BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Organizers for Birmingham's

have announced 25 acts for this year's music festival, set for Aug. 2-3.

They include Alabama performers such as Banditos, Belle Adair, the Great Book of John, the Grenadines, the Birmingham Seven, GT, Holy Youth, L.F. Knighton, Looksy, Midnight Risers and Colossal Gospel.

Also on the lineup: Gringo Star, Bit Brigade, Silver Tongues, Ponychase, Amasa Hines, the Log Ladies, New Madrid, Foreign Fields, the Weekend Kids, Lazer/Wulf, Adron, Ultras S/C and Dead Gaze.

More bands will be added in the weeks to come.

bills itself as "Birmingham's Music Discovery Festival." Up-and-coming acts perform at concert venues in and around the Second Avenue North entertainment district, between 22nd and 24th Streets. There's also an outdoor stage.

Early-bird VIP passes go on sale at 10 a.m. June 14 through the festival website, priced at $45. These two-day passes include admission to all Secret Stages venues, access to a VIP lounge, food, drinks and other perks.

A Secret Stages preview party is planned for 9 p.m. June 20 at

, 3719 Third Ave. South, with Floating Action, William Tyler and W. Stewart. Admission is $8, free with a VIP pass.

An Aug. 1 kickoff party for Secret Stages is linked to Birmingham's

campaign, marking the 50-year anniversary of pivotal events in the civil-rights movement. The Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir will perform at the free 6 p.m. event at the

theater, 500 23rd St. South. Donations will be collected for the choir's scholarship fund, which helps high-school seniors with music education.

Also, Secret Stages is partnering with

, a nonprofit that provides instruments, materials and lessons to needy youths. Twenty percent of the festival's net profits will go to Scrollworks, a spokesman said. Also, Secret Stages expects to collect instruments and music books as donations to Scrollworks.