Bluegill Music Fest: The First of Many....I Hope

Jul 8, 2015
4 min read

So I thought I would wait a few days to kick back and relax after a full day at the first Bluegill Music Fest that took place at the

Rend Lake Dam on July 4th before writing my very first blog. This is something I've wanted to do for some time, and it just seems like this is the right time to expand some of the things I would like to accomplish.

First, to give you a little bit of background on the event in case you aren't aware.

Andrew Hart, AKA, Finnegan, used to work with me over River Radio on CIL-FM, and until next week worked in Chicago (101.9 The Mix) and starting this next week, will be the morning show host for a station is San Francisco (KOIT/San Francisco).

One of the cool things about Finnegan is a that he is always looking to help out his "hometown" area, and it was his vision that inspired this years event. Music festivals are becoming a very popular way to see your country music artist. So when I heard that Finnigan was looking to bring this festival to the area and tie it in with one of the largest fourth of July fireworks displays in the area, I thought it was a great mix.

There are so many differnet details to put together for any concert event, but to be able to showcase 20 different bands on 3 different stages...all on the same day...and during the inagural event? That was a huge undertaking. I think they knocked it out of the park.

As a former event coordinator, I can tell you that events are evaluated and necessary changes are made during the following years. You've heard the expression "You Live and You Learn"? Well that definately applies to big events like this. I can assure you that the same will happen here as well. Yes there were some hiccups, but overall, they were minimal and I know for a fact that organizers did their best to address any issues that popped up. Something to keep in mind though...there are just some things that organizers can't control. Weather is a big one and considering how much rain had fallen in the days leading up to July 4th, I didn't think the parking on the grounds were too bad. Fortunately for attendees, if you didn't like the parking situation at the dam, you had the abliity go park on a one of a couple of parking lots and take a bus to the venue. Again, there are just some things that can't be controlled.

It also didn't help that two of the alternate ways into the area were blocked off. I can understand the road over the dam being blocked off, as it is controlled by the federal govenment and it's one of the locations where security is watched very closely. But that road was opened at the end of the night and did help with traffic flow when the event was over.

As for DMac? I had a great time at the Bluegill fest. I had a couple of different jobs to do while there. One, I was able to interview the artist as they came through the artist tent and two, introduce the acts on the main stage.

As far as the artist that were signed for the first year of of BlueGill Fest? WOW! It was fantastic lineup of music with local, regional and national acts all coming to one event, in one day.

I had the chance to talk with several of the acts backstage and was able to learn alot about them. Of those I talked with, I really enjoyed talking with Old Salt Union and Mockingbird Sun, Miranda Willmore and Mockingbird Hill and Clayton Anderson. Hmmm....two mockingbirds.....no waiting!

For instance, I didn't know the impact that Kenny Chesney had on Clayton Anderson's music career.

You didn't know that? Check out it out. Just being able to ask the Eli Young Band what impact does winning awards have on them as a group....not to the public. John said it is just a great way to have the work that they do each and every day together validated.

But there were two interviews that just stood out to me. The first was with up and comer Mo Pitney. He

currently has a song called "Country" that we have been playing for what seems like forever. Although he was been in the Z100 studios on multiple occasions, I had never had the chance to really talk with him. I can tell you that he is the kind of guy that would sit there and talk with you all day. He is a genuine country boy who just loves country music and it comes out in his interviews, in his music and in his performance. If I wasn't a big fan already, I am a much bigger fan of Mo after getting to meet him.

Finally, being able to catch up with my friends Chris and Preston of Locash was fantastic. It was back in 2007 that I first met them at Herrin Fest and we have remained close friends ever since. As we talked about during our interview, they have been a part of the some of the biggest music events we have had in Southern Illinois in the last few years (i.e. Miners Music Fests at Rent One Park, Z100's St. Jude Fundraisers at Herrin Civic Center, etc). So it seemed only fitting that Locash would appear on the main stage at Bluegill Music Fest. They told me during the interview that their latest single "I Love This Life" broke into the Billboard Top 40 this week. I certainly hope it keeps climbing and makes it to the top 30. That's when the national top 30 countdown shows will pick it up and who knows where they can go from there. They have definately earned it.

Bottom line, I was thrilled with the inagural BlueGill Music Fest and thought that for the first year it was fantastic. There were things that were learned and that will be improved in following years. But a huge THANK YOU to everyone who was responsible for making the event possible. There is no doubt that this concert could be one of the premiere music festivals in the midwest...when it returns!

As for the blog? I hope you enjoyed it. Never know what the topic will be, but always open to your thoughts.

Thanks!

DMac