Silver Ridge Music Festival

March 28, 2007

This summer, a new concert facility will open within easy driving distance of Northern Michigan. The former Silver Ridge Ski Resort in Farwell (northwest of Clare) is being converted into an amphitheater and will host two summer music festivals in 2007. Phil Coultrip of Midland, who has a 35-year career putting on major music festivals all over the country, is launching Silver Ridge Music Festivals.
The first event -- The Mountain Country Music Festival -- will be held over the weekend of June 20-23 and will feature comedian Jeff Foxworthy and country musicians LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Darryl Worley, Sawyer Brown and Gretchen Wilson as the headliners.
On July 20-22, the facility will hold The Mountain Rock Music Fest, featuring headliners Mick Fleetwood, REO Speedwagon, Deep Purple, Grand Funk, Chicago and Uncle Kracker.
The facility expects to draw 12,000 concertgoers on both weekends. The 150-acre former ski facility will have 6,000 camping units, a gourmet restaurant and other amenities to attract visitors.
Farwell is a community of less than 1,000, but the venue’s founder and managing partner doesn’t see the lack of a population base as a challenge.
“There are 4.3 million people living within a 150 mile radius,” said Coultrip. “We ought to be able to attract 11,000 for the talent we have lined up and the fact that we have the lowest ticket prices of any venue in Michigan for this type of caliber. Plus we are near the expressway, so access is easy.”

MUM’S THE WORD
At this point, only the two festivals are planned for the site, which is currently under construction. Coultrip sees the facility focusing on festival weekends versus becoming another DTE Music Theater (former Pine Knob) with 40 to 50 concerts each summer.
“I am really not at liberty to comment on what else is in the works,” said Coultrip. “It is the nature of this business. Our focus right now is on these two festivals for this summer.”
Concertgoers will have several options, ranging from purchasing a complete concert/camping package for the weekend to buying day passes. Coultrip noted that concept and pricing is structure around making a weekend out of it.
The Silver Ridge Music Festival facility will include a VIP/corporate section that includes up front reserved seating, close-ups for taking pictures, VIP parking, and complimentary lunch, dinner and beverages.
While most of the headline acts are booked in for both weekends, organizers are still in negotiations with other acts. Boston was originally scheduled for the rock weekend, but the group’s lead singer passed away a couple of weeks ago, resulting in Boston canceling their summer tour.
Look for additional details and an interview with Phil Coultrip in the “Super Summer Guide” of the Northern Express this June. For additional information or tickets visit
www.mtcountryfest.com or by call
800-515-1780.