In recent years, Bowling Green has grown tremendously with the Minor League baseball team, the Greenways trails, WKU’s renovations and the concert in the parks series.  So why wouldn’t Bowling Green be ready for a music festival?  Grave Productions owner Brian Graves thinks so.  And judging by the overwhelming success of last year’s Starry Night Festival, he is right. 

The objective of Grave Productions, according to their mission statement, is “to create a musical festival experience for people to enjoy and participate in.  To experience a live music concert atmosphere, that due to a struggling economy which might not be possible.”  This is a mission that Graves pursues vigorously while remaining realistic with a smile on his face.  Let’s just say, Graves isn’t in it for the money. 

This year’s festival will only cost 15 dollars before 1:30 and 20 dollars after, it is going down on the third of October rain or shine.  The costs include camping and 50% of the proceeds go to the local non-profit organization Operation P.R.I.D.E.  Even though the event is small on a relative scale compared to Louisville’s Forecastle or Bonnaroo, Graves is giving half the proceeds to Operation P.R.I.D.E. helping Warren county and Bowling Green become a more attractive place.  Greed is nowhere on the festival’s agenda.

Graves’ enthusiasm was beaming from his face when I sat to down to interview him, as well as Jason Williams and Craig Brown of the band Canago, who is one of the headliners for the festival.  Starry Night’s conception began with his philosophy that, “there is nothing better than live music played to its perfection in its most organic form by its creators.” 

His goal is to move music from the bar scene into the outdoors so it’ll be available for everyone, from the young to old.  According to Graves he recalled the youngest person at the festival being seven years old and the oldest being 84.  With such a diverse age range, Starry Night isn’t just for the young.  Last year there were no complaints about the lineup and the Starry Night staff are not expecting any this year.

There was a little something for everyone at Starry Night last year.  With a more diverse lineup that has a farther-reaching pull, Starry Night has indeed evolved into a serious musical carnival.  Graves has hired Ambush productions to help prepare for the event.  In doing so, there will be a large roofed stage with plenty of large speakers and lights. 

Graves has been looking towards Louisville’s Forecastle festival as a model.  Eight years ago Forecastle started with the same humble beginnings as Starry Night, and now it has grown into one of the top rated festivals in the country.  The effects that a  festival would have on the town’s economy would be tremendous.  With many people coming from out of town it would help local businesses such as hotels and restaurants.  Judging by the results that the Concert in the Parks series had on local businesses downtown, Starry Night would boost the local economy in a variety of ways especially if it grows in the future. 

    Canago’s bassist Jason Williams describes Grave’s approach as being, “completely professional, his vision has turned this event from being a party into a real music festival with plenty of room to grow.”  This year there are nine bands in no particular order: Japanese School Girls, Namaste, The Running, Jumpman, Lost River Cavemen, Paradise Daze, Moon Taxi, Canago, and Zoogma.  Graves said about the lineup, “I think I’ve got some of the best bands in the area, playing original music.  If you like music there is no reason not to like the lineup.” 

    Camping at the festival is free with a ticket and is strongly encouraged.  After all, early Fall is one of the best times to camp.  The goal is to create a “chilled out happy environment,” Canago’s Craig Brown says, “by creating a happy environment the music becomes conclusive to the environment.”  It’s exciting to see so many people put such great enthusiasm into a local event in such a selfless manner.  Indeed, Starry Night is going to be a fun celebration of music and art whose origins are 100% local.