Moondance Jam 12 kicks off Wednesday night

by Dean Morrill, Editor
The Pilot-Independent

Thursday, July 10th, 2003

"There's only one way to rock," and Walker will be the place as Moondance Jam returns Wednesday through Saturday.

Like the Sammy Hagar song says, Walker will host the campin' and jammin' event of the summer, bringing in some of the biggest names in classic rock 'n' roll.

Boston, Alice Cooper, Joe Cocker and George Thorogood and the Destroyers are just a few of the big-name bands that will perform at northern Minnesota's outdoor rock 'n' roll fest.

Bill Bieloh, the owner of the Moondance Jam, said he really likes this year's lineup, adding it scares him how it just continues to get better each year.

Tuesday morning workers were putting the finishing touches on the new stage. This year's JumboTron will be positioned stage left and is 25 percent bigger than last year's JumboTron and will operate all four days during Jam 12.

The Jam site will include 32 more restrooms available this year. Restrooms will be located throughout the event area with the majority in the middle of the vendor area.

Bieloh reminds Jammers they can tune in to 92.1 FM, the official Jam station. It will be broadcast at the Jam site and cover about 90 percent of the Moondance Jam property. The "Jam Station" will play music from all of the Jam bands (national and regional) along with past Jam bands and all-time favorite Classic Rock tunes. The "Jam Station" will also provide up-to-date event information, weather, news and safety information hourly.

Moondance Jam 12 gets rockin' Wednesday as Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, Indigenous, and George Thorogood and the Destroyers take the stage beginning at 7 p.m.

Last year's Wednesday night lineup was the biggest ever, and Bieloh expects the same this year.

That's why Thursday night's line-up, which starts at 5 p.m. and includes Corey Stevens, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, War and Joe Cocker, was booked to be a little more laid back.

Friday night's lineup heats up again with Head East, Joan Jett, Lou Gramm-Foreigner and Boston.

Performing Saturday night will be Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Rick Springfield, Sammy Hagar and Alice Cooper.

Cass County will once again implement the Safe and Sober, and Buckle-up campaigns. Posters and signs will be on display, to make people aware that drinking and driving is not tolerated.

Free shuttle parking

General ticket holders will be able to park for free at Northern Lights casino and take a shuttle to the Jam site.

The casino, which has been a major Jam sponsor for all 12 years, has agreed to use their parking lot, and in exchange, a Cajun band will perform at the Casino all four nights beginning at 1 a.m.

The regional bands

More than 25 regional bands have been booked to perform in the saloon and regional tents.

Regional bands booked to perform include A Fixx of Seagulls, Abbott Blues Band, Amazing Fantastiks, Blackstone Cherri, Blue Spot Lobotomy, Chain Lightning, Cold Front, Crazy Betty, Free Beer, Groove Gypsies, Heartbreaker, Korey and the Fireflies, Local Instinct, Mark Anthony's Storm Project, Mountain Ash, Panoramic Blue, Point One Oh, Power Play, Rainside, search for george, Silent Partner, T. Albert Lloyd and the King Pins, The Situation, Thomas Jude Band, Tim Casey and the Martyrs, The Treater Band, Trashville, Wildfire and Working Man.