Dewey Beach is preparing to kick off its summer with a plethora of concerts and festivals, and it will start this weekend, Friday, April 13, and Saturday, April 14, hosting the Delaware Music Festival, once again at the Ruddertown complex.
As director of entertainment and talent buyer for Dewey Beach events, Vikki Walls said that this gets to be one of the more stressful, yet exciting times of the year for her.
“Organizing 45 bands to play at one place over two days is no easy task,” Walls said. “But it’s a great, free show, and it really celebrates bands from all over Delaware.”
That’s right, 45 bands hailing from all over the state will come together for the two-night event, and, yes, it’s free. The bands will rotate through 40-minute performances across five stages on Friday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., and six stages on Saturday, from 5 p.m. until 1 p.m.
The Rusty Rudder will provide four stages – two inside and two outside — both of which are tented and heated. Another stage at neighboring coffee shop, Booksandcoffee, will provide room for more bands, and on Saturday, concert-goers will have the opportunity to catch shows at the Lighthouse, too. The restaurant will be open for those wishing to dine, and a light-fare deck menu is available, as well.
“I look forward to this time of year,” said Walls, who started organizing the Dewey shows almost five years ago. Her first project was the Dewey Beach Music Conference, a concert in the fall that brings in 175 bands from all over the country.
Bands in this weekend’s Delaware Music Festival will be showcasing a wide variety of genres and styles.
“We’ve brought in all sorts of bands,” said Walls. “There’s pop, rock, jam, singer-songwriters… There’s going to be something for everyone. If you can’t get into the sound coming from one stage, just head on over to another one, and there’s a good chance you’ll find something you like.”
Local favorites, such as Love Seed Mama Jump and Lowercase Blues, will be rocking through the night, as well as up-and-coming Delaware talent, such as Kaitlin Sweeney, The Autumn Affair and Fat Daddy Has Been.
Walls puts a lot of time and effort into planning the concerts, with most of her preparation coming from the ever-growing MySpace.com. “I use it religiously,” she said. “I can search by the state and check out sites for any band I want. I really put a lot of research into the shows.” Local music lovers can visit one of her sites for more information, at www.myspace.com/deweybeachmusic.
She’s seen growing numbers in both concert-goers and performing bands.
“Every year I get more and more bands who play, then ask to return the next year,” she said. “They all seem to enjoy it a lot. I think they realize how hard I’m working for them and appreciate it, especially when we can have 19 bands play at the Rusty Rudder in one night. The crowd is always increasing, too. Each band brings their fans and their following.
“The festival gives bands to really be a part of something. Clubs in the cities are closing left and right. We want to show people at the southern shore that we’re adding music, not getting rid of it.”
This year, in addition to the festival itself, one band will be crowned the best Delaware in the first annual Delaware Music Awards. Local experts will decide and present their decision at midnight on Saturday.
Walls will follow up next weekend with the Dewey Beach Popfest. The first two weekends in May will see the High Tide Jamfest and the 2007 Chickfest. Stay tuned to Coastal Point to get all the information on upcoming shows.