Cherry Festival-Party Between The Lines

Our friends at the Cherry Festival join Talk of the Town to discuss Between the Lines.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
This is Talk of the Town onnews Radio Wood thirteen hundred one oh six
nine FM by the iHeartRadio app SteveKelly from West Michigan's Morning News along with
my constant companion Brett Pikita. I'mright here. See that's a good thing.
Always you've heard of this Cherry Festival. They do it in Traverse City
and for some reason this year there'san encore and it's happening during Labor Day
and in studio with us. Let'sstart with the executive director, Kat pay

(00:24):
who's back with us. Kat,thanks for coming in today. Yes,
of course. Also here is thecreative director, Bailey Judson. Thank you
so much for coming in. Thanksfor having us. I want to start
with the slug line that you cameup with, because there is a concert
and it's a big one and it'shappening in conjunction with the Cherry Festival,
but it's happening on Larry Labor Day. It does what for the summer?

(00:44):
Well, it is the cherry ontop of a perfect Northern Michigan summer.
I like it. I don't knowwhat Kat pays you, does she sign
your paychecks? She does? Butsomething needs to be added to that.
Oh I agree, So talk tous about this great idea. I want
to drop the news because it's ArioSpeedwagon and Jone Jet in the Blackhearts,
somebody that we all love. Howdid you put this thing together? Well,

(01:07):
it is one fabulous night on Septemberthird, both artists one stage of
course on the second baseline of TurtleCreek Stadium. So having a concert in
the ballpark is quite the phenomenon.And I cannot take all the credit for
putting this great event together. There'ssome amazing partners. That of course is
the Pit Spitters, our wonderful hometownteam up in Traverse City, their great

(01:30):
staff and crew, Travers City Tourism, Meridian Entertainment and us all came together
and said, how can we dosomething in the fall and end out the
perfect summer. Well it makes sensebecause Memorial Day, you know, you
don't really need to open the doorto northern Michigan for people. They're excited
in chomping at the bit to getup there anyways, right, whether it's
their cottage or just a visit.Then you have, like we mentioned the

(01:53):
Cherry Festival. We've seen that inaction with you know, the Thunderbirds,
and the Blue Angels and everything,and that's just an awesome extravagance of a
northern Michigan And so I think thisis a perfect fit because I don't know
about you, but like a summerlike this, I don't want to let
go of the summer, so I'mnot ready to say goodbye. And Labor
Day is a perfect way to celebrate. Again. We would very much agree,
and we are excited to of coursehave them. Tickets are still on

(02:13):
sale. Party between the Lines dotorg for more information on those the different
ticket types, everything from of courseour premium pit right there under the stage,
to the stadium seating in the back, and then of course hotel Accommodations
travers city dot com to get thoserooms booked. Was there any thought in
your creative process of coming up withslogans second Base and the music of Rio

(02:35):
Speedwagon and Joan Jet did that atall? I won't try to explain that
I'm thinking of one Jane Jet song. We're going to move on from there,
give me. Obviously, we wantto make a weekend of this because
it's the Labor Day weekend. Ofcourse, restaurants and hotels are precedented and
unparalleled when it comes to the GreaterTraverse area, what's the best? Is

(02:59):
there a package deal? How doI find out more information about getting connected
to a room? Yeah, Traverscity dot com has all that information and
they even have awesome blogs and itinerariesof if you're spending one, two,
three days up there, where arethe heavy where are the places you really
need to go? Those wineries,those restaurants, those downtown shops. They
have it all and they'll outline itfor you and really find your way to

(03:21):
spend your best tray. Great idea, and it's a great idea. I
love it the fact that again it'sa kickoff to also the fall season,
which is big for Travers City.And let's not forget that. Like I
said, I was, I don'twant to end the summer because it's been
so good. But for you guys, not that the color change is happening,
but once you get in September andOctober with the wineries and everything,
probably one of the more beautiful placesin our state. Oh absolutely. And

(03:43):
I mean you've got everything from theNational Lake Shore up there, Sleeping Bear
sand dunes, all the trails forhiking, biking, all the rivers and
lakes, for paddling. Everything isavailable and read at your fingertips. You
can spend the days up there doingall that and then come to the concert
at night. How hard to sellwas this for Joan Jet and the Blackhearts
and for Rio Speedwagon. What afun conversation that must have been. I

(04:04):
think, well, I didn't getto personally have it, but Maridia Entertainment
did an amazing job of putting thistogether and having those conversations saying, Hey,
coming up to northern Michigan, andyou know you're gonna get to see
some spectacular sites before the show.The other thing I like about this is
the nostalgia of I go back andSteve remembers growing up here in the state
of Michigan, the concerts that usedto be at the Castle at char LaVoi,

(04:27):
and then obviously what you guys havedone with the Cherry Festival, always
bringing up big names and multiple namesthroughout the week that it's there. So
I think this is going to geta lot of people reminiscing back to those
days. It maybe went up toa concert in the seventies and eighties at
the Castle, well, and Iwould say this is a lot of fun
for us in the Bayside Music Stageas part of the National Cherry Festival.
We build the whole venue. Thisis a pre built venue. We just

(04:48):
have to tweak a few things,oh and bringing a stage and flooring and
a bunch of other stuff. ButI mean, the seats are there,
and the wonderful part about partnering withTurtle Creek Stadium, all of the food
and concessions and everything is there.You can actually have a full dinner inside
the ballpark of some amazing baseball fairand sit down and then wait for the

(05:09):
show to start. The Cherry ontop of a perfect summer right here in
Michigan. Party Between the Lines TraversCity's Turtle Creek Stadium. If you've been
by it, if you've never beento a game, you're missing out.
But it's a great place to seea concert. And again September third,
ri Eo Speedwagon and Joan Jet inthe Black Heart give me the website one

(05:30):
more time. Party between the Lionsdot org. Party Between the Lines dot
org. Just like what's right infront of me. So there you go,
friends, before it's all sold out, because I'm assuming that's going to
happen quickly. We will even havetickets to give away on West Michigan's morning
news. Tune in some morning youmight get lucky. There you Go,
which I believe was a jone Jetsong. Totally totally made that up.

(05:54):
Bailey Judson a pleasure. Thank youfor coming in. Thank you, Cat
Pay, executive director of the ChurryFestival. Thank you guys for coming down.
Of course, thank you. We'llsee you up there. This is
Talk of the Town on news radioWood thirteen hundred and one oh six nine FM.