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| Firefly Festival starts June
28 |
by
Jessica Hines
Associate Editor |
Jessica Hines | The Appalachian
The May 1 inaugural Trade Music Festival
got off to a wet start. |
After a soggy
May 1 inauguration, the Trade Music Festival brings another
round of music and camping to the area June 28 with the Firefly
Festival.
The first Trade Music Festival taught coordinator
Sam C. Calhoun the ropes of outdoor music events.
Calhoun, a recent Appalachian State University
graduate, said his goals are not only for everything to run
smoothly, but he wants “every person in the crowd to
have a completely positive outlook,” and be able to say
they “had a great time and they were able to do something
when they needed to do it.”
He said there have been many changes to
make things run more smoothly, including gate security, bonfires
and raincover. |
With four bands
scheduled to play throughout the night and into the early
morning, the Firefly Festival plans to be a smoother, drier
operation than the first.
Calhoun said he hopes this festival will bring enough revenue
to fund a larger festival at the end of August, complete with
big-name bands.
Scheduled to appear are four bands. Punk rock group Ground
Score opens the music festival. Subsequent groups include
headliner Montage, a Boone-based band, All Up in the Bucket,
an ensemble of pieces of various local bands who have come
together to “create sound,” and Rufus Brown, considered
the second best jam band in Richmond, Va.
Calhoun said guests should bring tents, flashlights, all-weather
equipment, water and food. Parking is free, but carpooling
is recommended.
“People should be mindful that there is another festival
going on,” Calhoun said.
The Trade Days festival is scheduled for the same day, about
a mile down from the Firefly Festival. Trade Days is a completely
opposite festival that showcases mountain and folk music and
dancing, among other things, Calhoun said.
He said he hopes people will come out for a good time and
good music to wrap up the first summer session.
Gates open Saturday, June 28 at 2 p.m., and the music begins
at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at Grapevine Music on King
Street, or the antique store across from New Market Center
on Hwy 421. The tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the
gate. |
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