West Fest 2011

Headliner: Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express

Opening: Jeff Pevar

Friday, August 5th, 2011

Gates open:  4 pm

Jeff Pevar:  6:30 pm

Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express:  8 pm

Wallace Marine Park,  200 Glen Creek Rd,  Salem, OR 97304

Tickets at the gate:  $5 (Kids 12 and under – FREE)

Get Discount Tickets Thru August 4th!

Only $4!

At any OSU Federal Credit Union Branch

Albany:  1394 Clay St SE

Corvallis:  1980 NW 9th

Corvallis:  148 NW 25th St

Dallas:  210 NE Orchard Dr

Keizer:  4990 River Rd N

Lebanon:  2600 S Santiam Hwy

Monmouth:  464 S Pacific Hwy

Newport:  1923 North Coast Hwy

North Albany:  1394 Clay St SE

Philomath:  1446 Main St

West Salem:  510 Wallace Rd NW

Woodburn:  1550 N Pacific Hwy

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 2011 will take place on Friday, August 5th.  Headlining the show will be Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express. Gates open at 4 pm with special ‘Happy Hour’ prices on food and beverages (4 to 6 pm).  The opening act, to be announced soon, will begin at 6:30. Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express will take the stage at 8 pm.  Tickets are $5 (children 12 and under are free) and can be purchased at any OSU Federal Credit Union Branch in Salem, Keizer, Dallas, Woodburn, Corvallis, Monmouth, Philomath, Lebanon, Albany, Newport, and Lincoln City.

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Chuck Prophet may be the most under appreciated musician in the history of Rock-n-Roll. He’s recorded with everyone from Warren Zevon to Kelly Willis and taken the stage with Jim Dickinson, Lucinda Williams and Aimee Mann. His music has been performed by legends like Solomon Burke and Heart and his songs have charted on both country, I’m Gone, and AAA radio Summertime Thing, from his 2002 album, No Other Love. He’s appeared on Austin City Limits, Letterman and Carson Daly. His songs have been featured in both film and television.

In writing on what he was currently listening to in 2004, author Stephen King, wrote of Chuck’s tune “Rise”: “What does this song mean? I have no idea. But it’s lovely, incantatory and mysterious. God bless Chuck Prophet.”
To find out more about Chuck Prophet, go to: chuckprophet.com.

Jeff Pevar, is best known as a member of CPR with David Crosby.  Jeff has recorded and/or toured with: Gregg Allman, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Jack Bruce, Dr. John, Graham Nash, BB King, Loggins & Messina, Wilson Pickett, Bonnie Raitt, Stephen Stills, Johnny Winter, Dionne Warwick, Phil Collins, Glen Campbell, Richie Havens, and Rickie Lee Jones.

“The way a guy plays guitar is a combination of dexterity and taste and inventiveness and passion.  Peev has all of those things.  Pretty much any style he’s playing–the blues, rock ‘n’ roll, edge-of-jazz kind of stuff, he’s there.  And besides being talented, he’s just a wonderful    guy.  He’s one of the nicest guys in the music business.  To have that kind of talent and not be a jerk? It’s just insanely wonderful. He’ll be my friend all my life.” – David Crosby

To find out more about Jeff Pevar, go to: pevar.com

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. There are no reserved spots, it’s all festival seating on the softball field grass at Wallace Marine Park (200 Glen Creek Road NW, Salem, OR 97304). For your comfort, please bring folding lawn chairs or blankets. Concessions will be provided by the Mt. Angel Sausage Company.

West Fest 2010

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.

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

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’.

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

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.”

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!

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…

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.

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.

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’.

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