Moondance
Jam owners take part in Minnesota Music Academy Awards
Last Updated: Friday, October 24th, 2003 08:02:53 AM
You may have heard the term "coming of age" used in regard
to many situations, a young person maturing, a basketball team that gets
a winning streak going, a company that starts successfully marketing
their product or service.
Rarely do you hear this term when applied to a music festival, but that
would be the case for Moondance Jam at the 23rd annual Minnesota Music
Academy's Awards Banquet held at O'Gara's Garage in St. Paul Sept. 24
Moondance Jam was recognized as the "largest outdoor rock fest
in Minnesota."
The Minnesota Music Academy asked Bill and Kathy Bieloh of Walker, the
owners of Moondance Jam, to be presenters at the award ceremony. The
awards are given to top musicians throughout the state of Minnesota in
56 categories ranging from Best New Group (The Working Stiffs), Best
Bluegrass Recording (Monroe Crossing), Lifetime Achievement Award (The
Suburbs) to Best Horn Player (Steve Clarke) and Best Keyboardist/Pianist
(Jeff Victor, who is also the Twins organist).
Luminaries from different walks of life were there to present the various
awards. Included in the group was St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, Minneapolis
Mayor R.T. Rybak, disc jockeys John Hines and Bob Berglund (who had not
appeared together in public for the past 13 years). Presenters came up
in pairs to read the candidates and winners in each category.
Appearing with Bill Bieloh was none other than Viking mascot Ragnar.
Ragnar, in a backstage conversation with Bieloh, said he was putting
together a pilot for a children's show featuring himself. Ragnar and
Bieloh were the presenters for Best Bassist, Best Horn Player and Best
Drummer/Percussionist. Before any of these awards were read, Bieloh addressed
the musicians in the audience and said, "I hope I see many of you
at Moondance next year."
As the evening wound down, many musicians and audience members greeted
Bieloh, wife Kathy and producers Jack and Rachel Thibault of T.E.A. Productions
for putting on such a great event.
MOONDANCE NEWS
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