Infernofest.org

Infernofest 2001 brought back alot of our (and your) fave performers and also brought to the stage some new (old) faces. Our line up included the Buckles, Stick People (of Wooster Ohio), Mahogany Popsicle, Back on Earth (Shelby Ohio), original members of the Ohio Express, Dave Workman back again from San Francisco and the Music Explosion, joined this year by their 60’s drummer, Bob Avery.
Mike Brumm again was our host with the most. We were blessed with many sponsors and donors, all without whose help, we could never pull these shows off. Again we were able to give Hospice of North Central Ohio a nice check after the dust settled and all bills had been paid.
On a personal note: each of our fests were helped immensely by Mike Sattler and Rusty of Art Printing. After our first year with no program, Mike and Co. made it possible for us to put out a pretty cool program and be able to give them away.
We also got some great press in the Cleveland area all thanks to Michael David Toth’s piece in Cleveland’s Scene Magazine. Michael and I have formed a friendship that still stands in 2009. I run into him at various shows in Cleveland and it makes me aware of how much Infernofest has brought into my life!

Almost Showtime

Toni, Nancy and Sue

Art Printing King Mike and his queen Julie

Mike Balas of Stick People and Nancy

Our beloved room for Infernofest 1999-2004

Summer, daughter of Sue, lending a hand

Lookin good for the fest

Sue and Nancy Backstage

Wow, 1999 was so much fun that we decided to give it another go. We were promised mucho help from an unnamed radio station, who would give us free rein in whatever we wanted to do. But when it came time to get busy, the tune changed to where we would hold Infernofest (The Commerce Center was the ONLY place we wanted to house our event) and also there was the push to go corporate. Hey, we’re old hippies and selling out was not in our agenda. So we said no thanks and went on our merry way. We did decide to move Infernofest out of the hellish weather of summer and go for fall. So November 4, 2000 saw our 2nd fest happen. And we were glad that we turned down the radio station and did things our own way.

I had been asked by many if Dave Workman was to be found. Well, some may damn computers but I found Dave by people search. A letter was sent, he got right back to me and from Infernofest 99 to the last Infernofest Dave graced our stage!

2000 saw Charlie Bleak of Columbus open the show with his acoustic guitar. Burton Stahl and Rick Nesta performed again their Music Explosion hits, Dale Powers and Dean Kastran did a bang up job with wonderful tunes, Mike Balas, Ed Jonnet, Steve Calabria, Steve Rousseau and Eric Barkdull wowed us all and backed up Dave Workman; Terry Carbetta and Dane Donohue became the Buckles again for a night and Terry Van Aucker, Tommy Zinser and Bob Ross of the Wildlife got back together for a solid performance.

This also marked the first year that Mike Brumm became our resident host and wherever Mike was in the years to come, he always came back to be our dapper and cool host. Mike and I met in 1967 and it has meant alot to me that our friendship carried on thru the decades. Thanks for all your help Mike!! love ya.

This was the year that we got more press, put together a program and felt the momentum grow as more people got wind that they could relive the 60’s for one night right in Mansfield.

We had a great deal of support from our friends and people who gave so generously. All for Hospice of North Central Ohio. What a great organization and we began to become friends with the people who run this hospice.  We also dedicated this year’s performance to the memory of Don “Tudor” Atkins, of the Music Explosion, who sadly didn’t live to be able to perform or experience Infernofest.

And: I have to send out a huge thank you to the people who were always there to help come “show time”: Sue Saprano, James Dollish, Lori Nicholson and her husband, Kent (Nicki) Nicholson, who manned the door for each and every fest. Making sure that everyone paid (no matter who!) and gave me the peace of mind that all out front was being handled so I could spend my time in the room or backstage. What great friends!

A Rave up at Infernofest 2000

Terry Van Aucker, Tom Zinser and Bob Ross of the Wildlife

Larry Woolsen on stage for All Star Jam

Dale Powers, Dennis Eggerton and Dean Kastran play Infernofest 2000

Dean and Dave catching up

2000 Crowd at Infernofest

Dean and Dave catching up

the Music Explosion's Rick Nesta and Burton Stahl

"Sir Tim" Corwin and Mike Brumm of the Ohio Express

Here it is 2009, 10 years after our very first Infernofest. With this new place to host the site, I thought I would go back in time and post some memories of the past fests and add some photos. We sure would love for you to add comments or memories of your times with us at Infernofest!

Infernofest 99 should NOT have happened but because you, the fans, were hungry to relive those heady days from the 60’s, YOU made it happen. It all started with the two of us (Nancy Wasen and my good friend Deb Anderson) determined to make this event come to life. We had no clue what we were doing but just had a vision of throwing a party to celebrate the music scene of our teens in the Mansfield area and it happened!

Was a hot summer night for our first fest; held at the Commerce Center in the old Westinghouse Building. Some were scared of the rickety elevator and being up on the 4th floor, but it felt like a 2nd home to me. I loved the big ballroom and that great stage (and even cooler backstage area). We were so well treated by Dave and Julie who ran the place and all the helpers. (Note: the Commerce Center closed their doors after Infernofest 04 and after a freezing winter and frozen pipes cannot be saved). Bummer.,

Anyway; we set out to have a great night of music and our first year we were treated to the music of: my ex husband’s band, Street Foxx, who never played the teen clubs in Mansfield in the 60’s but did a great job of doing alot of songs from that era and some of their own. We had Jimmy Lynch and his JuJuBees who were the back line and were billed as the Day Glo All Star Band, the Music Explosion with Burton Stahl, Dane Donohue & Rick Nesta, Terry Carbetta and Dane Donohue of the Buckles and Bob Ross of the Wildlife; and Tim Corwin of the Ohio Express. Not a bad lineup for our very first fest! Our master of ceremonies that night was the Dantes’ own Barry Hayden.

It was an extremely hot summer night and the AC up that high really didn’t do much of anything so it really was an inferno. I remember looking over and seeing someone from the radio station who had helped us and I know didn’t think we would have even 100 people come to our event and seeing the look of ashtonisment of his face to see the place Packed and everyone up dancing.

We left that night as happy campers and in disbelief that we had pulled it off! Our first fest under our belts. Much was learned that night about what we did wrong and what we did right. Money was made for Hospice of North Central Ohio and old friends were greeted with hugs and new friends were made.

The biggest lesson learned for me was to follow your dreams and don’t let anyone hold you back.

Up goes the first Infernofest poster at the City News

James, Deb and Sue in the lobby of the Commerce Center

Friends since the 60's: Toni Santoro and Nancy Wasen

we were all hot and sweaty and had a groovy time