appearing is guitarist Del Herbert, who will be performing with Scotty "Freezeman" Qualk as the "Eveready Brothers."

John Scrivner's band, "The Crave" will also be performing, as will "The Answer." Both are scheduled for Saturday evening.

For the twenty-something, younger crowd, "Jackhead" and "Higher Guns" will both play on Friday night, while "Total Head Control", "Little White Fish" and "Live Bait" are scheduled for Saturday.

Entrance to Wolfstock, the Summer Music Festival, is 20-dollars per person, for both days. Primitive camping is allowed with security provided on-site. Tickets are available at BlackJack's BBQ, Main Street Records, Dale's Harley-Davidson and Azusa Printing, all in Mt. Vernon.

King City native Bob Trout was a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, serving as a combat-medic while in the U. S. Army Special Forces in 1968-69.

After his tour of duty ended, Trout returned to Southern Illinois and enrolled at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Forestry in 1972.

Trout was also a commercial-artist, whose work has been seen world-wide. His drawings and paintings were published in military and wildlife magazines.

Trout is well-known in the King City for the mural that he painted inside the Granada Theatre in downtown Mt. Vernon.

Bob Trout passed-away in August 2007.

The idea for Wolfstock came to life in the middle of this past winter.

"That was right after the first of the year," said Kim Thacker, who is married to Bob's son, Travis, and has joined-in to help with a the seemingly overwhelming process of putting together an event like this.

"I think that it was John Scrivner who came up with the original idea of 'let's have a wolf-stock,'" said Kim Thacker's father, Richard Black, as he tended to a customer a BlackJack's BBQ.

"I think that you're right, the idea did come from him," said Thacker. "He talked with Travis about it and that's how it got started."

Ever-known as the artist, Trout once used a chain-saw to create that which he is also known for, a life-size, full-grown wolf. Trout started with a tree-trunk. The "wolf" resides in the yard at Trout's farm.

"Before he passed-away, Bob carved that wolf out of an oak-tree," Kim said. "We are talking about having that dipped in bronze. It's starting to crack and you can tell what the weather has been doing to it."

But, that's not all that the proceeds will be used for.

"Another friend of Bob's, Larry Abrams, who is also a veteran, has started a fund for an art scholarship in Bob's name," said Kim. "The first priority will be the memorial. The second priority will be the art scholarship."

Thacker said that the scholarship will be given away annually.