mary&parrish events

We had one of the best events last week when the weather was nice (a bit too hot, but dry for NC standards) and Cool John Ferguson came out to play the blues. A quick survey noted that most of the folks heard about the show through the Chapel Hill News. Dave Hart featured the show and the man on the front cover of the Weekend section. The lights worked, the sound was great, and the crowd of 300 or more danced the night away. Ron Stutts, of WCHL 1360 AM and our evening’s MC, was completely moved by the last song and gave Cool John a big hug before sending the crowd home.

I know and respect Ricardo Granillo of Carnavalito and Cool John Ferguson, but I’m looking forward to meeting the 15 or so other bands that I’ve been talking to for the Bimbe Cultural Festival. It’s always fun to work with someone over email/phone/mail and fax and then get to meet them in person. In fact, this is one of the first memories I have of large-event planning: putting a name to a face. Most importantly, I can’t wait for their show.

Centerfest, the largest arts festival in Durham, NC, is moving from the 5 points downtown area to the edgy warehouse-looking W. Main Street. Flanked by Brightleaf Square and Downtown Durham, this move is a blessing from an events manager’s perspective. Perpendicular traffic pattern and wide streets, large red brick walls that “secure” the perimeter, and the historical Liggett Myers overpasses (for lack of better word and there surely is a word to describe them) make for a perfect setting for a 2005 Durham arts festival.