All star lineup at Farwell

From: ads@northernexpress.com
Subject: Farwell
Date: June 11, 2007 8:01:23 AM EDT
To: lynn@northernexpress.com

All-Star Line-Up
Editors note: Interviews with bands performing at the new Silver Ridge Music Festival facility in Farwell will appear throughout the summer in the Express.

When Phil Coultrip of Midland announced last year that he was going to build a major concert venue in Farwell, some probably questioned his decision. After all, the concert industry is tough enough in major markets, but putting a facility that will hold over 10,000 people in a community of 500 might be grounds for temporary insanity. This summer he is bringing some of the top old school and new school rock and country artists to Farwell over two weekends.
“The way I see it is all roads lead to Farwell in this state,” said Coultrip. “There are 4.8 million people who live within 150 miles of here. Farwell is in the center of the state and things in the center have a tendency to do well in this business.”
Coultrip has built a reputation in the concert promotion industry for taking the “center” approach. For years he was
the concert promoter at the Iowa State Fair, growing the attendance to a mill-ion concert goers during fair week. For the past nine years he has worked the same magic at the Indiana State Fair.
“Both of those fairs are at the center of their respective states, making them accessible for travelers,” said Coultrip.
When pressed further about locating the facility closer to a metropolitan area, he chuckles.
“Part of this concept is offering the ‘up north experience,’ said Coultrip. “It would be hard to create that type of camping experience in Lansing, Detroit or Flint with a bunch of buildings around. People are looking to escape that.”

SOMETHING NEW
Coultrip points out that he is not trying to recreate DTE Energy Music Theater (formly Pine Knob near Detroit). He is looking for a music festival experience.
“Music venues like DTE put on 30 to 40 shows a summer,” said Coultrip. We plan to do that in a festival campaign format over three weekends.”
This year they will present two weekends with Mountain Country Music Festival June 21 –24 featuring Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, Leann Rimes and Jeff Foxworthy. Then July 19 –22 the Mountain Rock Music Festival will feature Collective Soul, Saliva, Uncle Kracker, Styx, Mick Fleetwood and Def Leopard.  
“In a couple of years we will add a third weekend with a totally different style of music that we will announce at a later date,” said Coultrip.
Coultrip’s all-star line-up over two weekends is a tribute to his nearly 40-year reputation in the industry. First-time promoters would have little luck getting anywhere with artist agents for an undertaking of this caliber, especially since contracts were signed with several artists before the ground for building a stage even began.
“It certainly helps that I have a personal relationship with several of these bands and their management,” said Coultrip. “Success in this business is dependent on delivering on your word. I have done it before and I guess they all trusted me to do what I said I would. Some of these bands I have booked 30 times in the past.”

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He started his reputation as a concert promoter on the right foot as a 15-year-old musician promoting his first show at the Midland Center. The artist and his management were so happy they asked him to promote more shows.
“I remember it like it happened yesterday. It was January 27, 1970 and it was the Bob Seger System, and it was one of the last shows he did as the System,” said Coultrip. “My band opened for Seger at the Bay City roller rink a couple of months earlier and after the concert I asked him what I needed to do to promote a show with him in Midland, my home town. Seger told me, ‘If you promise to do it, I will sit down with you and tell you how to do it.’ I soaked up everything he told me and pulled off the concert in Midland. Probably the only mistake I made was after the concert when Seger and his manager offered me Seger’s guitar and amp for 100 bucks. It was all beat up so I said ‘no’ because my guitar was in better shape and that kind of money in those days would buy a good used car.
I wonder what that guitar of Seger’s is worth today.”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD
His landing Carrie Underwood, who is at the top of the musical world right now is probably tied with the Bob Dylan show at Interlochen as the biggest musical coup of the summer.
“It helps being on a first-name basis with Simon from American Idol,” said Coultrip. “I have been booking American Idol acts since the show began.”
He sees Carrie Underwood as someone special in the business and that often entertainers get a bad rap for their egos.
“When Carrie learned that Gretchen Wilson was playing the same night, Carrie asked to be the opening act out of respect to Gretchen’s accomplishments,” said Coultrip. “Seldom if ever do you have a headliner willing to take the opening act slot, but Carrie is very grounded.”
Now Coultrip has overseen the construction of what is the largest permanent outdoor music stage in Michigan at the former 300-acre down hill ski facility. He has spared no expenses in creating a world-class facility.
“We have installed the highest quality PA system in the world,” said Coultrip. “Plus, we have created side stages to keep musical entertainment going in between the major acts.”
He is proud of the Farwell and the surrounding area for their quick support of the project.
“This community has rallied around this project from day one,” said Coultrip. “Their support has kept the construction of this on time. Four weeks out from our first weekend and we were ready to put a show on. There will not be any last minute things we are ready to go.”
So how have ticket sales been?
“Beyond our expecta-tions. In fact, if we don’t sell another ticket this summer would be a success,” said Coultrip. Tickets remain for both weekends though in recent weeks the rock festival has been selling at a faster clip than the country festival.”
He is pleased with the eclectic line-up he assembled for the rock festival.
“I carefully wove together old school rockers with new school rockers,” said Coultrip. “The demographic of the concert-goer supports this concept. So it will be great to have Uncle Kracker Styx and Def Leopard the same night and Saliva then Grand Funk followed by Third Eye Blind and Deep Purple all the same night.”
 
For additional information on the two music festivals visit mtcountryfest.com or call the box office at  800-515-1780. View On Our Website