MatthewBDahl.com
Music
festival promoter seeking ‘harmony’ in southeast Minnesota
By Lisa
Brainard For the News-Record
Editor’s note:
After seeing a classified ad in a number of newspapers produced by Phillips
Publishing seeking to rent a farm for a music fest – and perusing a related
website – Republican-Leader News Editor Lisa Brainard e-mailed some questions to
Matt Dahl of Minneapolis, organizer of the proposed event. She was intrigued by
his references to Woodstock and commitment to harmony… as well as Harmony. He
hoped to locate a farm between that city, Preston and Lanesboro. Dahl answered
in such detail that the e-mail is printed in its entirety here, as questions and
answers, after receiving his permission.
A virtual chat with Dahl follows. Brainard’s questions are numbered.
Dahl prefaced his answers by writing: “Thanks for asking about the festival. If
you have any unanswered questions after reading my answers, please let me know.”
1.
What made you ultimately decide to pursue a rock fest?
First, this isn’t a rock festival. It’s going to be a festival based on
promoting peace, love, gentleness, and harmony. The music will be from a variety
of genres, including folk, jazz, and rock.
Second, I decided to pursue this because our culture is crying out for it.
During the Iraq war, people as young as junior high age were skipping school and
attending protests. We haven’t seen this kind of civic involvement promoting
peace for perhaps 30 years.
Third, we — those who want to promote peace, love, gentleness, and harmony –
could really benefit from an event. Something like this can be uplifting and
energizing. Also, this is envisioned as a family-friendly event.
2. Why are you looking at this area? I realize Harmony is a natural, what
with the proposed fest name... but do you have ties to this specific area?
There is no place my spirit feels more at home than in Fillmore County. There is
just something about the bluffs and valleys, the way of life, the people. My
grandmother, Alice Soffa, lived here most of her life, and that is how I came to
know it. I live in Minneapolis, but I still love to visit Bluff Country.
My dream is that one day I will move there before or when I retire.
So, what better place to consider peace and harmony than here?
3. How big a farm or venue do you expect to need?
I’m still in the preliminary stages of planning, but if this is going to be a
multi-day, camping festival, I expect it would take anywhere from 40 to 160
acres to be done comfortably and safely.
4. Do you have experience in planning a large production? Will the farm or
venue be in safe hands?
I have always been entrusted with big responsibilities. Right now I am a
teacher, responsible for helping to shape the futures of our nation’s biggest
resource: our youth. I have also had a job that entailed being responsible for
$40,000 to $10 million on a daily basis. So I am used to big responsibilities.
Plus, this festival is going to be focusing on promoting things like peace,
gentleness, harmony. This isn’t a hard rock thing.
As far as organizing a festival, I do not have any experience whatsoever. To
make up for this, I am planning to do what one successful business person once
related as the secret of his success: “surround yourself with smart people.”
Basically, I’m hoping to find some partners to help get this thing off the
ground. I know this won’t be difficult, though. I’ve already had bunches of
people as well as musical artists show me they are interested in supporting
this.
5. How soon are you hoping to hold this?
I’m looking at 2004 or 2005.
6. What would you give someone from this area – often hesitant with strangers
– as reasons to rent a farm/venue to you?
Whether this thing attracts 3000 or 30,000 people, it can only mean one thing
for wherever we hold this festival: money. That many people brings with it needs
for lodging, food, gasoline, logistical support, etc. From a purely business
standpoint, it would be crazy to turn this festival away.
In addition to the initial festival, the amount of media and word-of-mouth
publicity to the area would be incredible. The business owners who depend on
trail-goers and other tourism should be quick to seethe potential for initial
and follow-up business.
But, I’m not going to argue with anyone that it should be held here. I know the
idea of this festival has a lot of grassroots support, and if I can’t find a
home for it here, someone will hold it somewhere else.
There are people craving this thing. It is bigger than me, bigger than Fillmore
County. It will happen somewhere.
7. Realistically, how soon could you hold such a fest?
With my lack of festival planning experience, I would say 2004 or 2005. Perhaps
when more financial backers, supporters, or other, more experienced festival
planners get on board, a quicker planning time could be set. Realistically,
though, I see 2004 at the earliest.
8. How many bands would there be? Other events?
It’s too early in the process to know for sure.
However, I’d like to see a situation similar to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, only
shorter. The Winnipeg Folk Festival has 50 plus acts performing over four days.
For our event – possibly two days – it would be nice to see enough performers to
occupy two or three stages at a time. Rough estimates would put that at around
25 acts.
In addition to the music, I see a variety of exhibits and vendors, from visual
artists to massage therapists to speakers.
9. How far away would you promote your event?
Already, the event has nationwide attention and visibility. For example, a folk
band from New Hampshire has said they want to play there. And a grammy winning
jazz player and former Santana keyboardist from California says he wants to play
there, too.
In addition, the e-mails I get are from all around the country. So, I see this
as an annual event that will probably also overflow somewhat into Canada and
possibly other countries.
10. Fillmore County has put new zoning laws into effect and is currently
looking at adapting an ordinance regulating large gatherings. Would this be
welcome, or do you hope to hold an event before this zoning is potentially
passed?
We will follow any and all laws regulating large gatherings. I am not in a rush
to put this on before laws change. It is more important to plan this well, and
that takes time. Furthermore, I welcome anyone with knowledge of these laws to
contact me, so that we can plan to fully respect and follow everything the city
and/or county expects.
11. What is your current profession?
I am an instructor at a residential, vocational training facility. I teach
writing, verbal communications and consumer math to 16- to 26-year-olds.
12. How would you define yourself?
I am many things; above all I’m a human. I’m a teacher, poet, photographer,
writer, artist. I love music, America, beauty and peace. I am neither
conservative nor liberal. I have no agenda other than to promote peace and
harmony and perhaps a little fun.
13. Anything else you'd like to add?
This is only slightly related, but I also run an organization/website called
RoadRageSucks.com. We promote peaceful driving efforts. If you’ve ever driven in
the Twin Cities, you know we have a long way to go.
Our goal is to make you think or laugh or possibly both. One of our bumper
stickers has the line, “Does your momma know you drive like that?” Another
bumper sticker says, “Hang up and drive!”
Another thing I’d like to add is that I’m still looking for lots of feedback and
help. This is still a grassroots effort.
Interested musicians, potential vendors, financial backers, and everyone else
can find my contact information on:
www.MatthewBDahl.com.
Thanks,
Matt Dahl
(home)