‘A big feat for a small committee’
Stage at Moffat County Fairgrounds set for Three Dog Night and Firefall
Jason Bruton of Morgan Systems looks through parts for a staircase he and three co-workers set up Friday at the Moffat County Fairgrounds. The stage was being set for tonight’s concert celebrating the Craig Centennial featuring Firefall and Three Dog Night. Enlarge photo
July 12, 2008
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Colorado band Firefall will begin their concert performance at 7 p.m. today at the Moffat County Fairgrounds. The music of Three Dog Night and a fireworks display provided by Craig Fire/Rescue will follow. The gates open for the show at 5:30 p.m., with tickets still on sale for $20.
If you go
What: Three Dog Night/Firefall concert
Where: Moffat County Fairgrounds
When: 7 p.m. today
• The gates for the show will open at 5:30 p.m., with tickets on sale for $20 from 4:30 p.m. until they are sold out. For more information, call the Craig Chamber of Commerce at 824-5689.
As the stage goes up at the Moffat County Fairgrounds, Dave Pike, Craig Parks and Recreation director, reflects on the months of planning involved in tonight’s concert — the amount of money paid to the performers, the extensive setup involved in constructing the stage and the excitement of the show.
Musical groups Three Dog Night and Firefall will take the stage as part of Craig’s centennial celebration. With a budget of more than $50,000, the concert is the most expensive event of the centennial.
Christina Currie, Chamber of Commerce executive director and centennial committee member, said the concert’s ticket sales would hopefully cover the costs of staging the event.
“The amount of tickets we sell offsets the money spent by the city,” Currie said. “Sales are really going well. We’ve gotten about 65 sales online, and people from all over Colorado, Wyoming and Utah are coming. We’ve even sold some to people in Houston, Texas.”
Online sales were stopped Sunday because committee members could not guarantee that customers would receive tickets in the mail in time.
Although she was unable to commit to a final number, Currie estimated that more than 2,000 tickets have been sold. A total of 3,200 tickets sold will qualify the concert as a sold-out event.
Tickets will be available for $20 at the Fairgrounds beginning at 4:30 p.m., and will be sold as long as necessary.
“It’s been a busy time for the planning committee, and we expect it to pay off,” Currie said. “The concert has been the committee’s idea of the highlight of the centennial. We’ve spent the most time and money on it, and I think it’s unique because a concert of this magnitude is a big feat for a small committee.”
As the event’s primary organizer, Pike has dealt with everyone from the musicians to the technicians.
“The bands have been the most expensive,” Pike said. “Then, there’s $18,400 for everything else — the stage, the lights, the sound equipment, all the people that run it. There’s tons of stuff that has to be done on this.”
Pike also has been in contact with musical supplier Backline to provide the bands with backup instruments in case the musicians need replacements during the concert.
“We’ve had to rent everything,” he said.
With all the preparation involved, Pike said he is looking forward to the show.
“So far so good, as long as the weather permits it,” he said. “I can’t think of anything better than seeing two well-known bands like these.”
After the concert, Craig Fire/Rescue will stage a fireworks display to end the night.
Andy Bockelman can be reached at 875-1796 or abockelman@craigdailypress.com
13 July 2008 at 3:33 p.m.
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broncosgurl87 (Anonymous) says…
Dear Editor;
I would like to thank Craig, America for an awesome Saturday night!! I came down from Steamboat on Saturday and had one of my best Saturday nights in a long time.
Firefall was great! I have never seen them in concert before,(I know, they've been in Craig and Steamboat a few times!) and was surprised at how many songs of theirs I actually knew!! Even greater, they are from Colorado - no wonder they were so good!
Three Dog night was so awesome! I was with a good friend and we sang and danced for that hour and half, not caring what we looked like dancing or what we sounded like singing!! We were happy and in our twenties again and loving life!! With a huge crowd of Three Dog Night maniacs, we sang, danced, laughed and cheered like we were back in the seventies!! I'm sure I am not the only 50's some person whose having back and leg pain today - but it was so worth it!
I have gone to several Dave Mattherws Band concerts with my girls, and loved it! Yet, Saturday night, July 12. 2008, was MY night - it was Judy's time, to close my eyes, feel the music and be in my twenties again - and I liked how it felt!! I was smiling and happy and singing the songs I was dancing to in the Disco seventies!! Then a bonus - fireworks!! What a great way to end an unforgettable night!
Thank you so much to the Craig Chamber and everyone else who made this wonderful night possible!!
Thank you for the laughs, the smile, the music - and even the back pain today!!
I'm still smiling now, and I'm sure I will be everytime I close my eyes and feel the night of music.
Thanks for the memories!
Judy Walters
Steamboat Springs, CO
13 July 2008 at 3:45 p.m.
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redneckgirl (Anonymous) says…
Hey Judy….I saw a lot of Steamboat folks there last night…I think it's great that you guys all come up here once in a while to enjoy some of our events in Craig. We might not have a ski slope or hot springs but our firefighters know how to light fireworks….awww…im just kidding!!! I still think it's great you guys come to Craig now and then.