2008 Woodie Awards
Dickson Street Music Festival gives Springfest a kick
Samantha Sigmon
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Life & Style
This year, Springfest is about to get a lot louder. Be prepared for bigger crowds and a lot more rocking while walking down Dickson Street and checking out the arts and crafts stalls. The 26th anniversary of Springfest will host the debut of the Dickson Street Music Festival on April 25th and 26th.
The big stage will be in the Walton Arts Center parking lot. The acts include The Charlie Daniels Band, 38 Special and Shooter Jennings on Friday night, and Sonic Youth, Little Feat and Michael Franti & Spearhead on Saturday night. Tickets are $30 per night and $50 for the weekend, according to the event's official Web site, http://www.majesticconcerts.com/DSMF.html.
In addition to the main music events, Jose's and George's will also host smaller, touring bands to play in their venues during the event, such as Blind Melon. If someone buys a ticket for the music festival, he or she gets free admission into those venues, said Dan Allen.
The event is made possible courtesy of three guys - Allen, Harold Wieties and Brian Crowne - who make up the committee of Majestic Concerts and work as concert festival promoters and producers.
"We have all been, individually, in the music business for 15 to 20 years," Allen said. "Two years ago, to celebrate George's 79th anniversary, we decided to make it a more formalized, sponsored and promoted event. We began thinking that one of these days, we would have a Dickson Street Music Festival."
The trio planned George's 80th anniversary, which set the stage for the music fest, so they could get experience with planning bigger shows.
Allen manages the Northwest Arkansas Premier Boat & Sport Expo. He also managed and promoted the first two years of the Bikes, Blues & BBQ Motorcycle Rally. Through a partnership in New Zealand, he produced major concerts there, including the Moody Blues, Sir Elton John twice in the last year and Bon Jovi in January. During Easter weekend of this year, Allen produced Rock2WGTN featuring KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Poison, and Lordi, according to the George's Majestic Lounge Sound Warehouse Web site.
The big stage will be in the Walton Arts Center parking lot. The acts include The Charlie Daniels Band, 38 Special and Shooter Jennings on Friday night, and Sonic Youth, Little Feat and Michael Franti & Spearhead on Saturday night. Tickets are $30 per night and $50 for the weekend, according to the event's official Web site, http://www.majesticconcerts.com/DSMF.html.
In addition to the main music events, Jose's and George's will also host smaller, touring bands to play in their venues during the event, such as Blind Melon. If someone buys a ticket for the music festival, he or she gets free admission into those venues, said Dan Allen.
The event is made possible courtesy of three guys - Allen, Harold Wieties and Brian Crowne - who make up the committee of Majestic Concerts and work as concert festival promoters and producers.
"We have all been, individually, in the music business for 15 to 20 years," Allen said. "Two years ago, to celebrate George's 79th anniversary, we decided to make it a more formalized, sponsored and promoted event. We began thinking that one of these days, we would have a Dickson Street Music Festival."
The trio planned George's 80th anniversary, which set the stage for the music fest, so they could get experience with planning bigger shows.
Allen manages the Northwest Arkansas Premier Boat & Sport Expo. He also managed and promoted the first two years of the Bikes, Blues & BBQ Motorcycle Rally. Through a partnership in New Zealand, he produced major concerts there, including the Moody Blues, Sir Elton John twice in the last year and Bon Jovi in January. During Easter weekend of this year, Allen produced Rock2WGTN featuring KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Poison, and Lordi, according to the George's Majestic Lounge Sound Warehouse Web site.
Be the first to comment on this story