Michelle McNear, circa 1990’sA
Family-forging memories and life impacting music. Hot August Music Festival – A relaxed vibe, family friendly, music lovers’ day-dream
For Michelle McNear – it’s a great big family reunion. A tradition amongst her first cousins and now second cousins who have been attending over the decades since the event began in 1993. The Hot August Music Festival is a big family picnic with the backdrop of great music. The Festival is a gathering of nationally recognized and local bands, and for Michelle, a chance to reconnect with far flung cousins and friends who are sure to make the annual event. The relaxed and creative vibe of the all-day festival is a place where “bringing the kids”, and watching them grow up over the years, is now into its third generation. (see photo below)
Steve and Linda met at the festival in 1993 – and haven’t been apart since. Having been to many of the Festivals over the years, nothing can take the special meaning away from their first. Back when the Festival was still being held at the Selko family farm in Monkton, the two met while Steve was volunteering as security for the day and Linda attended with a friend. Now they get to the festival as often as they can and it’s a part of their family story. They are looking forward to the great musical line up at this year’s event and to reconnecting with friends.
Allen Reisburg remembers taking son Evan when he was 6 or 7 years old. Evan, now 26, has fond memories of the tie dye t-shirts his father dressed him in, and of playing Frisbee in the fields. They both remember the game of ‘guess what song is next” where young Evan surprised and impressed his father by pegging Could it be Love by Bob Marley as played by Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience. Allen’s love of live music, music that is not over-produced, has been shared with Evan. They count on being at the Hot August Music Festival, to seeing each other there. Greatly influenced by the music in his life, Evan worked at the 8x10 venue through college and now works at Mission Tix, a concert ticket management company. The Reisburgs are both excited for this year’s line-up, mostly band “Joe Russo is Almost Dead”.
“It is a treat to have this band come to Baltimore because they never tour here,” they said. Joe Russo is similar to The Grateful Dead, a band they both love.
Maryland’s own Hot August Music Festival, held at Oregon Ridge in Hunt Valley, is a place where families come together, memories are forged and lifetimes are shaped by the music, the community and the friendships involved. In its 24th year, the H.A.M.F. is talking with long time goers to hear what the festival means to them and how it’s impacted their lives.
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