MEXICO – Promoter Jim Viger said Wednesday night that one of Santana’s original members, Gregg Rollie, who now leads the Gregg Rollie Band, will headline a concert on Aug. 21 to benefit the Moontide Water Festival.
He said Rollie and his nine-piece band, which is known for playing Latin and rock music, has committed to the concert, as has Dakota, a Southern rock band that once toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd. A new act out of Montana, Broby, will round out the all-day concert. Viger said Broby is a folk-rock act.
Viger has been working to try to bring well-known bands to the area for several weeks. Besides the headliners who will perform on a large, professional stage, several local bands will play at the other end of the recreation park on a smaller stage. One local group, Catatonyc, will also perform on the large stage.
Moontide Water Festival President Joseph Roberts is working to find a ticket distributor. As of Thursday afternoon, he had not yet been successful. He said, though, that he hopes to have tickets go on sale next week.
Originally, plans had been for Ticketmaster to handle distribution. Roberts said on Thursday that the committee decided against using it because the ticket money would be held long after the event had been completed.
Meanwhile, the Mexico Board of Selectmen want an update on the project, and have directed Town Manager John Madigan to meet with Viger and Roberts prior to their next board meeting on July 27. The board also wants Viger and Roberts to appear at that board meeting.
Board Chairman Barbara Laramee said she and the board support the effort, but want to know about any potential costs to the town. The promoters told the board a few weeks ago that holding the concert at the Mexico Recreation Park would not cost the town anything.
“We want to make sure our town is covered and we want to know what is expected of us,” she said. “This is a big reflection on this town and we want to make sure it doesn’t cost us anything.”
Madigan said items to be discussed include added security and police protection, paying highway crew members for setting up directional signs and barriers, cleanup after the event, and a multitude of other tasks that must be completed whenever large groups are involved.
The committee hopes to repay its debts from the concert proceeds and will donate 10 percent of the take to the town for use of the Mexico Recreation Park.
Comments are no longer available on this story