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BamaJam brings country music stars to Alabama peanut field
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Taken From: nola.com
by Phillip Rawls, The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, ALA. -- Country music fans will be gettin' down on the farm this weekend, with more than 100,000 expected as the second annual Bama Jam continues through June 6 near Enterprise, Ala.
Kid Rock and Brooks and Dunn are among the headliners June 6. There also is a liberal amount of rock and alternative music mixed in, including the Black Crowes, Los Lonely Boys, Umphrey's McGee and Drive By Truckers. Alan Jackson headlined June 5.
"We've got the biggest names in the music business playing in a peanut field in south Alabama," promoter Ronnie Gilley said.
Gilley said he's spending almost $6.5 million to produce the second edition of a festival that few expected to work last year. He said every expert told him a festival couldn't succeed at a venue so far from a major city. It's more than an hour south of Montgomery and more than five hours from New Orleans.
Attendance peaked last year on Saturday night, with more than 100,000 people attending. Gilley said he gave away lots of tickets last year -- and lost money on the event -- to establish its name and get national media attention.
This year, it's different. As of Tuesday, Bama Jam had sold 80,000 tickets, compared to 18,000 at the same point last year. "It's going to be bigger than last year," Gilley said.
Dylan Slagle / The Times-Picayune archiveAlan Jackson was the main attraction June 5 at the second annual Bama Jam, a music festival taking place in a peanut field near Enterprise, Ala., through June 6.
Last year's festival had few problems. Enterprise police said about 35 minors charged with possessing alcohol made up the majority of arrests.
"We were pleasantly surprised," Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said Wednesday.
The mayor also was surprised when the festival produced $321,000 in sales tax revenue. About $83,000 of that went to the city, which has a population of about 21,000. "It looks like it will be bigger this year, which is a welcome sign with the economy we are in," Boswell said.
Gilley's festival comes one week before the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tenn. But Gilley rejects comparisons with the rock event because his festival mixes new and traditional country artists with unlikely rock and alternative music acts. Plus, his festival draws young and old, and they are as likely to come in a luxury RV as a beat-up pickup truck.
Ray Waddell, who covers the concert touring business for Billboard magazine, said large music festivals are holding their own in the recession, and people seem to be using them as a substitute for longer vacations.
Waddell said Bama Jam has a much bigger lineup than last year. "If top talent is any indication, it should do well," he said Wednesday.
Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of the concert industry publication Pollstar, said Bama Jam's advance price of $99 for a three-day ticket made it a bargain for the caliber of talent.
Gilley's festival grew out of his work on real estate developments with investments from country music stars.
His newest real estate project is Country Crossing. It's going up 30 miles to the east at Dothan, Ala.
Gilley describes it as a country music resort similar to Branson, Mo., with country-themed restaurants, hotels and music venues bearing the names of artists such as George Jones, Lori Morgan and Tracy Lawrence.
Visit the article: http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/06/bama_jam_brings_talent_to_alab.html
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Taken From: Andalusia Star News
By Stephanie Nelson
There is only 25 miles separating Covington County from the site of the second annual Bama Jam near Enterprise, and local hotels say they are experiencing increased business because of the music event.
An estimated 100,000 people will attend the three-day event that featured Taylor Swift Thursday, followed by Alan Jackson today, and Kid Rock and Brooks and Dunn on Saturday. Organizer Ronnie Gilley spent nearly $6.5 million to produce the event. Attendance last year peaked on Saturday night.
Locally, the three Opp hotels are showing an increase in room bookings, which they attribute directly to the Coffee County music event.
Ashley Anderson at Opp’s Best Western said, for the second time in hotel history, all 43 of their rooms are booked.
“That’s on Thursday,” she said. “As of right now, we’ve got two rooms available for Friday and two for Saturday. To my knowledge, we’ve been booked solid one other time, so this is great.”
Half of the hotel’s occupancy is attributed to U.S. Air Force personnel working on the Florala Lake Project — the other half, Anderson said she felt like were tourists either going to the beach or attending Bama Jam.
“More so I think for Bama Jam,” she said. “I know a lot of people who are going. It sounds like it’s going to be great.”
Suzie Patel, manager of the Travel Inn of Opp, said “a couple” of her guests are Bama Jam goers and the hotel still has rooms available, as is the case at Opp’s Executive Inn.
“If people need a room, we’ve got one,” Patel said.
The concert line-up also includes a liberal amount of rock and alternative music, including the Black Crowes, Los Lonely Boys, Umphrey’s McGee and Drive By Truckers.
According to the Web site, tickets are $76.32 per person per day or $132.52 for a three-day pass. Tickets are also available at Opp’s Speedee Convenience store and Colonial Bank.
Visit the article: http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/news/2009/jun/04/bama-jam-helps-hotels/
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Taken From: Dothan Eagle
The three-day music festival kicks off each June with artists playing country, alternative rock, blues and more on four stages scattered across a field in rural Coffee County.
Taylor Swift
In its second year, the festival will feature Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, The Black Crowes, Brooks & Dunn and Kid Rock.
Music starts each day at 3:45 and wraps up at 1 a.m. Check out the music schedules for each day: Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Campgrounds are available for RVs and tents. There are also food vendors on site, a saloon that serves adult beverages and tents and booths featuring the BamaJam sponsors.
The first day of this year's festival drew 75,000 people. More than 100,000 attended the second day. That number grew to 121,000 for the final day of the festival.
Visit the article: http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/entertainment/bamajam
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AOL Music Covers Taylor Swift
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Taken From: AOL Music
Taylor Swift performs during the 2009 BamaJam Music and Arts Festival on June 4, 2009 in Enterprise, Alabama..2009 BamaJam Music And Arts Festival - Day 1
Visit the article: http://music.aol.com/picture/taylor-swift/taylor-swift-performs-during-the-2009/07-s4235990-6180
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Thousands arrive to BamaJam on Day 1
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Organizers have also added shower areas, more trolley's to transport people, and more parking employees. The highways will still be backed up getting into the festival, but organizers want to try to get the internal parking situation as organized as possible.
"Just have patience with us," says event organizer and Vice President of Ronnie Gilley Properties Billy Graham. "Bring some water in the car or something like that while you are waiting. They are getting everyone in as fast as we can."
Most of the masses come for the music, like Thursday's headliner Taylor Swift. But they have a very special guest this year as well.
Survivor Tocantins winner and Samson native J.T. Thomas has a tent to meet and take pictures with fans. People can also purchase J.T merchandise. So how is life different for the new millionaire?
"It is pretty great right now because I am here at BamaJam," says Thomas. "I get to see all my friends and family and everyone is having a good time. Nothing has really changed yet, except a little more attention and people are happier to see me than they used to be."
With all the big names at BamaJam Graham expects record crowds.
"It is going to be more than last year, significantly more," says Graham. "We have already sold more tickets. I am going to say it will be the biggest gathering, probably bigger than Talledega. We are looking at 300,000 people over three days."
And even if weather doesn't cooperate BamaJam fans seen willing to brave the elements.
"What is rain?" said Garrett Hennant. "A free shower!"
Visit the article: http://www.wtvynews4.com/news/headlines/47002307.html
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