Forecast calls for music: Organizers set for Tall Tales

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

Patrick Sullivan isn’t going to worry about the Tall Tales Music Festival right now.

The reason? What he can control is going well, and what he can’t control, well, isn’t in his purview.

“Awesome,” said Sullivan, the festival’s promoter about preparations. “We’re kind of at the point where the production and everything is set.”

“It’s just a matter of setting up the volunteer schedule,” he added. “And then hope for the best weather.”

Sullivan isn’t checking the weather yet.

“We have a family friend who’s a meteorologist for a Milwaukee station,” he said. “He kind of told me you never look more than 48 hours out.

“When we get to Tuesday or Wednesday next week, then I’ll look.”

The second annual music festival is set for Friday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Aug. 23 at The Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine in Burlington. There are roughly 12 scheduled musical acts, as well as “pop-up” performances on the festival site.

The Coffee House will officially shut down the block of East Chestnut between Pine and Dodge streets, and most of the music acts will perform in that area.

In addition, small youth music performances will coincide with the Chocolate Walk (see attached story) to promote local young artists.

“We’re really excited,” said Carly Rubach, the general manager at The Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine. “They started at the Coffee House last year, and it’s just a good event for the Coffee House and the Tall Tales event.

“We’re just excited to highlight local, young talent along with these national artists,” she added.

The run-up to the festival officially began Wednesday, Aug. 6, with a preview night at the Coffee House. Lake Geneva singer Genevieve Heyward performed an opening set of about 45 minutes, then gave way to Cereus Bright – an Indie/folk band from Knoxville, Tenn.

The Coffee House was pretty much packed for the event.

“Oh, that was fun,” Sullivan said. “The performances, first of all, were amazing. The folks that hang out at the Coffee House know what Genevieve does.

“(Cereus Bright), it worked out on their tour schedule,” Sullivan added. “When every song they played, the crowd was entranced.

“They just know how to connect with an audience,” Sullivan said, who said that the band also let them know they had a good time in Burlington.

“It means a lot to be able to bring in that talent into Burlington, to not only show the audience a good time, but the band,” Sullivan said.

Tall Tales Music Festival

Friday, Aug. 22