Infernofest 2000 « Infernofest.org

Infernofest 2000

22 07 2009

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!