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.

ALMOST HERE.....

Hard to believe its almost June 20. Tomorrow (Monday) is your last chance to purchase the best deal around our Bed & BreakFEST package. For $ 99 you receive one night lodging for two at the Ramada Inn in Vineland, Sunday Morning Breakfast and two tickets to the festival. This is a great deal and we appreciate everyone who helped put this together. If you rather not spend the night but just enjoy a great day outdoors advance tickets are $ 25 and you must purchase them by Friday. All tickets sold day of festival will be $ 35 no exceptions. Also children 12 & under will be admitted free. All parking is on site and also free.

FRIDAY MORNING

Summer will be here soon, in fact it arrives next Saturday, June 20 during the summer solstice as we gather on Carmel Green for this years' Southern Shore Music Festival. Details details details its a never ending issue especially when dealing with multiple artists, vendors, media, volunteers, and my personal favorite ( fill in the blank ). Yesterday was another long day completing various tasks and finding more new ones ahead. Some good news yesterday happily picked up some new sponsorship revenue which is always appreciated. The festival volunteers have also been calling and get ready to pitch in as needed too make it a great day and many of them also renew friendships made at past festivals here and around the region. Anyway its back to work its another new day.

Late Wednesday

The countdown is on as Saturday June 20 is rapidly approaching. Another busy day working with many to finalize details for the big day. A few more free attractions will be announced later this week. Everyone has been busy passing out flyers and posters. Crews started setting up Carmel Green fencing and volunteers are being scheduled. Vendors have been notified of their acceptance. The bed and breakFEST packages are limited and will be gone soon. General admission tickets are now on sale $ 10 less then the day of show price Tuesdays NYC festival preview concert was very entertaining and everyone did a great job. Newspaper and radio interviews are being conducted and a variety of promotional tickets are being given away on the web and or on radio. Just a part of the many details involved with producing a festival.

Today we Made It On Broadway

Today we made it on Broadway as the Southern Shore Music Festival presented a preview. We heard some great music from Patty Blee, Scott Birney & Steve Hobson, Adrien Reju and Nik Everett. Each artist performed some of their own music and joined together to end the concert with with some great sing along songs. We were joined at the Jersey Shore Store by storyteller Melinda Weber and Mackie our tall host. It may have been a rainy day with lighting bolts added here and there but we still had some interested folks stop by enjoy the music, learn about the festival and New Jersey vacation options as well as sample some salt water taffy.

Tomorrow Tomorrow

Tomorrow we will be singing in New York City on Broadway and I never thought I would make it there especially as part of a performance.  The good news for those who stop by, the singing and playing will be coming from Nik Everett, Patty Blee, Adrien Reju, Scott Birney and Steve Hobson. All of this takes place starting at 12 noon at the Jersey Shore Store, 813 Broadway between 11th & 12th.   This morning as I'm enjoying another cup of coffee, music is in the air with the sound of birds singing.  Yesterday it was a great day listening to the performers at the Appel Farm benefit concert. Saw and spoke with many of the volunteers, performers, concert guests and organizers. The volunteers are dedicated to their work and they help with many of the summer festivals in the region and will once again be part of our SSMF.  Brian of the 61 North band was busy working yesterday but Saturday June 20 he will ready to play with his great band 61 North. Guess its time go, get back to the work at hand, tying down loose ends.  June 20 is fast approaching.  Hope to see you on  Carmel Green.

Now There are 2 Weeks

Woke up early hearing the birds singing outside which is only fitting to all of the great music I heard that took place Saturday with some of our performers at this years' SSMF on June 20 and or our Tuesday Preview Concert in New York City.Earlier in the day spoke with Ryan and Brian of 61 North and left them promo material for the fest as they were gearing up for their Downtown Newark Street Party. The buzz continues to grow about this exciting young electric blues band based out of Southern New Jersey. Later on Saturday night caught the sold out show of Nik Everett with his band at the Kennett Flash in Pa.. Nik will perform Tuesday in NYC and again at the fest. He has continued to write and perform excellent music throughout his career and last night's show was a great sampling of his work including his latest  from the Asbury Park film documentary. Late Saturday deciding to stop by the East End Cafe and catch the full Sin City Band who had the house a rockin. Band members Scott Birney and Steve Hobson will be joining us in NYC Tuesday and have been part of the SSMF since its beginning. As I was enjoying the great music, I also was able to talk up the festival and place some more posters and or hand out flyers. Today is another day of live music and more promotional opportunities.

WVUD Ticket Giveaway

Had a great time with Scott Birney on WVUD radio this am in Delaware. Had a lot of interest in our festival and in fact gave away a few pairs of tickets and our lucky winners were David Chandler of Newark, De., John Holton of Elkton, Md. and John Morganstern of Charlestown, Md.. It was great oportunity to play some music including cuts by Bonerama, Nik Everett andGrace Potter and the Nocturnals. For those who didn't win tickets, Scott will be given away more duing his Friday Roots show (June 12 & 19). He also will have a special guest performing on the 19th with Nik Everett. Also this Saturday as part of Downtown Newark Delaware Night, 61 North will be performing.

Free Ticket Alert

Been a long day and part of it I was busy working on selecting artists to play on my one hour guest dj slot with  WVUD radio roots show host Scott Birney this Friday am. During my personal dream hour I will play some of my current favorite songs and coincidentally a few of them will be artists touring this summer and a few are performing at this years SSMF. In addition to playing some great music, we will discuss some details about this years festival as well as this upcoming Tuesday's New York City preview festival show.   Listeners will also be able to win tickets to the festival, so tune in WVUD 91.3 FM.

Free Concert in NYC

New York, New York - Been busy today on the phone and computer working with one of this years' festival artists Nik Everett finalizing our NYC pre-SSMF event at 813 Broadway at the Jersey Shore Store. We have some great artists who agreed to join us and be part of our festival on the road. This free concert starts at 12 noon and will include performances from Brigantine New Jersey native Patty Blee, from the first State Scott Birney and Steve Hobson, Manhattan resident by way of Philadelphia Adrien Reju and  Nik Everett folk/pop singer who recently co-wrote the music score for a documentary film about Asbury Park. So stop by and hear some great original music, win free tickets, and learn about all of the great things about this years

 June 20 festival.

One week for Broadway

Yesterday was a busy day working on the various details involved with the SSMF. Next Tuesday, June 9, we will present and host a free 12 noon festival preview concert on Broadway. One of our festival performers Nik Everett will be part of the concert and will be joined by a variety of performers from the tri-state area. Complete  details to be announced. Saturday June 20 is fast approaching and we are busy working with our volunteers and sponsor support staff to ready everything that is needed to make this years festival the best too date. This will be another week of spreading the word and reminding people to save money by buying their tickets in advance. Our program book is being completed, souvenir tshirts and hats ordered, sound and backline equipment is all set, security and medical teams reaady to go, volunteers are being confirmed and scheduled, and facilities and grounds are being readied and there is more to go but the end results makes it all worth it.

Monday Morning

Hard to believe in just 20 DAYS we will be gathering on Carmel Green for this years festival. Anyway i need to hit the road and its not even 7 a.m. with a day full of meetings, supplier visits, flyer/poster distribution and roadside phone calls to continue finalizing details for the fest. When i return i will have a bit more too say. Till then help spread the word, volunteer, become a sponsor, rent a craft vendor space but all and all have a safe and great day.