Island music festival resounding success

Mon, Jul 14, 2008    to del.icio.us

The first Harbor Island Music Festival was a resounding success, according to organizer Dave Palmer.

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More than 2,000 people came to the Saturday afternoon family event, and more than 2,500 adults enjoyed fellowship and music at night, Palmer said. Organizers were hoping around 1,000 people would attend both events.

"It was way past anything we ever expected," Palmer said.

The festival raised money for the nonprofit Spread the Music Foundation, which gives instruments, music lessons and performance opportunities to area youth.

A year ago, the foundation was giving away an average of two instruments per month. It now gives away around 20 new and refurbished instruments each month, Palmer said.

In the past, the foundation has raised money through golf outings, poker tournaments and building houses. While Palmer said those events were successful, a music festival seems to fit the organization the best.

"I think we're really settling into what we're going to be good at," Palmer said. "We are spreading the music, that's what counts, and I think we've found the venue we'd like to continue with in Grand Haven."

Saturday's event included live music and performances from youth who were impacted directly by Spread the Music, and around $42,000 of donated prizes were given away.

Palmer said around 500 young people crowded the stage for the evening's last act, Four Finger Five.

"(The lead singer) threw the guitar down, kicked the drums over — he was going nuts," Palmer said.

The free afternoon family event included music, hot air balloon rides, clowns and activities.

The exact amount raised by the festival will not be available until next week, but Palmer said the 50-50 raffle alone raised $2,000. Raffle tickets were $10, and it cost $10 to enter the evening event.

Palmer said he and the 300 festival volunteers are already excited about next year's festival.

"I think this is going to be a great event for the area," Palmer said. "I was already planning last week for next year."

On the Net:

www.spread-the-music.org