A nationally known music promoter is hoping to bring a three-day music festival to Vineyard Haven that could feature the likes of Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Alison Krauss, George Clinton & P Funk and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Adam Epstein, CEO of Innovation Arts & Entertainment, is seeking permission from Tisbury selectmen to hold the concert over three days at Veterans Memorial Park on a date still to be determined next summer. Epstein said the concerts would have a capacity of 6,000 customers each day, with separate events covering an eclectic mix of music.
None of the performers have been booked, so the lineup is conceptual and will depend on availability once the event gets the greenlight, Epstein said.
Epstein has organized the popular Summer Concert Series on the Island, last year attracting David Sedaris and Deer Tick to the Island.
Selectmen were open to the music festival idea, voting 2-0, with selectman Melinda Loberg listening in remotely by phone but unable to vote, to endorse the project subject to a long list of questions and concerns being addressed, which include requiring a bond to protect the field and seeking a portion of the concert proceeds.
A stage would be trucked in over plywood to protect the field, Epstein said. The first night would feature an outdoor showing of “Jaws,” with the Cape Cod Symphony expressing interest in performing the classic Vineyard film’s haunting score.
The other days would feature a list of performers on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 8 pm, with food and beverage concessions on site. The daily fee would be about $100, with the Friday night event at about $10 to $15 per person, Epstein said.
“I’m totally in favor of this, but want to make sure the town gets something out of it,” selectman Jim Rogers said.
Epstein said there would be a lot of marketing and promotion that would bring a lot of people to town, enhancing the reputation of the town. “They go to restaurants, they walk along Main Street, they go to shops and buy products from people who own businesses on Main Street,” he said.
Chairman Tristan Israel asked Rogers, Loberg, and the town’s public safety chiefs to gather questions and get them to town administrator Jay Grande over the next 10 days so the subject can be discussed at the board’s next meeting, Jan. 8.
Meanwhile, Grande is going to consult with the town’s attorney.
“There’s a lot I want to learn before I say, ‘Yahoo, let’s go,’” Rogers said.
House renovations on hold
Selectmen put off a decision on what to do about renovations at 29 Franklin St. that have failed to follow the conditions put on the project by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the planning board.
Harold Chapdelaine, chairman of the historic commission, told the board that there were several problems with the renovations, including the use of Azec PVC on the trim of the building. The historic house was supposed to use only wood, he said.
Instead of making the homeowners remove the plastic-based products and ship them to a landfill, the commission is proposing that the homeowners make a contribution to the commission that could be used to create a database of historic homes older than 100 years old in town, Chapdelaine said.
Selectmen held off making a decision until Grande could also run that agreement before the town’s attorney and bring it back on Jan. 8. Board members thanked Chapdelaine for being a “watchdog” on having projects comply with what’s been approved.
“Board members thanked Chapdelaine for being a “watchdog” on having projects comply with what’s been approved.“ Sort of like the way the Selectmen were such stellar “watchdogs” when the bank replaced their clay roof with those shingles?
Being your wife must be hell.
Any thought to bringing in a few performers relevant to anyone under 50?
Re: “yourhelp”‘s comment regarding the use of cellular PVC in historical restorations….my friend, You are missing the point COMPLETELY ! Well done, Harold !
BeBop400, who exactly do you think you are replying to?
Yeah, here’s a thought! They will have a special one hour concert for the under 25 crowd featuring Kanye with the Kardashian sisters holding a “Sign Our Boobs or Butts” sideshow in a separate tent off to the side, followed by a Pete Davidson/Ariana Grande Memorial Concert benefiting the Martha’s Vineyard Community Service Mental Health Programs and the Advanced Placement Educational Courses at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School!
This island has always been stuck in the past when it comes to music. In some ways, it’s the bad music capital of the US.
Preach!
We certainly have room for 6000 people to park in the downtown even during the summer! What a great idea! Hopefully those public officials who need to approve this proposal will agree and will maybe let people park on chicken alley in front of the thrift shop.This is a great idea!
Agreed. While the idea itself may be good, the location seems like very poor planning. A more remote site away from the center of town would make more sense.
Once an average quality paint job is applied I defy anyone to see the difference between cellular PVC and wood trim. And there are several examples of projects with mixed materials on the Island as proof.
The Vineyard is more than overdue for a significant concert. Let’s help make this happen.
Ahem, it’s not a historical house anymore as the old house was torn down. Also, attention to anyone building in VH, do what you want! You’ll get to keep it as long as you can throw a few bucks at whatever they ask you to.
“Epstein said there would be a lot of marketing and promotion that would bring a lot of people to town, enhancing the reputation of the town. “They go to restaurants, they walk along Main Street, they go to shops and buy products from people who own businesses on Main Street,” he said.”
Yah dah yah dah. Earth to Epstein: Vineyard Haven does not need promoting. The Vineyard has been overpromoted; hence the unbearable congestion. Why stage this thing in the middle of Vineyard Haven? Why run the risk of wrecking our lovely in-town playing field? Bond, schmond. The whole place will be dug up and ruined. And a nightmare for the three days the thing is running. We don’t need another venue for showing Jaws. Just go to Owen Park. This is a terrible idea for the village of Vineyard Haven. Another pomoter trying to make a buck off the cachet of Martha’s Vineyard while saying that he is doing the place a favor—meanwhile substantially reducing the place’s cachet with an inappropriate idea and event. The downsides of such an event, before, during, and after, are alarmingly easy to picture.
I agree! This is a terrible idea.
Bonnie Raitt, George Clinton & P Funk and Earth, Wind & Fire. Did the promoter also get permission to build a time machine to go back to when any of these acts would have been relevant?
Indeed homie.
“Music festival wants to dad-rock Vineyard Haven” And I’m a dad.
It want’s to Granddad-rock Vineyard haven.
The island has had previous large shows, both good and bad.
The island does not need to promote itself in the summer.
How about in the off season, September or October when the merchants really need the business
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