Scene and Heard

Bon Jovi headlines Friday evening's show

Dave Matthews Headlined Sundays Show

The first HullabaLOU Music Festival conducted July 23-25 at Churchill Downs attracted 78,753 fans from across North America despite searing summer heat. “The question we have been asked over and over has been, will HullabaLOU return in 2011?” stated Steve Sexton, president of the Churchill Downs Entertainment Group (CDE).  “The answer to that question is a resounding yes!”

On-site research conducted during HullabaLOU’s three-day run indicated that 99-percent of fans would recommend HullabaLOU to a friend. Additionally, 70-percent said they would personally return to the festival next year, and another 28-percent said they might attend in 2011, listing heat and potential artist line-up as factors in their decision to return.

The inaugural run of the HullabaLOU Music Festival attracted fans from 47 states and Canada who flocked to the historic Louisville, Ky. institution to enjoy exciting performances from an all-star roster of 66 artists topped by Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and the Dave Matthews Band.

“Fans are telling us they had a great experience, and we’re really pleased by the overwhelming response to the first Hullabalou Music Festival from the thousands of fans in our region and those who visited Churchill Downs from throughout North America,” said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs Entertainment. “Thanks to everyone – our guests, our artists and their management teams, HullabaLOU vendors, official sponsors and partners, our employees and Churchill team, our countless volunteers and all throughout the region who supported the festival and warmly embraced visitors and fans throughout the week.

Sexton previously indicated that CDE’s three specific major goals for the first HullabaLOU Music Festival were largely realized.  The goals included:

*       Creation of a large scale, unique music festival experience;
*       Building a major nationally-acclaimed event; and
*       Make the event financially viable with potential for future growth.

CDE staff members will analyze feedback from fans and performers over the next few weeks and review all areas of festival operations in an effort to improve on the impressive debut of HullabaLOU while planning for the 201l event.

Fans are encouraged to post input on the event’s Facebook page, which attracted more than 26,000 friends in the months leading up to and throughout HullabaLOU’s three-day run.

See HullabaLOU recap

See more photos

Trace Adkins began his show with a comedy video of himself , then turned the heat with three consecutive fan favorites songs. He joked about the July heat and then commented “my favorite color on a woman is sweat”.

From that point on he has his audience’s attention, and spent the show playing his country chart topping hits and telling stories.

He mentioned his support of the Military and thanked his fans for “spending their money on my show”.

Adkins performed a solid set that proved the cowboy was back in town!

Production Simple's Billy Hardison announces the show

My Morning Jacket members attend the press conference.

Yim Yames (Jim James) answers media questions

My Morning Jacket to Play Long Awaited

Hometown Show with Very

Special Guests:

The Louisville Youth Orchestra

and Wax Fang

My Morning Jacket may have traveled all across the globe but there is always an unmistakable, unique aura at their hometown gigs.  Their 2008 performance at the Waterfront Park proved that no matter how massive a Louisville MMJ show is, it manages to feel intimate.  The band also always includes locally-based performers at these events, ensuring that a truly communal sentiment is present.  With this in mind, the group is thrilled to announce that on October 29^th they will be joined by the illustrious Louisville Youth Orchestra (LYO) at the soon-to-be-opened KFC Yum! Center. Louisville’s own Wax Fang will be opening the evening as well.
The band will continue its practice of donating $1 from each ticket.  In this case, the proceeds will go to the Louisville Youth Orchestra Continuing Education Scholarship, which raises money for at risk youth to be able to attend school.   My Morning Jacket is also proud to announce that they will be continuing the tradition of creating a “Local Louisville Village” inside the KFC Yum! Center to provide locally based business and non-profits to have a presence at their show.

My Morning Jacket has continued to honor their roots and support their hometown in a variety of ways,” Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said. “That they are going to be among the first to play the new arena, involve the Louisville Youth Orchestra and bring local businesses and non-profit organizations to their show is something we can all take great pride in celebrating along with them.”

The Kentucky Derby will always be the premier Spring event in Louisville,  but J. K. McKnight andNederlander Entertainment may have just added a Summer classic to the mix.

It’s taken nine hard years for McKnight to build on his dream of hosting a local festival that combined Music, Art and Activism in his hometown. With the help of the City of Louisville, and Nederlander Entertainment, The  Forecastle Festival transformed Waterfront Park into  a wonderland for the senses.

An estimated 30,000 fans, most arriving around sunset, was treated to three beautiful evenings of music. The venue layout was comfortable and clean, with enough space to roam and enjoy the many activities the festival had to offer.

Even in three days of covering this event it was impossible to take in all the music, exhibits and art. it was a quality event, well managed and family friendly .

Forecastle has become an event Louisville should be proud of. It may not reach the size of Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza which is not all bad.

The Best of Forecastle (based on what I saw)

Friday Highlights

The crowd was fashionably late most arriving in the middle of the Drive by Truckers set.   The West Stage lawn was 3/4 full by the time Widespread Panic began their set.

1. Manchester Orchestra- very impressive show, setting the mood for the night
2. Widespread Panic– the usual well played set filled with jams. Jimmy Herrings guitar gets better with each gig.
3. Drive by Truckers- Patterson Hood and company knows how to excite festival crowds.
4. Dead Confederate- strong show by these southern style rockers

Best surprise –

Cirque Berzerk

The Ocean Stage – DJ dance music was full  of dancers all weekend long.

Saturday Highlights

1. Cake– Had the crowd dancing during the show and talking afterword.
2. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals– “Ah Mary” brought chills !
3. Devo– Classic performance an set list
4. Smashing Pumpkins– Tight show including many hit songs which is rare.
5. Umphrey’s McGee- Very clean set, a shame it was on so early many people missed it.
6. Bassnectar- impressive sound even if you don’t like techno music

Best Saturday surprises

Macca Pazza- 30  people in this band – everyone can play!

Black Diamond Heavies- Keyboards and drums only- great sounds

March Madness Marching Band- fun to watch

Cake playing Black Sabbath

Sundays Highlights

1. Spoon– No fancy stage show just straight well played songs backed by horns from Louisville players
2. Flaming Lips– Incredible stage show,
3. Minus the Bear- solid performance despite some technical issues
4. She and Him– Zooey Deschanel and M Ward’s music enough said.
5. Sara Watkins- fine voice and music – but No Nickel Creek songs

  Best Sundays Surprise-

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

More Photos   Friday 2010 , Forecastle 2010   and Sunday 2010

2010 will be remembered for the many combinations of legendary acts joining forces on tour this year.Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio was host to two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, Steve Winwood (2004) and Carlos Santana on Tuesday .

Winwood began the historical evening reflecting on his incredible  forty plus year musical career, mixing songs from his days with The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic and his solo efforts. His vocals landed him #33 on Rolling Stone‘s top 100, Greatest singers of all time, the high tenor trademark sound that takes only a few measures to identify and once heard is hard to forget. His musical talent showed as he switched between the Hammond B-3 organ and guitar.

His hour long set left fans asking for more and hoping for the opportunity to see a headlining tour in the future.

Carlos Santana’s  “Universal Tone Tour” featured the guitar virtuoso and his outstanding ten piece band reflecting on his musical career that began in San Francisco in the mid 1960s with historical shows at “The Fillmore”and emerging on to the global stage with his powerful performance at Woodstock in 1969.

Recognized as one of the worlds greatest guitarist, his clean,lightning fast, high pitched sound, slow latin blues and jazz fusion carried the audience throughout the nearly two hour show.

He made sure to deliver his spiritual messages throughout the show of “live your life to your spiritual potential with Light, Compassion and Love”.  Thanking the crowd for allowing him to share his views, he commented on legalization of Marijuana, “not for me, I am still high from Woodstock, but use the tax money to fund schools, education and pay teachers for a better life for our children”.

The encore began with actual footage from  “The Woodstock Chant”,which led into Soul Sacrifice” leaving his fans on a musical high and exhausted, reliving the past with a musical legend.

See more photos http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?i=1&db=1&pw=zBVTFHeI&a_id=4741650

or mikeseye @ Phanefare.com

Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana celebrated Independence Day in grand style   The evening began with legendary bluesman and 1987 Grammy Award winner. B. B. King.

The 84 four year old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987),  guitarist was backed by his long time  eight piece band,  greeting the audience with his smile, conversation and popular song “Rock Me Baby”.

King played his co star Gibson guitar “Lucille”, who he described as “his employer”.

Playing many of his famous songs and ending his set with “The Thrill is Gone”. Although he has slowed a bit King and his band kept his fans entertained with his stories and music.

During the encore of “You are my Sunshine” King asked the audience, “kiss somebody, if your with someone special give them a kiss”

As the show ended he repeatedly thanks everyone for coming telling them”We love you”.

As the spectacular fireworks show began with synchronized music to the National Anthem and other patriotic songs, King and his band remained on the darkened stage to enjoy the festivities. Later on his bus, King mentioned ‘that show touched my heart” , and described receiving a letter  while living on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi telling him to report for Military Duty.

“I went through boot camp and after six weeks the sent us back  to the plantation to wait  for an assignment”  Fortunately for blues lovers everywhere that call never came.

“I like to talk with and meet people”. That was evident in the after show asking his visitors to “sit down and chat for a while”, happily answering questions and telling stories.

B. B. King is a national treasure and a perfect fit to celebrate America’s Birthday.

For more photos: Mikeseye@phanfare.com