Music,
friendliness, food and fun bring partiers back to Moondance Jam
By Robby Robinson
For the Pioneer
Sunday, July 18, 2004
WALKER - Starting in 1992 as a birthday party with live music put on
by Walker grocery store owner Bill Bieloh for his wife Kathy is now an
attraction drawing tens of thousands to the Walker area each summer.
Moondance Jam promoter and owner Bill Bieloh expects even greater things
in the future. He said he now has the time to concentrate his efforts
on providing fans with better music as well as better facilities.
The 13th edition of Music Dance, called “Lucky 13,” was
to come to a close Saturday night with performances by Huey Lewis and
the News and Rick Springfield. By all indications, the last evening may
turn out to be one of most well- attended.
Bieloh, who said his plan for the future is to concentrate making the
four-day event better not bigger, was able to attract more fans during
the first two days of the Jam than past years with performances by recent
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees ZZ Top on Wednesday, as well as
classic rock and roll front-liners Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers
Band.
Drawing crowds
The plan was successful as an estimated 15,000 fans were present each
of the first two nights.
Already the largest outdoor classic rock music festival in Minnesota,
Bieloh said he wants to continue the highly successful festival and recently
sold his Walker grocery business, in part, he said, to concentrate on
the music. He still operates Moondance Ranch and Adventure Park in Walker.
“This is what I want to do,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “The
grocery business has been good for me and my family, but I love putting
on the Jam every year. This is a lot of work but we have had such great
people working here each year. It’s good for the area and I really
love the music.”
New to the festival grounds for 2004 were new bleachers for V.I.P. ticket
holders, a remodeled and expanded Moondance Saloon and Grill and a new
Moondance Guesthouse for year-around rentals.
About 900 attended the Jam as V.I.P. ticket holders. In addition to
special seating and the chance to camp in the V.I.P. campground, V.I.P.
ticket holders enjoy gourmet meals and free soft drinks, wine coolers
and beer.
Moondance Jam V.I.P. ticket coordinator and local Bemidji businessman
Ray Ricci said it’s the preferred way to attend for many, especially
those who don’t want the hassle of cooking or camping.
“When you think of how much you can spend on everything,” said
Ricci, “many consider it a bargain.”
V.I.P. tickets sold this year for $350.
Sociable times
While music is the draw for many, most agree that the people are what
brings them back each year in July.
Kevin Vaultavermaet of Grey Eagle said he went V.I.P. in 2003 and enjoyed
the treatment he received but returned to the reserved campgrounds this
year because “people are just a little bit looser.”
Vaultavermaet was tending bar at his campground during the Jam, offering
beverages to anyone that came by thirsty. And apparently there was much
thirst to be quenched in Walker this week.
“I don’t know if they were stuck up, but they’re more
into doing their own thing over there in V.I.P.,” he said. “Here,
we’re a little more open ... a better party atmosphere.”
Gary Paavola of Winger echoed Vaultavermaet’s opinion.
“It really is the people you meet and the fun you have that brings
you back,” he said. “But the music is great, too.”
The Jam is also a real boost for the Walker area, in general, said Bieloh.
Around 350 are employed by Bieloh and hundreds of others work in various
privately owned merchant and food booths.
The Jam also fills the motels, requires sanitation services, and increases
sales of food, gas and, of course, beverages in the Walker area.
Four women from Walker and Remer have turned their recipe for hot sandwiches
into an annual money maker, said Anne Kletten of Remer.
Kletten works with Terry, Tony and Darlene Gross of Walker at the Burch-Gross
Hot Beef and Pork Sandwich.“It’s four days of hard work but
it’s a lot of fun, too,” said Kletten. “You meet interesting
people, hear good music and generally take the best that summer has to
offer at the Jam.”
With as many as 20,000 filing the festival grounds, for four days each
July, Moondance Jam easily becomes the most populated place between Fargo,
N.D., and Duluth.
Despite the huge numbers, tight security, with many off-duty police
officers, sheriff deputies and State Patrol officers on the grounds,
keeps problems to a minimum, said Bieloh.
The major incident of Jam 13 as of Friday was the death of a 48-year-old
band member from Forest Lake.
Charles Kenneth Worden of the band Chain Lightning apparently died of
a heart attack while taking down equipment, said a Cass County Sheriff’s
deputy.
Most crimes involve minors drinking or people trying to get in with
fake tickets or wristbands, he said.
“I think we’ll be around for awhile,” said Bieloh. “As
long as the music fans keep coming, we’ll have a party for them
here at Moondance.”
MOONDANCE NEWS
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