The daily Astorian., July 20, 2017, Page 9, Image 19

JULY 20, 2017 // 9
Continued from Page 8
“I always look forward to performing with
my talented bandmates and having some time
with them at the beach,” Morrison said. “My
favorite part besides performing is meeting
the other musicians and talking about the
things they’re doing.”
“Music festivals seem to be an important
unifying force in the world, bringing together
so many people and providing a platform and
a direction for community and fun,” Bondy
said. “When a city prioritizes something like
this, it speaks loudly to its understanding of
the basic human needs for fun and music and
community.”
Good music, good vibes
Beth Carter-Boyer, executive director and
festival founder, began the nonprofit event as
a way to honor her oldest son and to connect
the community with art and music.
“He loved music,” Carter-Boyer said of
her son, who passed away in October 2015.
“I think art and music are healing. I’d like
to see more of it. That’s what I’m trying to
do.”
The goal of the festival is to bring bands
that the community would not normally see
and provide a balance of genres.
Carter-Boyer said music connects with
people of all ages. The Manzanita Music
Festival is a family friendly and multigenera-
tional event.
During the day, there will be an area of ac-
tivities for children in downtown Manzanita.
Face painting, bubble wands, dance parties,
coloring and making homemade maracas will
be in the Kid’s Zone. The evening shows are
geared toward people who are teenagers and
older.
The festival is intended to provide music
therapy. It especially focuses on children to
spark their creativity and senior citizens who
may feel isolated.
Proceeds will benefit music education in
North Tillamook County. So far, the festival
has provided $2,000 to aid the music program
for the Neahkahnie School District.
With having a successful event last year
and preparing for an even better one this
year, Carter-Boyer believes the festival will
become a tradition. “The music’s good. The
vibe is good. I think we’ll be able to sustain,”
she said.
“We just need these kinds of things here,
getting the community out and enjoying
where we live,” she said. “It’s absolutely
beautiful.”
Playlist
Music begins 5 p.m. Friday, July 21, at
Rex Champ Field in Nehalem with Scratch-
dog Stringband, Adams & Costello, Will West
& the Friendly Strangers and Paul Chesne
Band.
PHOTO BY MARY ELLEN MATTHEWS
Leslie Mendelson, a singer-songwriter from
New York, lists Carole King and Laura Nyro
among her musical influences.
Scratchdog Stringband blends classic and contemporary Americana and bluegrass.
The next day, the music starts at 11 a.m. in
downtown Manzanita with The Sedona Fire
Band, Rhythm Method, Tony Smiley, Leslie
Mendelson and Kate & the Crocodiles. It will
continue at 5 p.m. at Rex Champ Ball Field
with Crackpot Babies, Rainwalkers, The Ear-
ly Stuff, Leslie Mendelson and Paul Chesne
and Strange Tones.
The music festival will conclude Sunday,
July 23, in downtown Manzanita with Lauren
Sheehan, Bluejug, Jazzati-tude, Countryside
Ride, Lauren Sheehan and Patrick Lamb.
Three-day passes are available online for
$25 and at the gate for $35. Day passes are
$10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Children
12 and younger with paying adults get in
free.
Tickets are available at manzanitamu-
sicfestival.org and at The Little Apple Market
and Nehalem Food Mart.
Parking will be limited, but a compli-
mentary shuttle will be available in Manzani-
ta and Nehalem from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.
Pick up and drop off in Manzanita will be
downtown at the corner of Third Street and
Laneda Avenue. In Nehalem, it will be at the
North County Recreation District parking lot
located at 36155 Ninth St.
More information can be found at manza-
nitamusicfestival.org. CW
Kate Morrison will bring her genre-crossing band, Kate and the Crocodiles, to perform at the
Manzanita Music Festival.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
PHOTO BY ANTHONY PIDGEON