Michael Kraft
This may sound familiar: back in the 90’s, senior programs were facing budget cuts. Community leaders Patty Berg, Jean Nielsen and Bonnie Neely put their heads together, charted a bus, and crossed the mountains to attend a music festival in Redding to investigate such events as a way to raise funds for those programs. As a result, the Redwood Coast Music Festival began.
I interviewed board member Lynn McKenna. If there’s one thing she wants you to know, it’s that the festival is not just Jazz anymore. Although it started as a Dixieland Jazz fest, there is now a variety of American music, with this year’s offerings including Blues, Zydeco, Rockabilly and Swing. There are styles I never heard of before, like Jump Blues (Googled it) and Hawaiian Swing (figured that one out for myself). And, of course, there’s still plenty of Jazz. In short, there’s lots to take in.
New this year, Opening Ceremonies will be held at the Sequoia Conference Center. Other venues include the Red Lion Inn (Thursday night only, an event free to the public), the Eureka Theater (Friday and Saturday), the Adorni Center, the Eagle House, the Morris Graves Museum, and the Eureka Veterans Hall. There’s a free shuttle service that continually makes the rounds during the festival’s hours.
Unlike a concert, where you more or less commit to one or two acts for the duration, festivals are freer. It’s expected that people will move around from venue to venue. And, while it’s o.k. to just sit and listen, there are dance floors at all venues, along with food and drinks for sale.
You can also curate the experience you want. Just go to website, rcmfest.org, click on artists to browse, and buy a daily ticket that aligns with your vision. Or buy the full-access pass…there’s no wrong answer!
My friend who suggested that I write this profile said, “I don’t think people understand its economic impact.” Supporting local businesses is built into the organization’s mission. Last year, around 6,000 people attended, over half of them from out of town. In tourism terms, the event takes place during the “shoulder season,” which is not the lowest point for tourists visiting during the year, but a time when hotels and other visitor-serving businesses tend to have ample vacancy. Multiple hotels sell out due to the festival, some months in advance. Attendees go out for dinner, pick up snacks, shop in local stores and otherwise leave dollars with Humboldt businesses.
From the beginning, seniors have been a focus, with free shows, attention paid to access issues, and the invitation to care homes to bring their clients to the Opening Ceremonies. The organization makes donations to programs such as the Senior Resource Center. Total donations of goods and services to senior programs exceed $300,000 to date.
Similarly, youth programs have become embedded in the festival, and a beneficiary of the organization’s giving valued at $100,000+ in donations of musical instruments and free festival tickets for students participating in the clinics. With research demonstrating that music helps boost students’ math and science scores in mind, the festival provides free clinics in local Middle and High schools. At the fest, children 12 and under are free with a paid adult and a 4-day pass for people 14 – 21 is just $65.
Regular tickets are discounted for a few more days and can be purchased at rcmfest.org. Regardless of the type of pass and the discount offered, Lynn says that the Redwood Coast Music Festival is the “biggest musical bang for your buck that you can find.” Where else, she asks, can you see 50 – 60 musical artists performing over 100 sets at rates like these?
As with many festivals, volunteers prove to be crucial and this one could always make use of more, especially for night-time shifts. These folks help at venues, perform cashiering, provide band hospitality, serve as shuttle and band drivers, and do set-up and tear-down. To volunteer, go here: https://rcmfest.org/volunteers/. (Perks include a free all-event pass for a shift of 6+ hours.) They also welcome new board members.
While the festival does not call them donations, there is a whole list of sponsorship opportunities, and a surprising number of individuals choose to sponsor (https://rcmfest.org/rcmf-sponsorship/). You can also join the Guild for $100 and get reserved seating at all venues except the Eureka Theater on a first come basis.
This year, Lynn says she is most excited about two things. One is the new acts that are coming. The other is the second year for another free event, in partnership with the City of Eureka and Eureka Main Street, at the Gazebo in Old Town during October’s Arts Alive night.
If you like American roots music, as well as supporting good work, attending this year’s Redwood Coast Music Festival October 2nd – 5th should be right up your alley.
Good Work is a series written by Michael Kraft, who volunteers on behalf of the Northern California Association of Nonprofits (NorCAN). NorCAN supports connections between people and organizations that work every day to keep our communities healthy and strong by offering professional development, board support, networking connections and more. Learn more at https://norcal-nonprofits.org/. To nominate a deserving nonprofit organization to be profiled, email michael@kraftconsultants.com.
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