Non-Profit Internet Source for News, Events, History, & Culture of Northern Frederick & Carroll County Md./Southern Adams County Pa.

 

The Arts Scene

Labor Day Rest Fest at Crumland Farms

Kathryn Franke
MSM Class of 2013

(8/2011) So you’re looking for something to do on Labor Day. Something nearby to avoid the chaos of travel. Something fun, family-friendly, and affordable. Well, right here in our very own Frederick, Morningtown Productions and In Crowd Promotions have joined forces to create a spectacular event for the whole family. It’s easy on the wallet and easy on the gas, and it will be fun for people of all ages.

Rest Fest will be an arts and crafts festival and music concert held at Crumland Farms Festival Ground in Frederick, Maryland. Owned by Denny and Judy Crum, Crumland Farms began as a dairy farm and now grows corn, wheat, soybeans, alfalfa and hay. Crumland Farms plays a big role in bringing the members of the community together through its activities and events throughout the year, and the upcoming Labor Day Rest Fest will do just that. Greg Baughman and Scott Gianforte have teamed up to bring us an event that will no doubt be incredible. They wanted to host an event that would have something for everyone to do in one place. It will be a very family-oriented event, appealing to people of all ages through food, music and entertainment.

The festival, which is planned to become an annual event, will take place on Monday, September 5th from 11am to 10pm. Children who are 5 and under get in for free. Tickets are $5 for ages 6-12, $10 for ages 12-18, and $20 for ages 19 and up. VIP tickets are available for purchase for $50, which include meeting the stars, autographs, drinks and food. Advanced tickets are on sale at www.tix.com. Tickets at the gate will be $30.00. Tickets are going quickly, so get your tickets now so you don't miss out on a great event for the family!

One of the goals of the festival was to bring together national acts with more local acts, covering many genres of music. New talent is always being introduced, and this event aims to highlight local and regional talent by putting them with "National" acts to help elevate their visibility and, in turn, their careers. Morningtown Productions has a goal of helping artists succeed by putting them on the stage and giving them the opportunity to perform and the experience they need. In Crowd Promotions books bands at venues to help the events be successful. They are two different parts that together make the show happen.

The Rest Fest will feature Blind Melon, Pat McGee and Lukas Nelson, along with many local groups. Blind Melon is best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain," and they are described as having a neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock. The band formed in California in 1989, and it has members from Indiana, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. The group’s vocalist, Hoon, was associated with Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, and he was a backup vocalist on several Guns N' Roses tracks on the 1991 Use Your Illusion album. Blind Melon’s single "No Rain" helped bring the band success and led the album to quadruple-platinum status. Capitol Records released a Classic Masters CD showcasing twelve Blind Melon songs in 2002.

Pat McGee Band recently signed a multi-record deal with Kirtland Records. They will tour with Vertical Horizon this summer supporting their CD Save Me, which contains five previously unavailable bonus acoustic tracks and a video for their single, "Must Have Been Love." Pat McGee Band has performed on "Good Day Dallas," "The Daily Buzz," "Good Day Tampa," WGN-Chicago, Fox 2 Morning News in Detroit, and ESPN’s "Baseball Tonight." They will perform on Fox 25 in Boston on August 1st and ESPN2’s "Cold Pizza" on August 2nd.

Lukas Nelson is the son of country icon Willie Nelson, but he has taken his own path as a musician despite their vocal similarities. Lukas dropped out of Loyola Marymount University where he was studying music, and his parents cut him off as a result. However, he had already had a musical education because of his father and his father’s friends (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Bob Dylan). Lukas is now leading Promise of the Real, which is a blues-rock band that released its self-titled debut album in December.

Other artists that will be performing include Amish Outlaws, Telesma, Jah Works, the Freddie Long Band, the Knolly Moles, the Golden Butter Band, Frederick Rock School, Lucy, Old Indian and Reid Schoenfelder. Frederick Rock School has provided great opportunities for youth who are interested in performing music. The school has teachers on site, helping the kids play not only on an individual level, but also in a band setting. The kids range from ages 8-16 years old, and the Frederick Rock School has helped them gain the experience and opportunites they need to make their dreams come true, even at a young age.

Scott Gianforte mentioned that we are all dreamers, and the arts help us to follow our dreams. If you start early and believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything. The Frederick Rock School helps provide children with a jump-start to their dreams, and they will undoubtedly be a wonderful addition to the venue at this event. The festival, while providing everyone with endless entertainment, will help people become more educated and aware of the impact of the arts in their lives. It is all around us, and it can help us do extraordinary things.

There will be over 50 artisans showcasing and selling their arts and crafts, and over 20 food and beverage vendors, each with a different kind of food to "bring to the table." There will be a type of food for everyone, ranging from organic to vegan to those very well known companies like Hooters and Papa John's. People of all ages will find something to enjoy, whether it is pit beef, pizza, seafood, or sno-cones. The goal was to have downtown and local foods but also some larger organizations to ensure that everyone can find something they would enjoy.

Throughout the event, artists will be building things that will be auctioned off at the end of the day. We will see masterpieces from iron workers, painters, sculptors, and so many more. Make N' Music is donating a guitar for the auction that will be signed by all of the artists at the event. Profits from the auction will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America.

There will be vendors, artisans, giveaways, and contests, and the event will be fun for all who attend. Morningtown Productions and In Crowd Promotions wanted to create an atmosphere that is comfortable and fun for all age groups. There will be food and entertainment for both children and adults. Kids will constantly be entertained by things like moon bounces, go-karts, and trains, and everyone can enjoy non-stop music throughout the night. The event will have two stages next to each other, so when one group stops performing, the other one starts. The music will be continuous throughout the night so that there is always something to do.

This event will surely go out with a bang as the night will come to an end with a fantastic fireworks show! So while you are trying to figure out what to do on your day off, consider this: music, food, games, family, and fun. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Even for us Mountaineers down Route 15, who unfortunately have to labor through classes on Labor Day, this is an event that you don’t want to miss. I plan on going as soon as my classes are over! So bring the family, and prepare for a day filled with fun, food, games, and great music, and make this Labor Day one to remember.

Read other articles on the local arts scene by Kathryn Franke