In a musical world increasingly beset by big business, big contracts and gloss, Eric Noble remains a simple man with an even simpler mission: spreading exceptional sounds, one concert at a time. His main partner in the journey is Loyal Family, a St. Louis-based independent promotions company focused on the jam, roots music and festival scene. Along with the sister enterprise Noble Empire, they are burning a trail through not only the Midwest’s vast grassroots network, but increasingly capturing a national spotlight as well. Their biggest venture to date is Dogstock, a four-day, 100-band, multiple-stage campout extravaganza happening in Melvern, Kansas July 26-29, on 81 acres of pristine, private land. A majestic “little guy” amongst festival-world behemoths, Dogstock’s aim is to emit the same down-home, get-funky, say-hello-to-your-friends vibrations that each of Noble’s local shows puts forth – with the added benefit of halting time, if even for just a few days.
