Louisville Mojo: Forecastle Festival

Dear Friends ~

Welcome to the February Captain's Log.

I want to begin by thanking everyone who came out to support "Halfway to Forecastle" last month. The show sold-out for a third consecutive year, setting an attendance record for the event. Special thanks to our innovative friends at Tasman Properties, whose unique craftsmanship helped mold our vision for the show. Likewise – the relentless Forecastle Deck Crew, who traveled from all corners of the Midwest to hold it together.

Life above deck is been busier than ever, with much to update on the 2010 fest. Without further ado, here is the February scroll:

NEW WEBSITE

Forecastle launched a new website last month. Check er out @: http://www.forecastlefest.com. Special thanks to Jason Clark and the folks at VIA Studio for creating and executing the vision, a three-month process. We couldn't be happier with the results.

MUSIC AND FILM SUBMISSIONS

Music submissions are up and running. You can apply from now through next month by visiting the website or: http://sonicbids.com/forecastle. We will select (10) artists to perform at this year's event. All genres are accepted. If you are based in the region, there's no reason not to apply.

Film submissions will open shortly, and cover a vast array of genres, compared to years previous. Details will be posted on the website soon. For immediate inquires, feel free to contact Derrick at film@forecastlefest.com

GOOGLE PARTNERSHIP

Forecastle has signed a deal with Google | YouTube to broadcast footage of the 2010 festival. In addition, we plan to open our archives a bit to the hundreds of hours of video footage we have collected and edited since 2002. The new channel is http://youtube.com/forecastlefest. Login and become a subscriber today. We will begin building the channel soon.

2010 FESTIVAL

No more waiting, now is time for you to send us your input on what YOU want to see at Forecastle 2010. While you're thinking, below is a little sneak-preview of how our brains have been working the past couple months:

Music: By the end of 2010, there's a strong likelihood we will have covered every rock and electronic music genre possible, over the course of the past nine years. Our focus and commitment for this year is to build upon the successful foundation established last year, while continuing to evolve and expand our tastes to bring new folks into the castle experience.

Art: Under the leadership and determination of Mike Ratterman (longest-serving deckmate), the art pillar is set to take a major leap forward in 2010. With full funding, Mike predicts it will be "the best exhibition" in the festival's nine-year history. Last fall both of us went back to the drawing board, looking closely at the 2005-2006 glory days, and what made those exhibitions so unique and special. With a new committee of renowed regional curators and a fresh new concept, expect big things here.

Activism: We are committed to expanding the activism portion 3X for the 2010 festival. Each year we try to take a significant leap forward from the year previous, and 2010 will be no different. We assembled a series of focus groups last fall, to develop a plan that would enhance the third pillar of the event. National, regional, and local entities will all be involved, with a strong focus on engaging, interactive, educational programming and activities. Stay tuned…

FACEBOOK CITIES

Forecastle is "Where the Midwest Connects®" and over the past couple years we have launched over a dozen Facebook Cities with communities of over 10,000 fans. Now is time for you to take the reigns and help us expand to even more Midwestern towns and villages. The Facebook cities are places where locals can gather around the well, express their common interests, and spread the good word about life aboard the Forecastle Ship. If you are interested, please see the list of current cities @: http://forecastlefest.com/connect/participating-cities/. If you don't see your listed, by all means, become an administrator and we will develop one for you! (and yes, there are plenty of perks and incentives to doing so…)

CAMP CAPTAIN

Last but not least, Forecastle has a new headquarters on River Road, less than (10) minutes from the Waterfront. After 25 inspiring years in the Highlands, we traded city lights for country stars. My deepest appreciation for Christy and Owsley for giving me this amazing opportunity, and Underwired Magazine for a great write-up in this month's issue.

I also want to thank Greater Louisville Inc. for making asking me to accept the 2009 Fleur-de-Lis Award, a lifetime achievement honor. Previous recipients include Denny Crum and My Morning Jacket. I will accept it with our partner Steve Liberatore of Nederlander Entertainment. The award is testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of the hundreds of people and companies who have made this dream a reality, and continue to standby us as we work to grow, evolve, and expand the Forecastle experience to people of all ways and walks of life.

Thanks again everyone ~ jkm

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THE FORECASTLE FESTIVAL is where the Midwest connects®. Founded in Louisville, KY, the annual gathering is equal parts Music, Art, and Activism. A symposium for musicians, artists, and environmentalists, Forecastle connects the progressive Midwest. The 2010 fest is expected to draw over 25,000 patrons to the Louisville Waterfront ~ part of a scenic, $60 million dollar riverfront investment which attracts 1.5 million visitors a year. With national headliners and expanded line-ups, the festival will provide an unforgettable experience for all Forecastle travelers, converging in Louisville from the Midwest and beyond.
http://www.forecastlefestival.com

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