The Loudoun Summer Music Fest kicks off its fifth season of live, outdoor concerts Sunday, May 4, at Belmont Country Club, with headliner Creedence Clearwater Revisited. The 10-event concert schedule includes many popular bands such as The Wailers, Blues Traveler, Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon and Travis Tritt. Call 703-327-9096 or visit http://www.LiveAtBelmont.com for ticket information. Tracey Parent, the founder and organizer of the event, responds to the questions.
What is the Loudoun Summer Music Festival?
The Loudoun Summer Music Fest is a community concert series throughout the spring and summer that brings businesses, residents and charities together for a family-friendly event.
How did you become involved?
I started the event five years ago with my ex-husband and a few amazing volunteers.
How did the concert series get its start?
I wanted to create an event that catered to the demographic of our growing community. I wanted an event that tied all the pieces and parts of the community together for a common cause.
How are bands selected?
Bands are selected based on genre, demographic and of course, availability. We try to find the bands that we can both afford and that people will enjoy hearing.
What is your favorite part about the festival?
The day of the show when I watch our little field fill up with families and friends and they are all having such a good time. It's really the only time I pat myself on the back. It makes me feel good to know I have a hand in other people's joy and happiness.
What is the most challenging part about putting on the festival?
Money. Money and money. Oh! And weather. The second has much to do with the outcome of the first. We work so hard to cover all of our bases and it's always a challenge to keep the prices as low as possible and still be in the black at the end of the season, especially with the weather factor because you pay for the event and the band, regardless of the weather.
Why did you choose the Belmont Country Club for the venue?
It chose us really. Without sounding crazy (oh, who cares … really) I would drive by that field and it would just scream out "Do something here!" No seriously. It was the field that inspired the whole event to begin with. It almost wasn't the place with all work going into it, the fact that it did and still does is a mystery to me. But one I am, we all are, very grateful for!
What is new this year?
New … New food vendors. Original Steakhouse, Crepe Deli, American Frites and Anothai.
New sponsor of our Kid's Fest, Sport Bounce of Loudoun (which kid's are going to be stoked about, because they are bringing those huge bouncy things instead of the usual little ol' moon bounces).
New bands … Foreigner, Smash Mouth, CCR, REO Speedwagon, Travis Tritt, Keller Williams and Yonder Mountain String Band.
New bigger opening acts. This is actually really cool. This year many of our opening acts are almost or just as big as the headliner. There is local star Chelsea Lee who is 16 and opening for Pat Benatar, she is terrific! Bands like Mae, NeedToBreathe and Low Stars are national acts of different genres and are truly amazing. Not to miss, for sure.
Hmmm, what else? Oh yes! We have new presenting sponsors! We are so excited to have Infinitive and Open Band as our new presenting sponsors. Both are so incredibly supportive and involved. They are excited and to us, they are truly heroes. Without them, this event would not be happening this year, period. Just short of laying in front of traffic, we would do anything for them!
What is the charity this year and what do they do?
Our charitable awareness partner is Donate Life. Our goal in partnering with Donate Life is to raise awareness about organ, tissue and eye donation and give our attendees the ability to register to be a donor at each of our events! You can go to our Web site for more details!
How is the concert series going green?
We are recycling; we are utilizing electricity instead of generators for our sound, stage etc. Our vendors are implementing green practices such as recycling oils, buying bioplastics and other things that are under development. It is a learning process and it is something we are going to work very hard to improve as we learn, in every way we can.
Which concert are you most looking forward to?
That is a tough call. I am looking forward to Smash Mouth and Mae because both are great bands and I can't wait to see and hear all the little kids singing "All-star" because they know it from Shrek. I think we will try to bring some on stage for that!
I always love The Wailers because they are so incredibly laid back and it's a pretty peaceful day backstage.
Overall, I would have to say Foreigner and REO because we have spent the last four years trying to get them. I hope they are nice guys because it's always a bummer if they come and blow your image of them!