Festivalgoers stand near a Tito's Handmade Vodka booth and outdoor vendor tents in downtown Alpharetta. — Crowds gather near a vendor booth during a past Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival in downtown Alpharetta.

The Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival returns to downtown Alpharetta Friday and Saturday with more than 40 performances across seven stages.

The 13th annual festival is free and centers on the stories behind the songs, with performers representing country, rock, folk, Americana, soul and bluegrass. Corey Smith headlines Friday night, while Sister Hazel closes the festival Saturday.

Other scheduled performers include American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox, Blair Crimmins & The Hookers, J.R. Carroll and dozens of regional and emerging artists. The complete performance schedule divides the musicians among stages near City Hall, Town Green, Market Street, Milton Avenue and other downtown locations.

Festival hours are 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. After-parties are planned both nights after the main outdoor performances conclude.

Street closures begin Thursday

Festival preparations begin affecting downtown traffic Thursday. The curb lane closest to Town Green on North Broad Street is scheduled to close from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The larger closure period begins at 6 a.m. Friday and continues into early Sunday. Affected streets include portions of Milton Avenue, Old Roswell Street, Commerce Street, North and South Broad streets, Market Street and Park Plaza.

Highway 9 between Milton Avenue and Old Milton Parkway is scheduled to close beginning at 10 a.m. Friday. It will reopen overnight before closing again at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the final reopening scheduled for 1 a.m. Sunday.

Drivers who do not plan to attend should expect detours and heavier traffic around downtown, particularly near the beginning and end of each evening’s performances. The festival transportation plan includes the complete closure schedule, parking locations and rideshare information.

Parking will be available at the City Hall deck, the Roswell Street lot and the Milton Avenue deck accessed through Roswell Street. Festival organizers are directing rideshare drop-offs and pickups to Innovation Academy on Milton Avenue.

Hurricane Isaias could bring heavy rain and strong winds to North Georgia beginning Friday night. No festival cancellation or schedule change had been announced as of Thursday morning, but visitors should check conditions before leaving home.