<p>A Chicago-based promoter made the case to Tisbury selectmen this week for a weekend-long $1.55 million summer music festival at Veterans Memorial Park.
A Chicago-based event promoter made the case to Tisbury selectmen this week for a weekend-long $1.55 million summer music festival that could attract as many as 8,500 people per day.
After pitching the idea last month, Adam Epstein of Innovation Arts and Entertainment formally presented his plan for an outdoor event in Veterans Memorial Park to the selectmen at their regular meeting Tuesday.
Mr. Epstein, who owns a home on the Island, currently produces the Martha’s Vineyard Summer Concert Series at smaller venues in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. On Tuesday night his proposal saw an enthusiastic response from supporters, including a number of members of the downtown business community, and serious qualms from at least one abutter of the park. Selectmen took no formal action but will discuss the proposal again on Jan. 15.
“Some of you have shared a longing for the days when you could see lots of great touring acts on the Island nightly all summer long,” Mr. Epstein said. “We’re very excited to propose a special weekend-long celebration of community, music, art and food.”
Promoter Adam Epstein has produced the Martha's Vineyard Summer Concert series in recent years.
Promoter Adam Epstein has produced the Martha's Vineyard Summer Concert series in recent years.
The proposed festival in the large town park and recreation field tucked off Lagoon Pond Road would run from Friday, August 9 to Sunday, August 11. Mr. Epstein said the Friday evening event would likely be a screening of
the film Jaws, potentially with live orchestral accompaniment, ending at 11 p.m. He proposes music events between the hours of noon and 8:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. He said the festival would focus on bands that hold appeal for the Island population, many of whom are baby boomers. He said music “within an American Roots sound,” could be expected along with a mix of classic R&B and funk. Mr. Epstein also attempted to address anticipated concerns, namely increased traffic and congestion in an already congested area near downtown. He said the location of the festival near the ferry would help discourage visitors from bringing vehicles, and organizers would account for parking and shuttling from remote locations during the planning process. He said when compared to the Agricultural Fair and the fireworks display in Oak Bluffs, the proposed event was modest, even small.
He also emphasized his intentions to draw Islanders to the event, rather than attracting more tourists from off-Island, committing to making tickets available to Islanders at Island stores first.
Seth Gambino, who owns the La Choza burrito shop on Main street and lives near the park, was unconvinced. He said he was acquainted with the arcana of outdoor music event planning because he was once a live music producer himself, and he shared a lengthy list of concerns.
“Downtown Tisbury is not the right venue. Festivals like this are usually more successful and beneficial to areas that don’t already have a massive influx of seasonal residents and tourists,” Mr. Gambino said.
He cited concerns about light pollution, parking and production crews working late into the night. He said the crowds could limit access to roads and delay emergency response vehicles. He also said neighbors would bear the brunt.
But others said they saw the proposal as an opportunity for Tisbury.
“This would be a good shot in the arm, and maybe a good kick start to something this town really needs,” said Tisbury resident and harbor management committee member Jeffrey Canha.
“We did have overwhelming support for the event,” said Sarah York, who leads the town’s business association, of a recent meeting with business leaders. “What we feel is lacking in Tisbury is a signature event of any kind.”
Resident Dan Doyle agreed. “I hope the board takes a look at it and recognizes it as an opportunity,” he said.
“We have no income stream like this and this is a phenomenal opportunity,” said Jeff Kristal, who is co-chairman of the town finance committee. “The police and fire departments are going to be made whole, so it’s not like town resources and money will be expended to pay for police and fire and ambulance personnel there,” Mr. Kristal said. “If it doesn’t work out after the first year, at least we can say we’ve tried it.”
Selectmen said they will do further research and consult with legal counsel.
“I have gotten feedback from the public of Tisbury universally questioning our sanity for even considering doing this in Tisbury, and that has certainly made an impact on me,” said selectman Melinda Loberg. “However I still would like to explore the parameters of this,” she added.
Board chairman Tristan Israel had some qualms about festival hours, citing daytime traffic around the post office.
“To me, being a good Libra, I see the pros and cons of this, but ... you offered money in one form or another to the town, and we need revenue,” he said.
Mr. Epstein said with bands already accepting offers from other festivals, time is of the essence for him.
“We’re facing a little bit of pressure,” he said.
Comments
Been there, would NOT do that
John Harrison New London, Ct.Been there, would NOT do that! Nice idea, bad situation. What are the plans for any medical emergency? Can you imagine the 6000 daily,eating, drinking, smoking, having a good time and leaving all their cares at the boat, home or wherever and the MESS that gets left behind,the human waste,the trash,the shop lifting, the public urination. The new stain that remains with Tisbury.Please, NO.
We have plans for a full
Adam Troy Epstein Chicago and Vineyard HavenWe have plans for a full medical tent and ambulances queued on Lagoon Pond Road in case of emergencies.
Regarding the other human functions, there will be plenty of facilities available as you’d find at any fair or festival.
We are putting up a $25,000 deposit specifically to ensure we return the park as clean and well kept as we find it. So, besides our commitment to be good neighbors, we’re backing it up with money in the towns coffers to spend to fix any deficiencies if we fail to perform on our commitments.
I’m available to answer questions and work with the community on proper plans to make this work. But, please, don’t condemn anyone or anything without getting all the details.
Hello Adam. I am an annual
Margaret Bush Ware Los Angeles, CAHello Adam. I am an annual visitor to MV in August...but not the first week in the month. Why not plan your festival the 2nd or 3rd weekend in August (when I'm there!). I support all the activities when I'm on vacation and so do the people I bring with me all the way from California. We would love to attend a music festival during the time we're on the island. Do some due diligence as to the numbers of people on island the 2nd - 4th weekends of August. I'm sure you'll find more folk are there. At least my CA following will be! IJS
No parking. no festival.
tj tj Hegarty west tisburyNo parking. no festival.
5 corner traffic. no festival.
No brainer.
sounds like a great idea! we
jon Edgartownsounds like a great idea! we have been waiting for someone to do this for a long time. can't wait!!!
What happens if that weekend
Barbara TisburyWhat happens if that weekend is really rainy (Or a few days before) that park gets so flooded and stays wet for days. Electrical issues could be a big problem then. Are we talking tents? Ferry service interruptions?
The stage will be placed by
Adam Troy Epstein Chicago and Vineyard HavenThe stage will be placed by the Harbor Landing and Cumberland Farms corner of the Park and we will only use 60% of the Park from that area (from an acreage perspective. In case of calls for rain we will have groundcover similar to a baseball field.
If the weather is unsafe, the days event will be cancelled and ticket revenue will be fully refunded, just as we did when Aretha Franklin got sick and cancelled her event.
What about the fairgrounds?
Nan Neth WyomingWhat about the fairgrounds? Or what about saying “no thank you” to the whole idea? The only reason to do something like this in Tisbury, or anywhere on the Island, is to promote commercial interests and more tourism. It will be a nightmare if held in town.
Please Melinda!!!!!!!!! Just say NO!
Just not in July or August.
Tisbury homeowner TisburyJust not in July or August. Traffic is already a nightmare then and this festival would make that situation dangerously intolerable.
I’ve been producing music
Festival Promoter Edgartown home ownerI’ve been producing music festivals on the West Coast for 25 years. The Vineyard should have a music festival but Mr Gambino is correct. The logistics needed to safely and effectively host a music event on that site will most certainly negatively impact sanitation, traffic, ferry access, etc. Furthermore- just because one doesn’t have a ticket doesn’t mean people won’t set up outside of the event footprint to listen for free further complicating logistics because outside of the site footprint is not the repsonsibility of the promoter. There’s a reason why successful music festivals of all sizes including small like this proposal tend to be in areas of open space. It always sounds good to merchants and town reps.....until it isn’t. The area to best consider is the agg hall site. It’s already validates it’s a viable footprint to host events led by the Ag Fair.
I’d love to speak with you
Adam Epstein ChicagoI’d love to speak with you and hear about what obstacles you see, and then work with you to overcome them. I can be reached thru www.MVConcertSeries.com, or our Facebook page.
Why would you do this the
Debbie New YorkWhy would you do this the same time as the African American film festival which already draws a ton of folks in a crowded housing market for the past 17 yrs
I have had a variety of
katama rose katama and boston, maI have had a variety of difficulties with my MV Summer Concert Series membership which suggest a larger festival with far more substantive organizational and operational challenges, is beyond this gentleman's capabilities. It sounds wonderful, but is likely to be fall far short . . .
Adam has a good track record
Bob EdgartownAdam has a good track record and I am happy to see someone willing to face the gauntlet of road blocks you have to go through to get things done on this Island. Give this a try we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If it does not work out the first year we tried and will not repeat it. If it does it will be a win for everyone except the nimby crowd.
I am all for new revenue
Really?! TisburyI am all for new revenue streams! I love that someone is thinking of Vineyard Haven. Lets face it.....everyone could make money off the summer crowd. A couple of challenges! Perhaps some real logistic planning on the part of the Producer would be in order before we use valuable Selectmen time entertaining maybe scenarios. I am not a producer and I could present a bunch of maybe scenarios. If you need to secure the talent, do some legitimate legwork. We are in the midst of budget planning season and need a school reno, town hall and a library expansion. Our selectmen are busy and we have had 2 meetings with maybe scenarios. I doubt this festival will buy us any of the things we need in town. Nobody wants to hear it , but we could generate more revenue from the new short term rental tax. How about the selectmen work on that issue. When referencing the OB Fireworks and Ag Fair, remember, both have significant parking within walking distance. It's one reason both work. The VTA adds buses from Ferry locations to Ag Fair. And it is a Bus from a congested location to "non" congested location. I suppose buses from the high school parking lot to VH might work, but for 8000 people? FYI, the VH SSA 9pm arrival would absolutely choke 5 corners if this concert gets out a 830. Maybe you could move 8000 people from that location in 30 minutes, but most days in August you can't get from VH to MVH in 30 minutes in August. There are only 2 routes out of there. One through residential neighborhood and the other through 5 corners. Can you imagine if it actually rained hard at high tide. Now that would be fun!
How about some real logistics planning in your presentation before we burn more selectmen time. ie...where would you get buses for 8000 people and where would you park that many cars. FYI. The PAC doesn't hold 8000 people and the parking lot is full for High School Musicals.
Please contact me directly if
Adam Troy Epstein Chicago and Vineyard HavenPlease contact me directly if you’d like to know the details we’ve presented. Contact info is available at www.mvconcertseries.com. Everything has been out in the open, but I can’t choose what information is published in a newspaper.
Just publish your logistics
Really?! TisburyJust publish your logistics on your website and we can all read it and take the paper reporting limitation out of the equation. PAC and whaling church are easy and you do a nice job because the numbers are limited. Congrats. But this is in the heart of a transportation hub.
Clogging up Vineyard Haven on
Dennis East ChopClogging up Vineyard Haven on one of the busiest weekends of the summer defies logic and common sense! Getting to ferries in Vineyard Haven will be a nightmare... which it already can be that weekend especially when rainstorms strike and the major interesections are clogged hours on end’
From the oldest of times,
WashAbhorred EdgartownFrom the oldest of times, people danced for a number of reasons. They danced in prayer or so that their crops would be plentiful or so their hunt would be good. And they danced to stay physically fit and show their community spirit. And they danced to celebrate. And that, that is the dancing that we’re talking about. Aren’t we told in Psalm 149: ‘Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Let them praise His name in the dance’?…It was King David. King David, who we read about in Samuel, and, and what did David do? What did David do? What did David do? ‘David danced before the Lord with all his might, leaping, leaping and dancing before the Lord.’ Leaping and dancing! Ecclesiastes assures us that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to laugh and a time to weep. A time to mourn and there is a time to dance. And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. See, this is our time to dance. It is our way of, of celebrating life. It’s the way it was in the beginning. It’s the way it’s always been. It’s the way it should be now.
July please
WD VHJuly please
Note to Debbie Downers:
Michael OBNote to Debbie Downers:
The World won't end and Tisbury will receive a revenue boost.
Nuff said.
Michael,you are correct sir,
John Harrison New London,Ct.Michael,you are correct sir, the world will not end, however Tisbury is the wrong place.Why not be a Ulysses upper and work work Adam to do this everybody must get stoned s***show in OB.
Short term rental tax if done
Robert EdgartownShort term rental tax if done well will bring in the most money from off island for the least cost(enviromentally, drug abuse, injuries, traffic, etc.) to our island. Just say no.....
Pray for a hot and sunny not
Paul Martin New York, New YorkPray for a hot and sunny not a cloud in the sky 3 days. That would help bake the consumers of edibles, wine, beer, combustibles and gluten free products. I hope the promoter has considered bartering for security like maybe some motor cycle club members in exchange for a couple cases of beer. Dear Tisbury selectman, Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste. Why are you wasting time on this potential horror show?
There are a lot of valid
John Zannini Vineyard HavenThere are a lot of valid concerns mentioned already, traffic, parking, security, and sanitation. Of course the weather cannot be controlled but with lots of planning and forethought many of the issues listed above can be mitigated. There are certainly other locations on the island that could be an alternative venue for the proposed festival, but I hope that the Selectmen and the community will realize the benefits that a weekend of music will bring to the town.
Certainly the short term financial gain will be significant to Tisbury coffers, but if this festival is well executed there could be a longer term positive financial impact as well. Mr. Epstein has a track record of producing the MV Summer Concert Series and accordingly is a known quantity here. I believe it is worth giving him a shot this year, and if it works out the town could then evaluate the possibility of an annual " anchor " event.
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