Pert Near Sandstone will be playing a free show during Shops & Hops Saturday, June 8, in Vergas.

Vergas will host the second annual Shops & Hops Street Fest on Saturday, June 8.

Businesses will have specials running in their stores all day long.

 Professional Chef Madison Waller will host a pretzel making class at MW Pastry from 2-4 p.m., during the second annual Shops & Hops Street Fest Saturday, June 8, in Vergas.

Professional Chef Madison Waller will host a pretzel making class at MW Pastry from 2-4 p.m.

Pert Near Sandstone, nationally known in the string band world, will be playing on Main Street downtown from 7-10 p.m.

Prior to the concert, there will be a craft-beer tasting event, Shops & Hops, from 4-7 p.m., along with various food trucks.

Beer-tasting tickets available at the gate. Bring your own chair for the concert.

Pert Near Sandstone hails from “the sandstone river bluffs of St. Paul” but one member, Justin Bruhn, also has family ties to Vergas. 

Justin’s parents grew up in Vergas and both sets of grandparents were life-long Vergas residents. Grandfather, Ray Bruhn, was a well-known realtor in the area.

The group has been playing and traveling for nearly two decades and recently released their eighth studio album. They have also toured Europe. The band will again host the Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wis., on June 27-29.

The concert is sponsored by the City of Vergas, the Vergas Arts Club, Vergas Community Club and is funded in part by a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council through a Minnesota State Legislative appropriation.