Blue Sky changes it up

by Jack Lunch
in Events Calendar
— 17 Jun, 2011

New partner, venue for summer festival entering 3rd year

Initially, Mammoth’s Blue Sky Festival was created for two reasons. 1.) Demand. Bluesapalooza started selling out, so it seemed logical that someone provide yet another opportunity to see live music under the beautiful Sierra skies. 2.) Convenience. If the stage at Sam’s Woodsite was going to be erected for Bluesapalooza and stay in place through the Mammoth Festival which traditionally takes place two weeks later, why not find a way to use it during the weekend in between?

Blue Sky has gamely tried to fill that gap weekend for the past two years, booking big name musical acts. Attendance, however, hasn’t matched the musical lineup.

So this year, when the Mammoth Lakes Foundation inquired about co-sponsoring a fundraising event, Blue Sky promoter Harvest Moon Presents figured it might be a good time to reposition Blue Sky.

Harvest Moon’s Sarah Mason said this week that Blue Sky is now a “summer kickoff” event, which will take place the weekend following the 4th.

Expect the usual great bands booked by Harvest Moon, as well as great beer poured by the Mammoth Brewing Company.

As Mammoth Lakes Foundation President and CEO Evan Russell said this week, “The Dave McCoy College Classic is at the end of its life cycle [as a fundraising event]. We’ve spent the past two years looking for a new event, and hope to base Blue Sky on successful fundraisers we identified in Sun Valley and Manhattan Beach.”

This year, said Russell, is a bit of a test to see if Blue Sky and Mammoth Lakes Foundation match up as good partners.

The Foundation has done a terrific job creating the “Blue Sky Bowl,” which perhaps we should nickname “Dave’s less-wooded site.”

Russell said the Town processed the grading permits within a matter of weeks (looks like someone’s trying to save their job!) and the bowl, located to the west of the Edison Hall parking lot, has an ideal gentle slope facing down toward the stage.

Highlights

The Beermaker’s Ball on Friday night fuses the Killer B’s (beer, bbq, bluegrass and bonfire). The cost, including beer tasting and dinner, is just $40.

The Blue Sky Food and Wine Experience takes place Saturday night, featuring a dinner filled with cooking competitions and wine tastings from more than 20 wineries. The theme is the great outdoors, so participants will use outdoor equipment such as grills to create their special dishes.

It’ll be like going to college, but without the college dining experience.

“There will be five food stations each headed by culinary teams,” said Laura Goforth, MLF’s Marketing Manager. “Each team will create a mini menu of 4-6 ounce portions of their dishes. Participants will be able to wander the food and wine court and taste the selections.”

Each team’s menu will receive oversight from a Napa chef to determine which wines will best suit the dishes. Attendees will be given coins to use as a means to vote for their favorite creations.

“The final award will go to the station with the most coins,” said Goforth, whose very own father (a master on the BBQ) will be competing.

Seven food and wine seminars will be held inside Edison Theater during the weekend.

Visit www.blueskyfest.com for more information. There are all sorts of price points offered depending upon your interests.

Topics: mammoth News sheet