WE MADE IT !

For those of you who kept the faith and braved the elements, each of you know what a special day was had by all who gathered yesterday on Carmel Green. With great and diverse music hosted by Gene Shay and performed by Nik Everett, 61 North, Nora Whittaker, Eilen Jewell, Bonerama, Hoots & Hellmouth, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, and the legendary Arlo Guthrie. To the volunteers, many of which worked 12 hours thank you. To the stage crew and production teams and the keep it dry team, we are extremely appreciative. Special thanks to members of the Cumberland County Fair Association for making some late Sat am help to turn the 4H Barn into a real live dance hall for Eilen Jewell who played two sets to accomodate our urgent need to move from the main stage and dry off and make the area safe. Arlo Guthrie also moved his closing festival set into the intimate setting of the barn complete with tractors in the background to provde a great ending to what could have been a very bad day for an outdoor festival. Our hats are off to our sponsors, vendors, artists, security and medical professionals, volunters and fans who took one day away from the crazy world which we live to enjoy a great day listening to music and leaving their worries home for the nine hours + of peace, music and some inclement weather. In the true spirit of Woodstock we did it.

The Countdown

The countdown has begun. tomorrow when we awake it will be the day for this years Southern Shore Music Festival. advance sales ended at 11 p.m. our bed n breakFEST package was a great success. volunteers, performers, vendors are ready and waiting for you. Children 12 n under are free as is on site parking. for those of you coming Saturday our admission price is 35 per person for nine hours of music, eight artists and much more. It has been a long day and Saturday will be another. good nite and we look forward to seeing you at Carmel Green for a great day back in the Garden (State).

TOMORROW

Hard to believe but tomorrow it will be Saturday, June 20 and we will gather on Carmel Green for this years' Southern Shore Music Festival. Artists, vendors, volunteers, facility preperation personnel and suppliers are ready now its your turn. Today is your last chance to save $ 10 per ticket so we encourage you to visit our web site at www.southernshoremusicfestival.com before the end of today. All tickets at the gate will be $ 35 for nine hours of great music featuirng a diverse lineup of arrtists featuring Arlo Guthrie, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Hoots & Hellmouth, Bonerama, Eilen Jewell, 61 North, Nora Whittaker, and Nik Everett. In addition to the music there will be vendors offering hand made crafts, home made food, free activities for the children, classic cars, the Across the Universe Pychedelic Bus and more.

Thursday

As a new blogger i have been surprised to find people reading my words. I guess I better be more careful with what I say. Anyway its Thursday am and we are moving forward getting ready for a great festival this Saturday. The program books are done and look great (thanks to everyone involved). We can't wait to pickup the official souvenir t shirts and hats, we anticipate a sellout with them (thanks again to everyone involved). Our production team is set and ready to go and as always we look forward to working with Steve, Albie, King and their respective crew. Last night promoted fest at the Tacony Palmyra with Nik Everett concert in Vineland at the Fuelhouse. Both performers played great to a sold out crowd which was a benefit for the United Way. We look forward to 3rd Friday in Millville as we continue to spread the word. Everyone is also reminded that we are no longer accepting vendor applications and our hotel package along with advance tickets must be purchased by Friday. Day of show tickets will be $ 35 so save $ and purchase them now.

Tuesday Night in New Orleans

Heard Ivan Neville and his band Dumpstaphunk in downtown Wilmington as part of their annual Jazz Festival last night. Saw some old and made some new friends as I was talking up this Saturday's festival. Hearing Ivan and band just made more excited about the great brass funk rock band Bonerama who perform at 2:15 p.m. at our festival. This is one of the most unique bands from New Orleans and their front line of four trombones and a tuba only add to the element of surprise awaiting the listener. Today crews are sprucing up the grounds of Carmel Green and we are getting those supplies ready. In between waiting for our program book and festival merchandise (very colorful t shirts and hats). Tonight Nik Everett will be part of a very special sold out show at the Fuel House in Vineland which will benefit the United Way. Nik has been very helpful promoting our festival - last Tuesday he was part of our Broadway preview concert in New York City and this Friday he will be in the studio of WVUD in Newark Delaware speaking with and performing on Scott Birney's Roots Show.

TUESDAY AM

We are in the home stretch for this Saturday's festival. Creating lists, checking them twice and then crossing them off makes this an interesting experience. We have a great group of volunteers who have signed up for the day and most of them rarely see much of the music as they are busy helping things run smoothly of which we are extremely grateful. We are also thankful to have such great support from our sponsors, marketing partners and hosts. We are busy doing our part so we can be prepared for you the fan. We encourage you to save money and buy your tickets in advance since Saturday they will cost $ 10 more per person. Also remember that children 12 and under are admitted free, plenty of free on site parking, and a variety of free things to see and enjoy such as the Across the Universe pychedelic bus, classic cars from the 50's-70's, moon bounce, face painting, magic balloonist and more.

Monday Morning

This Saturday is it as the 3rd edition of the Southern Shore Music Festival takes place on Carmel Green at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds in Millville, New Jersey. Today begins the final countdown as we check, review and make new lists of things to do.Scheduling our great team of volunteers, working with the media with stories, interviews, and ticket giveaways, finalizing and readying supplies, reviewing production details with our great sound, backline and stage crew personnel, preparing facilities, reviewing performer schedules and their indivdual logistics and needs, and there is much more but we all look forward to Saturday when our great performers take the stage.