JamFest Rocks

By Jim Boyle on August 10, 2012 at 7:05 am

by Jim Boyle

Editor

Thousands of people descended on Rockwoods JamFest, a two-day concert event this past weekend that featured rockers Eddie Money, Foghat and Peter Frampton the first night and country the second night with the bands of David Nail, Jerrod Niemman and Ronnie Dunn.

Ronnie Dunn had his fans in the palm of his hand with his smooth lyrics and huge video screen. Photo by Jim Boyle

The rock show drew about 4,000 people and the country show drew another 3,000, all while going head to head with We Fest.

Dunn, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, took Jam Fest to its highest level to date with his performance that had the benefit of his smooth lyrics that defy his age and a video screen that played behind the band.

Rocker Eddie Money during his set. Photo by Erik Jacobson

“That was a production,” said Brad O’Leary, general manager of Rockwoods Banquet Center. “I was overwhelmed.”

Peter Frampton’s performance, however, had to be cut short due to a storm moving in on the event Friday.

The fourth annual Jam Fest is already being planned for the second weekend in August, which will give organizers a chance to see how much taking it off the same weekend of We Fest helps.

“We came close to our expectations for turnout this year, but we think we could do even better,” O’Leary said. “Our walk up crowd was extensive.”