Podunk will move out of East Hartford, CT (our home for 16 years) to:
Dodd Stadium in Norwich CT.
Same dates (August 2-5, 2012 and lineup).
After 16 years at Martin Park, the four-day festival, which was named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2009 “Event of the Year,” is moving down the road to Dodd Stadium in Norwich. The move to Norwich was predicated by the former East Hartford Parks and Recreation Director and Podunk Festival promoter, Roger Moss’ job change to Norwich.
In a recent interview with the Norwich Bulletin, Moss was asked if he felt Norwich can sustain an event like the Podunk Bluegrass Festival you helped run in East Hartford? He answered, “I do. An event like that isn’t necessarily for the residents of East Hartford or Norwich only. The purpose is to bring people from outside the region to our city and spend dollars here. We’d be looking to bring people from every nook and cranny of the United States to Norwich. It’s great when you can build it up so you have volunteers that are local, and they can see the pride in their city as the event is happening. Sustainability-wise, Norwich is ready, especially at a place like Dodd Stadium.”
After a meeting in January 2012 with East Hartford, Connecticut's mayor, the Podunk Executive Board felt strongly that searching for a new home was in the best interest of Podunk Music Festival, ultimately resulting in the move to Dodd Stadium in Norwich. Long time Podunk Festival Producer, Roger Moss said, “Bluegrass, like baseball, is an American pastime so we are moving everything from the ball field at Martin Park to the diamond at Dodd.”
Dodd Stadium offers several wonderful amenities that includes plenty of easy access day and handicapped parking. The stadium layout will allow covered but open air space for vendor displays with a view of the stage. Attendees will still be able to set up lawn chairs on the field in front of the bands as in years past. Seating in the stadium will be open to all as well. Dodd Stadium will also welcome campers on site as there are two large areas set aside for weekend camping, offering more space than what has been available in years past. It is level, dry and has a fine gravel base that is easy to maneuver. These spots are only occasionally used for overflow parking during baseball games and have begun sprouting a grassy cover with disuse. Each one is surrounded by a tree line which allows for a potentially good place for tents. Podunk will bring in a water tank truck for the weekend. There will be access to free showers in the team’s locker rooms. Rosewood Sound will continue to provide artists and music fans the same high standard of listening excellence.
In the five months ahead, the organizers of The Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival will brainstorm to gather and implement ideas that will make this year at Dodd Stadium unique and remarkable. As a group, the board members have years of experience planning the Podunk weekend and take great pride in fine tuning the details to give attendees many reasons to return to Podunk year after year. This year's event offers an unprecedented lineup of talent including Dailey & Vincent, Dale Ann Bradley, Lonesome River Band, Special Consensus, The Grascals, Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray, The Roys, The Spinney Brothers, The Hillbenders, NewTown, Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters, Travers Chandler & Avery County, Belfry Fellows, The Original New Coon Creek Girls and previously unannounced Grammy-winning singer Kathy Mattea! As always there will be plenty of campground pickin’, kid and adult academies, band and songwriter competitions and workshops galore including one especially for songwriters. Tickets are available now and if ordered prior to July 1st, offer deep discounts. For more information on the Podunk Music Festival, please visit www.PodunkBluegrass.com.
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