JULY 10-16, 2014 -------------------------------------Cover Story • Three Rivers Festival 46 ------------------------------------ Gettin’ the Party Started By Michele DeVinney lenge and a large leap from his radio Ask Hammer to give a recita- days. tion of this year’s festival highlights, When popular area disc jockey Jack Hammer assumed “This is by far the hardest job I’ve and not surprisingly he begins with the job of executive director of Three Rivers Festival four ever done in my life. Radio never kept the Raft Race, back again for its sec- years ago, it was on the eve of that year’s event, which me up nights like this does. I wake up ond year after many years’ absence gave him about 30 days to settle in and prepare to host Fort some nights with an idea and can’t from the schedule. The race, which Wayne’s biggest annual celebration. Hammer admits that get back to sleep, so I have to make helps close the festival on its final those early days were daunting, and he remembers the cyni- notes to myself. And my wonderful day, Saturday July 19, is a corner- cism that was beginning to grow about the viability of the wife will sometimes ask me why I’m stone of Hammer’s plan to put the festival. awake, and I’ll tell her about some- rivers back into the Three Rivers “There were people who were saying that the festival thing I just thought of, and she imme- Festival. probably couldn’t go on. But people love Three Rivers diately grabs her tablet and sends me “The raft race is the largest of Festival, and in the last few years there’s been tremendous an email so I can go back to sleep. any person-powered race in the his- growth. Everybody’s got a story about the festival. My wife “I love radio, and sometimes tory of the universe. Or maybe just and I got married during the festival, and we’ve had friends when I have something to say, I miss Fort Wayne. But the day is made who planned their wedding for festival week because they having the ability to talk about it on possible by Hotel Fitness which has knew all their friends would be here that week. People think the air. But I really enjoy being part of brought $14,000 in cash prizes to I get a little sappy about it but I really love it.” something that means so much to so the race. There are two divisions – His affection for the festival has helped infuse new life many people.” commercial and non-commercial – into the event and has brought and there will be prizes for winning new sponsors to the table, the race and for having the best raft. making more things possible THREE RIVERS FESTIVAL 46 HIGHLIGHTS So you can win by being the fastest each year as he sets out to plan July 11-19 • Fort Wayne or the coolest. First prize winners for future festivals. One of his JACK will receive $2,000, second prize areas of focus has been mak- Indianapolis Colts Fan Fest ...................................5-7 p.m. Fri., July 11 HAMMER $1,000 and third prize will get $500. ing TRF a truly Fort Wayne We will just hand you a check right there and northeast Indiana event, Cheap Trick ......................................................6 p.m.-1 a.m., Fri., July 11 for winning.” right down to the shirts on our Parade ..................................................................... 10 a.m., Sat., July 12 There will also be river excursions throughout the du- backs. Art in the Park ...................................................... Sat.-Sun., July 12-13 ration of the festival, another nod to our celebration of the “Most of our vendors rivers. The rides will provide a chance to not only see the come from within 80 miles of Under the Sun Tour ......................................6 p.m.-1 a.m., Sat., July 12 beauty of the rivers, but learn a little something about them. Fort Wayne,” he says. “The T- For King & Country .................................................... 4 p.m. Sun., July 13 Each half-hour ride will be free, thanks to sponsor Steel Dy- shirts are made in Fort Wayne namics, another local business that has gotten behind Ham- instead of China, and the fire- Waiter-Waitress Competition.........................6:30 p.m. Mon., July 14 mer’s plan for TRF. works come from here instead Two for Tuesday ..............................................................Tuesday, July 15 A new event at TRF is this year’s visit by NASA’s Jour- of Connecticut like they did ney to Tomorrow, a huge display celebrating space travel. before. The helicopter we use The Bed Race .............................................................6 p.m. Wed., July 16 Hammer says he’s been trying to bring this project to Fort is local. We’re making this an American Young ......................................... 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Thurs., July 17 Wayne for a couple of years and is happy to finally share it opportunity to bring business Children’s Fest .............................10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri.-Sat., July 18-19 with the area. A returning (and very popular) event will be to the Fort Wayne area and giv- the visit by the Indianapolis Colts on the festival’s soft boot ing local businesses the chance International Village ..................11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat., July 18-19 on Friday, July 11 when, between 5 and 7 p.m., a few players to be part of it instead of send- Who’s Bad .............................................................. 6-11 p.m. Fri., July 18 will helicopter in from their training camp in Anderson to ing everything out someplace visit and sign autographs. Skills tests and cheerleaders will else.” Brew Review ........................................................12-5 p.m. Sat., July 19 round out the fun. Hammer’s enthusiasm is Hotel Fitness TRF Raft Race ................................. 1 p.m. Sat., July 19 Also starting on Friday night, more than 12 hours before contagious, but he admits that the job has been a big chal- Sweetwater/whatzup Music Fest ............. 1 p.m.-1 a.m. Sat., July 19 Continued on page 8 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com -----------------------------------------------------------------July 10, 2014 whatzup IF YOU PURCHASED Volume 18, Number 47 WILLIE NELSON TICKETS ell, it’s here. Everything that isn’t Three Rivers Festival grinds to a halt for If you purchased your tickets at the next week while we all turn our attention to Fort Wayne’s biggest week Wooden Nickel, return them to the of the year, and it’s our job to help you make the most of it. To that end, if store where they were purchased Wyou’re looking at the actual hard copy of this week’s issue (as opposed to the online for a refund. version), the official TRF Festival Guide should have been included with it. That If you purchased from Fort Wayne should certainly help you get around. Parks & Recreation Dept., your If, by chance, you misplace your Festival Guide, no worries – so long as you have credit card will be refunded or you internet access. You’ll find the day’s complete Three Rivers Festival schedule on will receive a refund check in the whatzup.com’s homepage every day during the festival, and if you’ve signed up for mail, depending on how you paid whatzup2nite, our daily email blast, you’ll get it delivered to your inbox every morn- for your tickets. ing. So, really, there’s no reason for you to miss anything this week that you don’t want to miss. For more information, call 260-427-6000. There are actually things going on other than the festival, and we feature some of them in this issue – starting with one of our favorite comics, Ron White, who’s appearing at the Honeywell. Deb Kennedy’s story is on page 6, and on page 7 you’ll find Chris Hupe’s feature on Mike Lee, a local Christian musician who’s been getting some help from some rather prominent friends. IT’S BACK!!! There’s more, but we’re out of space here, so we’ll leave it at this: Use this publica- tion to find some fun, and then go have it. We just ask that you tell ’em we sent you. • features THE GREEN ROOM ........................ 19 FARE WARNING ............................ 20 Returns to Columbia Street West Trek the Trails and See the City THREE RIVERS FESTIVAL 46 .................2 Thursday Nights • Cash & Other Prizes Gettin’ the Party Started ON BOOKS ..................................... 22 White Fire Sign up at C-Street or Clinton St. Wooden Nickel UNDER THE SUN TOUR.............................4 Hey TRF, the 90s Are Calling SCREENTIME ................................ 22 BATTLE OF THE BANDS XI Choice of Playing Times (Each choice must be a different time): A Modest Proposal for Cinenerds 1st Choice __ 9:00 __ 9:50 __10:40 __11:30 WHO’S BAD .................................................6 ENTRY FORM 2nd Choice __ 9:00 __ 9:50 __10:40 __11:30 Homage to the King 3rd Choice __ 9:00 __ 9:50__10:40 __11:30 4th Choice __ 9:00__ 9:50 __10:40 __11:30 RON WHITE .................................................6 • calendars Fill out this form completely and mail to: Blackout Date 1 (You may check a preliminary round date on Jet-Setting Tater Richard Reprogle, BOTB, P.O. Box 11998, Fort Wayne, IN which your band cannot play): 46862 __July 24 __July 31 __August 7 __August 14 __August 21 MIKE LEE .....................................................7 INCLUDE: It Helps to Have Cash LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ................10 __August 28 • $25 check made out to Richard Reprogle Blackout Date 2 (You may check a second preliminary round KARAOKE & DJS ...........................13 • A photograph of your band (or email a high-res digital date on which your band cannot play): photo to [email protected].