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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 Peaks Presents DocumentsApril 13, 2008 PEAKS PRESENTS u_c Re: 4 Peaks Music Festival 'Dear Commissioners: 1 thought that I would take a minute to respond to some of the complaints that have come in regarding the 2008 4 Peaks Music Festival. We are scheduled to have our public hearing on Monday, April 21 s`. Although our official home for the 2008 festival remains to be known, we have applied for a permit with the county to hold the event July 25th & 26th at last year's site on Tumalo Reservoir Rd. In part; because it was a great venue, and also because the property owners and their immediate neighbors to the west were excited to be a part of the festival again. We know that there is opposition from a few other neighbors who want their interests to be respected and Who want to know that the festival organizers are, just that, organized, and pose no threat to their properties and persons. We are aware that the County has put a lot of effort into the Outdoor Mass Gathering code, and 4 Peaks Presents has put a lot of effort into meeting the strict guidelines that have been put in place. This ordinance.outlirts strict guidelines for public safety on every level, including: traffic congestion, fire, sanitation, noise levels and people in general. On Traffic, we expect people to begin wing Thursday night and Friday morning. We expect everyone to have left by S noon. During heavy traffic times, if any, there will be as manyas'3 licensed tr i t broilers posted on Tumalo Reservoir Rd. and High Mowing e, winc to get through with the least amount of delay. °' estiv � � dam, +nraged to use OB Riley to get to Tumalo Reservoir, E y r as this act h list + a • intersections and OB Riley has a turning lane off tic t Ii w Bailey ,. ot. We don't anticipate too much congestion; we think i e like last year wait t folks trickling in at a reasonable rate. On vehicles.; which wi be NO open fires permitted at any time. Access for emergency at all times arid will be constantly monitored by our Security tly wt am; l chutes County Sheriff and Deputies.. 1-382 x + ,SND 977@8 4peaksmusic.com • info@4peaksmusic.com PEAKS PRESENTSLLC On sanitation, we have Advanced Systems providing hand washing facilities, toilets, and grey water cache systems for 3000 people. Last years festival had an attendance of 700 people and this year we expect to double that. On Noise levels and People, we will follow the Ordinances of the permit, which will allow noise levels to be as much as 100 decibels on the affected property until 10 pm, and - as much as 50 decibels thereafter. We intend to be quieter than these standards. Campers will be given a site map with a list of do's and don'ts. Respecting the Neighbors is the top of the list. 4 Peaks Presents is an organization formed by caring people who are interested in bringing economic benefit, culture and entertainment to the people of Central Oregon. We hope that as the years pass, the 4 Peaks Music Festival will be a critical source of revenue to our local business owners as well as the County tax rolls. Thank you for you time and consideration on this event. Sincerely, Will Nash Manager 4 Peaks Presents, LLC 541.788.0314 X 4peaksmusic.com • info@4peaksmusic.com Inaugural bluegrass festival comes to Tumalo By Yoko Minoura / The Bulletin, (Published: August 05. 2007 4:OOam) TUMALO — Sharing a blanket spread on the grass, 9 -year-old Leia Watson munched on a slice of pizza while her friends, Stephanie Campbell, 9, and Anna Campbell, 7, attempted to master chopsticks to eat a rice -and -chicken dish. The tight harmonies and lively tempo of bluegrass accompanied their outdoor meal. "I like the guy who plays the violin," Stephanie said. "I like how he's really fast." Stephanie's sister, Anna, on the other hand said she liked the instruments and how they sounded, while Leia leaned toward the vocals. The trio were part of a crowd of several hundred who gathered Saturday afternoon on a field at Rockin' A Ranch in Tumalo to listen to bluegrass at the first-ever 4 Peaks Music Festival, which kicked off Friday. The idea for the festival was born when a group of friends began planning an informal event near Cline Falls, where people could camp and listen to a band. The organizers, Eric Walton, Will Nash, Stacy Totland, Paul Brown and Jason Beard, got an offer from Gary and Lisa Armstrong to use their ranch as the site of the jamfest, and 4 Peaks became official. homes of people who chose to camp. The two-day festival boasted more than a dozen bands, such as Hot Buttered Rum, Jackstraw and Bend's own Blackstrap and Moon Mountain Ramblers. A main stage was set up in a grassy valley slightly reminiscent of the Les Schwab Amphitheater, while a smaller "Almost Locals" stage sat next to vendors' booths. While mainly a celebration of bluegrass, festival organizers said they planned to donate part of the proceeds to charities, including Sparrow Clubs USA, which helps children in medical crises, and Rock the Earth, an environmental group. Broken Top and the Three Sisters loomed to the west. Domed tents clustered in one area and campers and motor homes dotted another area, serving as the temporary Several people gathered in front of the stage to dance, while others sat on blankets to listen. A hula hoop vendor was doing a brisk business, judging from the number of people with hoops. lc Goodwin / The Bulletin) Crystal berg, 21, dances to the music of the mal Liberation Orchestra during the 4 a/cs Music Festival on Saturday. The -day festival was held for the first time r year and featured bluegrass bands m Bend and all along the West Coast. "I like it. It's fun," Leia said. "We get to hula hoop and run around." The girls said they would like to come back next year, if the festival continues. On another blanket on the grass, 35 -year-old Greg Froyd of Santa Barbara, Calif., had kicked off his sandals to relax and listen to the music. He said he was on "permanent vacation," and following touring bands and hitting music festivals before arriving in Tumalo. "1 just wanted a nice, mellow music festival to go to," he said, and friends in Bend told him about 4 Peaks. "We like the string -band psychedelic thing," he added. Froyd said he was impressed by the venue and the planning that went into the festival. "It's great to look up and see the Three Sisters while the moon's setting in the afternoon," he said. Froyd said he also liked the fact that the festival site didn't feel crowded. "1 think we are all lucky to be here this first year — all the families here, being able to enjoy this property," he said. Froyd said he would probably be back next year. Bend resident Nadine Koeth, 25, who volunteered at the festival, said liked the venue and the music lineup. "I think it's a great setup. The little amphitheater thing they have going, walk-in camping," she said, trailing off. A bluegrass fan herself, Koeth said she was happy to finally see a music festival right near Bend. "It's nice as a big family event, too," she said. "Got a huge range of people here." Koeth said she thought the turnout was good. "They should definitely do it again next year," she said. Bend resident Leif James, 29, a musician in a local band, said the festival was very well organized. James' band, Poor Bastard's Romance, did not play at the festival. The band had a conflicting gig that was then canceled. He said the stage equipment was high-quality, the schedule of bands easy to understand and the layout of the festival good. His only quibble was the location of the portable bathrooms, which he thought were a bit too far away. "The people who run this have really good hearts and the right perspective on things," James said. He said he was impressed by the number of out-of-town residents who showed up for the festival. "You walk around, there's people you know, people you don't know, (and) everybody gets along," James said. He said he plans to return to the festival, if it continues. "And you have the four peaks there," he said, indicating the skyline. "It's beautiful. Wow." 4 Peaks on the horizon Jam -band festival coming to Tumalo pasture Camping spots at music festival filling up quickly By Ben Salmon / The Bulletin (Published: July 24. 2007 4:OOam) The 4 Peaks Music Festival isn't entrenched in Central Oregon's music scene, like Munch & Music or shows at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. After all, it's the inaugural year for the two-day jam -band gathering near Tumalo. But it is coming, and it's getting bigger by the day. (And if you want to camp next to the festival grounds, you'd better buy your pass pronto; organizers say only about half of the $20 camping passes are left.) Up to 2,700 people are expected to attend the 4 Peaks event, scheduled for Aug. 3-4 at Rockin' A Ranch on Tumalo Reservoir Road west of Tumalo. That doesn't include an army of volunteers, organizers and vendors, plus 17 bands, including three big names on the jam -band circuit: New Monsoon, Animal Liberation Orchestra and Hot Buttered Rum. The event is following in the footsteps of other popular music festivals around the country, such as High Sierra in Quincy, Calif., Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn., and Wakarusa in Lawrence, Kan. The team behind 4 Peaks — Eric Walton, Will Nash, Stacy Toteland and Paul Brown of Bend, plus Jason Beard of Santa Rosa, Calif. — hope their event will someday be of similar stature and a regular stop for bands that hit all the summer festivals. "We looked at (those other festivals) and said, `These are incredibly cool events that bring a very diverse group of people to these towns and feed the economies of these towns every year,"' Walton said. "It's an economic benefit to these places and in addition to that, it's an amazingly cool event with great music and nice people." Nice people is the ultimate goal at 4 Peaks, where organizers are putting an emphasis on being family -friendly. There'll be plenty of things to do for kids, and families are encouraged to come out and make a weekend of it, perhaps by camping in a field adjacent to where the music will happen. Passes to the festival are still plentiful; you can buy one for Friday only for $25, one for Saturday only for $35, or both days for $50, and kids younger than 10 get in free. But only 200 camping passes are being sold, and Walton said they're very popular. Dr Man's Whiskey, from ita Rosa, Calif., will be one 17 bands playing at the 4 "Camping is just going like that," he said, snapping his fingers. "We're selling a very limited number of camping tickets, and those are going fast." The founders of 4 Peaks started out with the idea of gathering 50 or so friends and family members on Walton's land near Cline Falls and bringing a band up for a weekend of music. Before long, however, more bands were added, more people wanted to come, and the festival moved to a bigger site. For a while, 4 Peaks grew day by day, said Nash. "It was like, 'OK, we're going to have three bands. OK, we're going to have five bands. OK, we're going to have 17 bands,' he said, laughing. "Total snowball." But that's OK, because Nash and his friends want 4 Peaks to stick around and become a fixture on the region's musical landscape. "We want to bring a culture here and add to the climate of this community and make a festival that people all over the country know about," Nash said. "People plan their years around (festivals like this) and we want to be a part of that." For more information or to buy tickets, visit the festival's Web site at www.4peaksmusic.com, and for more on the genesis of the event and the bands that are playing, check out GO! Magazine in The Bulletin on Aug. 3. Feel the Festival Flow: Making friends with ALO on the eve of the 4 Peaks Fest Written by Mike Bookey Wednesday, 01 August 2007 This weekend, in a ritual of preordained fun on Redmond's south side, a mass of sunburned, cotton candy -munching humanity will fasten its collective fanny pack and stride into a vast expanse of 4H exhibits. The scene will be a bit different out at the Rockin A Ranch outside of Tumalo where like- minded revelers will gather for two days of organized chaos and Bluegrass under a hot sun. Take your pick, but we'll humbly suggest the ranch — the site of the 4 Peaks Music Festival. In only its first year, the two-day event has managed to attract some brand name festival mainstays like headliners New Monsoon and ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), as well as other bands gaining big-time credibility in the world of live music — Hot Buttered Rum, Blue Turtle Seduction, Poor Man's Whiskey, Rainmaker, Trampled by Turtles, and 4 more. ALO and friends ALO is no stranger to the festival circuit. While still enjoying extensive club and theater tours, the San Francisco band is never short on festival invitations, and from what guitarist Dan Lebowitz has to say, they're not complaining. "Festivals bring out a good side of a band like us. I always feel more in a flow on stage during a festival, because you kind of get inspired by other people and their music — and that's something that doesn't happen at a regular show," Lebowitz says, talking by phone from Manhattan, where he was about to play a club gig with California indie popster Bret Dennen's band. Dennen isn't the only friend ALO keeps in close company. The band runs with a crowd that includes former UC Santa Barbara classmate Jack Johnson (they're on his record label, and ALO members occasionally play in his band), New Monsoon (they're touring together before 4 Peaks), and the String Cheese Incident (they opened for SCI last weekend, on the quintessential jam band's farewell stop at Horning's Hideout). The friend parade is also running full -tilt within the band itself. Lebowitz, keyboardist Zach Gill, and bassist Steve Adams have all been friends since they were 12 years old. "This band started before I played guitar. We were just sitting in a 7th grade biology class and were like, `It would be a cool if we had a band," Lebowitz says. ALO's list of friends (and not just those on MySpace) is growing constantly, which is what one should expect for a band with a breakout record that dropped earlier this summer. Roses & Clovers is a surprisingly poppy release for a band like ALO, an outfit known for blistering live sets marked by technical jams and danceable grooves — but it's the good kind of pop. "You can create something with depth that upon more and more listenings, you keep picking up new stuff with it, but it also has something simple that appeals to you the first time you hear it," Lebowitz says of Roses and Clover. The album is receiving radio airplay even here in Bend, thanks to tracks like "Maria" — a punchy, piano -laden number that surfs uphill on a wave of pop vocals provided by Gill. The album, and ALO as a whole, bring to mind the peak years of The Band. It's not like ALO could be mistaken for The Band; they don't share a whole lot in common musically speaking. Rather, the similarity is that both play (or played, in the case of The Band) musically advanced styles that are at the same time highly accessible, even for non -fans. ALO's accessibility, which attracts both jam band purists and casual mainstream listeners, is what has sent fans flocking their way at summer festivals over the past couple years. Case in point: their set at the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California last month that drew one of the more healthy -sized crowds of the weekend. Movin' on up Another outfit gracing the 4 Peaks stage with a reputation for setting festival crowds in dancing motion is San Francisco's New Monsoon, a band you may have seen when they hosted a jam-packed groove-a-thon at the Grove in April. As mentioned above, ALO are also tight buds with New Monsoon — Lebowitz and New Monsoon lead man Bo Carper live in the same neighborhood. Both ALO and New Monsoon are already big names among veteran fans of the festival circuit. But both outfits' recent successes and increasing popularity indicate that either one or both of the bands may very well be on the brink of hitting a new level — where live music fans will come to associate their names with large-scale tours and intense followings. In a way, it's quite fitting that both of these bands are on the 4 Peaks bill, given that the festival — attracting attention from fans all over the West Coast in its inaugural year — could easily become something bigger in future summers. The festival's promoters saw the event grow from a couple of bands on a family farm to the point that, now, it's very much a significant summer happening in Central Oregon. Come next summer, who knows what 4 Peaks could blossom into? But whether it's a time -tested behemoth like Bonnaroo or an upstart like 4 Peaks, Lebowitz says the main attraction for music festivals is that each gathering has its own vibe, it's own attitude. "I'm really excited to come out to your guys' festival because every one has its own variation on the festival scene," he says. "Granted, it takes more work to get there than a normal show, but then you're there for a couple days and get to go from your tent to the stage in a matter of moments." The Source will be blogging live from 4 Peaks all weekend. Tune into www.tsweekly.com for constant show reviews, updates, and nonsensical semi -festival - related banter. 2008 4 Peaks Music Festival Partnership Agreement Please print and return this form with a check and logo if applicable. Company name as you wouldlike it listed: Contact person: Phone #: Address:_ E-mail: Level of Participation: (ie. $5000 Stage partner): Check number: Signature: Please email your logo to: stacy@4peaksmusic.com \ We also would you're your company banners ahead of time or dropped off at the festival site on July 25th (can pick up if needed) Make checks payable to: 4 Peaks Presents LLC Attn: Stacy Totland P. O. Box 8282 Bend, OR 97708 Thank you so much for your support of our second year! PEAKS PRESENTS u.c gPecdsa Presenting 4 Peaks Music Festival 2008 Bend, OR July 25,26, 2008 Presented to: Deschutes County Prepared by: Stacy Totland Festival manager 541-382-8064 POS Box. 8282 • BEND OR 97708 4peaksmusic.com • info@4peaksmusic.com For Immediate Release Contact: Stacy Totland (541) 382-8064 2"d Annual 4 Peaks Music Festival in Sunny Central Oregon April 8th, 2008 Bend, Oregon — 2008 marks the 2"d annual 4 peaks Music Festival. After a successful et year Bend promoters have decided to keep the momentum going and proceed with an annual event. They have expanded their 20 acre venue which will allow for more camping; including a designated family camping area. They are also booking 20 bands this year an increase over the 17 bands that played in 2007. The bands are still being finalized but the line-up promises to include even bigger headliners than last summer while still including some local acts. The 4 Peaks Music Festival will be a 2 -day music festival with camping July 25 & 26th in Bend, OR. The festival will be complete with food, beverage and craft vendors, as well as a kid's creative area for the young festival goers. Part of the profits will benefit a local nonprofit organization to be determined. The 4 Peaks Music Festival is named after the four Cascade Mountain peaks visible from the venue, The Rockin' A Ranch. Broken Top, South, Middle and North Sister are a backdrop for this picturesque venue. EricWalton, Board Member and founding member of the festival says, "We have continued to receive positive feedback from last years festival attendees This year we have bigger headliners and an expanded venue, including more camping and a designated family camping area. With that, we more attendees this year." The 4 Peaks Music Festival will be an annual event in Central Oregon, which may bring more than 2,000 visitors to Bend each July. The music and venue will make a great family getaway for both visitors and locals to enjoy together." Central Oregon is best known for its diverse recreational opportunities on both the Deschutes River and in the Deschutes National Forest, world class climbing at Smith Rock, endless Mountain bike trails, rivers and lakes for boating, kayaking and fishing as well as a vibrant downtown with shops, restaurants and art galleries. Tickets will be available at downtown Bends, Ranch Records or at www.frontgatetickets.com. For information visit us online at www.4peaksmusic.com. Vendors who are interested in having a booth please contact Will Nash at (541) 788-0314 or will@4peaksmusic.com. The Festival information number is (541) 382-8064. ### The Mission Our mission for the 4 Peaks Music Festival is to promote a multi day music event in beautiful Central Oregon, featuring an array of eclectic, national bands for music enthusiasts and families. We have set the stage for our second year that will bring people from all over the country and benefit the economy of Bend and its surrounding communities. What is 4 Peaks Music Festival? 4 Peaks is a company who specializes in the organization and promotion of this annual music festival. 4 Peaks is designed to appeal to music, dance and art/crafts lovers of all ages. Our aim is to bring the "best" in improvisational music and talented artists to the Central Oregon Region. The number of festivals is growing throughout the country in response to the demands of festival attendees. Within the past five years, the industry has witnessed phenomenal growth with festivals such as Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN), Wakarusa (KS) and Langerado (Fort Lauderdale, FL), and this year with The Rothberry Music Festival in Michigan, expected to draw over 100,000 people. 4 Peaks is staffed by experienced festival entrepreneurs who have developed skills in event coordination and music promotion. 4 Peaks is an LLC partnership organization which allows for maximum creativity and flexibility to respond quickly to emerging needs and challenges. After a successful first year and much demand, we are going forward more bands and acres for family fun and camping. Event Scope • Supporting and entertaining local businesses and the economy of Central Oregon • 2000+ Attendees • Nationally recognized Acts • Implementing Eco -friendly and "no waste" tactics • A family friendly atmosphere • Camping onsite 2008 Lineup: Local Acts including Moon Mountain Ramblers, Blackstrap, Masala Mostest, Bret Alan; National acts such as Tea Leaf Green, Hot Buttered Rum, Blue Turtle Seduction, Zilla, Poor Man's Whiskey, Acom Project, Flowmotion and many more to be announced closer to our actual date Benefits: 4 Peaks Presents is not a non-profit as of yet, (application pending) so we are proudly donating a part of our ticket sales to a non-profit organization in Bend. We place a high value on giving back to our communities. Bend Radio Group and The Source Weekly will be promoting our festival thmugh highly visible advertising. Brief Descriptions of our Board of Directors/Managers: Eric Walton: Eric Walton spent 1995-2002 as a financial advisor and parlayed that knowledge into the word of real estate investing. His 12 years investment experience and 17 years of music experience come together create a perfect synergy with his role as a festival planner. Stacy Totland: Stacy has worked in the festival world for over eight years including; Telluride Bluegrass Fest., Telluride Jazz Fest., Telluride MountainFilm, Telluride Film Fest., and the Bend Film Fest. She owned and operated Coffee News of Oregon for two years until she took on the role of full time mom. She is active in the community and with KPOV, Bend community radio, as one of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer and a DJ on two shows. She is a lifelong music enthusiast and hopes to make 4 Peaks Music Festival an annual success. Will Nash: Will is a carpenter, sculptor and luthier. Studied fine arts at the University of Oregon, Portland State University and in the Crystal River Valley of Colorado. Has always had a strong belief that music is the thread by which mankind maintains its sanity and sense of wonder and feels fortunate to be involved in the genesis of 4 Peaks. Paul Brown: Paul has been involved in many corporate marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and now brings his expertise the 4 Peaks Music Festival Board of Directors. Having attended a variety of festivals, he is eager to bring the brightest ideas from each event to Bend! Jason Beard: Jason Beard is the manager of a successful band Poor Man's Whiskey. He has participated in such festivals as the Telluride Bluegrass Fest., Strawberry Music Fest., Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest., as well shows with the Eagles, John Mayer, Phil Lesh and Friends, and many more.