West Fest 2010

"Since 1975"

The West Salem Business Association (WSBA) started a unique summer concert experience in 2005 by bringing Portland blues legend, the late Paul DeLay, to perform at the inaugural West Fest community celebration at Wallace Marine Park in Salem, Oregon. West Fest has grown into an annual summer concert event, headlined by some of the greatest Classic Rock artists still touring. The WSBA is proud to announce West Fest 2010 “An Evening From Abbey Road” will take place on Friday, August 13th.  Two British legends: Terry Sylvester (formerly of the HOLLIES) and Denny Laine (formerly of THE MOODY BLUES and WINGS) will be backed by a cadre of local musicians as they sing one hit song after another from their extensive catalog of popular songs.  Gates open at 5 pm with the opening band, Pound 4 Pound, starting at 6:30.  Terry and Denny will take the stage at 8 pm. Advance tickets are only $3 and can be purchased at any of the locations listed below.  Tickets are $4 at the gate (children 12 and under are free).

Advance Concert Tickets

Today’s Hair Salon & Day Spa (West Salem) 1223 Edgewater St. NW

OSU Federal Credit Union (West Salem) 510 Wallace Rd. NW

OSU Federal Credit Union (Keizer) 4990 River Rd. N.

Wooden Nickel Pub & Eatery (Silverton) 1610 Pine St.

Charlie’s Rhythm & Brews (Albany) 229 3rd Ave SW

Home Comfort Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning (Dallas) 1827 S. Main

There are no reserved spots, it’s all festival seating on the soccer field grass at Wallace Marine Park (200 Glen Creek Road NW, Salem, OR 97304).  For your comfort, please bring folding lawn chairs or blankets. The Marion-Polk Food Share program will have volunteers at the entry gates.  If you would like to bring cans, jars or packaged food items to drop in the barrel – the food bank would be most grateful. Concessions will be provided by the Wooden Nickel Catering Company, including St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, stir fry, German sausages and salmon sandwiches – plus all kinds of beverages from beer to soft drinks to wine from local wineries will be available.

Park Rules

No pets, alcohol, opened containers, glass bottles or cans are allowed inside.  You may bring backpacks, picnic baskets, and tote bags – but they will be searched.

Denny Laine

Denny was born October 29, 1944 in Jersey, Channel Islands, England.  He became well known musically around Birmingham and joined The Moody Blues in 1964.  He sang lead vocals on the bands first hit song “Go Now” in 1964.  After leaving the Moody’s in 1966, he formed the Denny Laine String Band and became the lead singer/guitar player in Ginger Baker’s Air Force.

Laine at recent show

Denny (L) with Linda and Paul McCartney

In 1971, he and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney formed the highly successful band, Wings.  For the next ten years, Wings traveled the world playing to sold-out arenas and stadiums.  All nine of their albums reached the top ten – with a string of five consecutive topping the US charts. They included: Ram, Red Rose Speedway, Band on the Run, Venus and Mars, London Town, and Wings Over America. Denny and Paul collaborated on many of the songs throughout their ten year run.  Some of the more memorable songs were: ”Too Many People’, ‘My Love’, ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Band on the Run’, ‘Jet’, ‘Listen to What the Man Said’, ‘Silly Love Songs’, ‘Let ‘em In’, ‘Junior’s Farm’, ‘With a Little Luck’, ‘Mull of Kintyre’, and ‘Helen Wheels’. Denny has continued writing, touring and playing in front of audiences for five decades.

Terry Sylvester

Sylvester live last summer

Terry was born January 8, 1947 in Liverpool, England and grew up just down the road from Paul McCartney.  The son of a jazz trombone player, he formed a band called the Terry & the Escorts, and played regularly around the Liverpool area.  When the Beatles made their final appearance in 1963 at the infamous Cavern Club, Terry’s band were invited by the Beatles to be on the same bill.  The Swinging Blue Jeans asked Terry to join their band in 1966 and they went on to record many hit songs including ‘Hippy Hippy Shake’ and ‘You’re No Good’.

Terry (2nd from L) playing acoustic guitar with the Hollies

When Graham Nash left the Hollies in December 1968 to form Crosby, Stills & Nash – the remaining members of the popular band asked Terry to join them.  Terry’s first single with the Hollies, ‘Sorry Suzanne’ reached number 3 in the UK charts and his first album with the band, ‘Hollies Sing Dylan’, went to number 1 in the UK.  But it was the song, ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’, with then unknown session man Elton John on piano that skyrocketed the new version of the band to world wide fame.  To this day, the song remains an anthem for those who choose to help people less fortunate than themselves.  More hits followed including ‘I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top’, ‘Long Dark Road’, ‘Gasoline Alley’, 1974′s classic love song, ‘The Air That I Breathe’, and the blockbuster hit still played over the airwaves on a daily basis, ‘Long Cool Woman, In A Black Dress’.

West Fest History

Paul DeLay with J.T. & the Tourists - 2005

It all started in 2005 when the WSBA decided to stage an event for West Salem residents to call their own.  Controversial WSBA President Chris McCartney coerced the membership into having a free concert in the park.  Future (and current) President Terry Kelly coined the name – ‘West Fest’, and the scrambling began.  Sponsors were found, T-shirts were designed, and salmon would be BBQ’d for the folks attending the inaugural West Fest.  On September 17, 2005, about 100 intrigued souls enjoyed the music of the late Paul DeLay, Mollybloom, and J.T. & the Tourists. “A great event, but nobody came,” grumbled McCartney. “We’ve gotta do something different or West Fest is history.”

Firefall at West Fest 2006

The WSBA decided the only way to make West Fest a success, would be to bring in nationally recognized recording artists.  Classic rock would become the genre staple for West Fest and Firefall was invited to headline the show in 2006.  They would be the first band with a slew of hit songs to take the upgraded stage.  About 800 fans saw a wonderful show from the Colorado based group inside the softball complex at Wallace Marine Park on Saturday, August 26th. And it was free!

Classic Rock All Stars 2007

Riding a small wave of success, The Classic Rock All Stars were booked for West Fest 2007 on Friday, August 10th.  The line-up included legendary drummer Peter Rivera from Rare Earth, Mike Pinera from Blues Image, Jerry Corbetta from Sugarloaf, and the late Dennis Noda from Cannibal & The Headhunters.  An enthusiastic crowd of 2,500 danced and sang all night as the band played one hit song after another.  Was this the start of something huge?  Nobody brings that level of music to people for free.  The WSBA was confident the concert genie was out of the bottle and the next year would be even a bigger success.  Oh my, were they ever mistaken…

It's A Beautiful Day

The West Fest promoters got wind of two legendary bands from the San Francisco Bay area that might be available as part of the 40th Anniversary of the ‘Summer of Love’ tour.

Quicksilver Messenger Service – 2008

When ‘It’s A Beautiful Day’ and ‘Quicksilver Messenger Service’ agreed to come for the 2008 show, it meant two slightly obscure but memorable rock bands would be performing in Salem.  A crowd of 3,000 plus was expected.  However, a few months before the show, the WSBA was informed the park was double booked and there would be very limited parking for the West Fest crowd.  When the temperature soared to 103 degrees on the day of the event, Friday, August 15th, carloads of folks concocted schemes to stay home and keep cool.  In spite of the heat wave, both bands played brilliantly before a dedicated crowd of 1,000.

The Dennis Mitchell Band featured members of the Kingsmen

Fran Cosmo, former Boston lead singer

2009 marked a turning point for West Fest.  Sponsorship dollars were tight, due to a less than robust economy.  For the first time, an admission fee was implemented.  Music fans had to scrounge up a whopping $3 per person, but guess who they got to see on Friday, August 7th?  How about current and former members of Boston and The Kingsmen!  The Dennis Mitchell Band beefed-up their sound with horns and background singers for the opening act which included ‘Louie, Louie’.  With Fran Cosmo on lead vocals, you would have thought it was a Boston concert – and the audience responded to songs such as: ‘More Than A Feeling’, Foreplay/Long Time’, and ‘Don’t Look Back’.

2010 Sponsors

REDHAWK VINEYARD & WINERY, WEST SALEM ROTARY                                                               TODAY’S HAIR SALON & DAY SPA, The GRAND HOTEL in SALEM

Ticket Sponsors

Tickets are available at these locations in Dallas, Salem, Keizer, Sublimity, and Albany

Magpie Media

Magpie Media is a concert promotion company located in Salem, Oregon.  Magpie has assisted in promoting many successful concerts, starting with West Fest in the fall of 2005.  Magpie continues working with the WSBA and is active in all facets – both pre and post concert. In the summer of 2009, Magpie Media brought two Country & Western concerts to the Pacific Northwest.  Hal Ketchum performed at the L.B. Day Amphitheater in Salem, Oregon on August 14th and David Allan Coe played at the Napavine Amphitheater on September 5th.

2009 Summer Concert Series