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The 2005 Jerseyville Musicfestival
Press Release
The 2005 Jerseyville Music Festival
State street blues show
June 11th 2005
Post log
It was a dark and stormy afternoon. Sudden downpours of rain, Strong wind gust’s, very little thunder, and one unconfirmed report of lightning on the horizon. This was the weather condition for the 2005 Jerseyville Music Festival. The weather would come to play a big roll in this year’s annual show. But it did not stop it. “The show must go on” was the battle cry as the hand full of event organizers, musicians, and production crew battled the summer elements, and inclement weather.
The 2nd annual Jerseyville music festival presented by the Jerseyville Chamber of Commerce, and Full Flight Productions, started out much better than last year. Thanks to the many volunteers. The show had a bigger and better stage than last year. The music festival had more power to the stage, more help getting the stage set up, and a better sound system.
The morning started out hot and muggy with the sun beating down on the production crew early. The set up started at 11:00 am sharp. One hour ahead of schedule, and things were going smooth. Nick Hanson managed to park the two large trailers that the musicians used as the stage just 5” apart. This allowed the production crew to safely work on the sound and lights for the show, while giving the musicians a nice big stage to perform on. Al Mozer, Steve Godar, Jerrod Capps and “Guitar” Terry McBride were the set up and sound crew. They were responsible for getting every thing set up and keeping it working. They also had plenty of help From Aaron Tucker, Elwyn Mielke, Devin Botts, Betty Brown, Zack Bear, Mike “Dog” Williamson, and Steve Herring. These people were key in keeping the show together.
The first reports of bad weather started to come in at 8:00am. Radar showed that al large low-pressure system was quickly moving across the Midwest with a line of storms stretching from central Iowa across Kansas and down into Arkansas. The storms were traveling east and might reach the Mississippi river some time in the mid afternoon. This caused much concern that morning and every body was instructed to bring tarps incase it reached Jerseyville while all the equipment and musical instruments were exposed to the elements. The official weather report for the river bind area was still a 40 % chance of rain. Several farmers assured us that many of these storms loose their strength and dissipate before reaching our area. This had been the weather pattern for several weeks and was responsible for the weeks-old drought that we have been experiencing. Never the less the show must go on and the production crew made preparations for the possibility of rain. This prep work would soon be tested.
The show started right on time at precisely 3pm with the classic rock band Spell Bound. As the first band took the stage large dark clouds began to roll in from the southwest. The production crew was alerted to the possibility of impending rain and more precautions were taken. Tarps were strategically placed around the stage; instructions were given to cut the power to the stage when and if a hard rain came.
The first wave of storms hit the music festival at 3:15 just as Spell Bound was ending their second song of the set. Little warning was given when the down poor came. People in there lawn chairs went running for shelter, venders and event organizers got under what ever cover they could find. But the musicians and production staff reacted almost instantaneously. Covering up delicate equipment, putting musical interments up and safely evacuating the stage. The rain was sudden, severe, and intense. Every one and every thing got wet within seconds of the deluge. But the tarps were quickly deployed and every thing was covered in short time.
If the rain came sudden, the wind came with thunderclap surprise. Just as the equipment was being covered and the instruments put away the strong storm winds came in and blew all of the tarps off, and it had to be all but back on again. This time it was secured with bricks and any other heavy item that could be found. After 30 minuets of struggle the storm finally move through and the winds laid down. It was over, but not for long.
Now the show was behind schedule with the band’s stacking up back stage waiting to play. The blue’s project band quickly got on stage and while they were playing a short set more weather reports where coming in that another line of storms where moving into the river bend area. Shortly after blues project had ended their set the rain came again. This time the production crew had become more proficient at getting every thing covered up and secured. The wind and rain came through and left again but only for a little while. Finally at 6:30 pm the last of the rain clouds came and went and they were ready for the show to continue. However not without some casualties, they lost half of the power to the stage and one of the amplifiers that powered the monitors. It was so waterlogged it had to be replaced with another one that they had in reserve. But every one lost out on a chance to hear the You Can't Beat Experience Jazz Band, from Alton. Due to the weather they went back home without getting a chance to play a single note.
But in the end every thing ended well. Every one came out after the storms to watch the last 4 bands play. The weather was clear, cool, and dry. With a spectacular red sun set the bands Eclipse, Free Corndogs, and Resergents, gave some great performances. As more, and more people came out of there homes after the storm, and filed into the music festival. The red sunset faded away and the sky filled with stars and turned a deep dark blue. At last the Blues Brothers Other Brothers show band came to the stage and played there traditional Illinois Chicago blues music, and then ended the show under a crescent moon hanging behind them in the western sky. All in all every thing ended well.
So it was a long hard battle with the elements, and at times it was nip and tuck. But in the end the heavens cleared, and the show persevered, and yet another successful music festival has been delivered.
It was Mel Brooks who said, "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and break your neck." I am sure that if I was setting in my favorite La-z-Boy chair in the comfort of my home, watching this all unfold on T.V. It would have been one of the funniest things I had ever seen. But at the time I did not think so.
Matthew J Capps
