Outdoor Sports Center will be venue for one of Bay Area’s biggest shows
Published on Page 1 in the September 4, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Marty Cheek
Bret Michaels (pictured), Greg Kihn and The Tubes will play the Kihncert Oct. 12
Morgan Hill’s Outdoor Sports Center stadium is gonna rock and roll when top-name musicians – including Poison frontman Bret Michaels and San Jose rocker and former KFOX DJ Greg Kihn – blast the South Valley at the 2013 Kihncert Oct. 12 from noon to 11 p.m.
“Bret Michaels is a guy that I really respect, not just as a musician but as a human being,” Kihn said in an email statement. “He’s a great guy with a big heart, and that’s why we chose him as our headliner for Kihncert…. I am pumped about this year’s Kihncert, and to continue the tradition of great rock ‘n’ roll with a lineup of great bands”
Kihncert 2013 is a major coup for the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance, which has managed the Outdoor Sports Center for three years. The music event came about through a partnership with ARTTEC (Arts Related Technical Training for Entertainment Careers), a Morgan Hill production company that uses high school students in its projects to help build their skills, said Jeff Dixon, MHYSA president.
“Greg Kihn has been talking to the folks at ARTTEC for quite a while, as he really likes the idea of putting on an exciting concert event for the community, which serves a dual purpose of giving kids hands-on career training,” Dixon said. “He visits Morgan Hill often, and is very impressed with the Outdoor Sports Center. He’s known since the last Kihncert that he wanted to bring that concert tradition to Morgan Hill.”
The opportunity for Kihncert 2013 worked perfectly for the MHYSA because the nonprofit youth sports organization has long wanted to develop its 38-acre sports field site, one of the top in the nation, as an outdoor entertainment venue attracting top performers to the South Valley. “The Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance is proud to help bring the Kihncert to Morgan Hill,” Dixon said. “We believe the Kihncert gives us a chance to showcase the flexibility of the facility, the capabilities of our staff and the unique charm of Morgan Hill.”
Dixon projects Kihncert 2013 will be the “biggest one ever” because it will have the most popular musician lineup and the lowest ticket price. Other performers scheduled for the event are The Tubes, dada, XEB, the Brodie Stewart Band, and Mad Jack.
General admission tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the website www.kihncert.eventbrite.com which charges a fee. Other ticket packages and parking packages are available at the website.
Greg Kihn is bringing his Kihncert to Morgan Hill Oct. 12 at the Outdoor Sports Center on Condit Road.
The 2013 Kihncert event will help prove to other entertainers that the Outdoor Sports Center is a great venue for hosting large-scale events, said Dave Payne, general manager of the center.
“Producing a major rock concert at the center is the latest step in evolving our venue’s capabilities,” he said. “We have gone from hosting small soccer games to National Lacrosse Championships, and recently we co-produced the Freedom Fest fireworks show which was attended by about 25,000 people. Next year we will be holding the International Dog Agility Championships.”
In conjunction to the concert aspect of the Kihncert, the MHYSA is also now looking at creating a “Kihntoberfest” at the OSC with a Beer and Wine Garden, Dixon said.
Still in the works are possible entertainment options such as local and emerging artists on a second stage, a carnival with rides and a midway, a classic and exotic car show, an arts and craft festival, and games and other activities to entertain the crowds.
Given the short time left before the show, we are not sure what we can accomplish, but we are hoping to make the all-day event fun for everyone in addition to providing a quality concert,” Dixon said.
ARTTEC students will be participating in every aspect of production, including live audio mixing, concert lighting and video IMAG, said Matt Altamirano, director of media at ARTTEC, and an ARTTEC alumnus.
Promotional photo of Greg Kihn.
“ARTTEC gave me an incredible opportunity as a high school senior when I got to produce the Amy Grant concert here in Morgan Hill,” Altamirano said. “I’m happy to be able to pass that opportunity on to current high school students through the production of Kihncert.”
High school students with an interest in music who want to volunteer for the Kihncert event are encouraged to sign up soon, said Mark Schwab, director of professional development at ARTTEC.
“ARTTEC is open to all high school age students with a desire to be successful,” he said. “Interested students who would like to be involved with Kihncert, or any of the opportunities we provide through ARTTEC, can visit our website at arttecusa.com for more information.”
Dixon expects Kihncert 2013 to be a huge success because Bret Michaels is such a draw to rock music fans. Michaels is a multi-platinum global superstar who has turned his passion for music into a multi-faceted brand including record-breaking touring sales, reality TV stardom, songs that have sold more than 32 million records, and product endorsements, Dixon said.
Michaels looks forward to playing in Morgan Hill. “I’m from a small blue-collar town in central Pennsylvania, so I’ve always valued the importance of working hard,” he said in an email statement. “I would play music whether I made it in the industry or not.”
This is the first concert at the Outdoor Sports Center, Dixon said. This year’s July 4 fireworks show proved that the facility located on Condit Road could handle large crowds, which contributed to the decision to hold Kihncert 2013 there.
“We hope the OSC will develop into a world class facility for concerts, festivals, car shows, and other entertainment events in addition to its already world class reputation as a sports facility,” he said.
