Columnist Spencer Patterson: ‘Vegoose’ festival seems close to taking flight

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 17, 2005 | 8:14 a.m.

The Internet is rife with rumors of a major music festival descending on Las Vegas on Halloween weekend.

The three-day event would run from Friday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Oct. 30, and take place at Sam Boyd Stadium and the adjacent Star Nursery Fields to the north.

Reported on several blogs to be named "Vegoose," the festival is being touted as a jam-band fan's dream come true, with the Dave Matthews Band, remnants of both Phish (Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke) and the Grateful Dead (Phil Lesh and Friends), and the Allman Brothers Band among the rumored acts.

The happening is said to be organized by Superfly Productions, the promotional agency behind Tennessee's annual Bonnaroo Festival, the latest edition of which took place last weekend.

So with Halloween less than four months away, the big question on thousand of online music junkies' minds is: Is this really going to happen?

Superfly isn't talking, at least not yet. A www.vegoose.com Web site has been launched, but is nothing more than a placeholder at this point, revealing no specifics.

A call to Daren Libonati, executive director of Sam Boyd Stadium and the Thomas & Mack Center, didn't yield official confirmation. But he didn't say it wasn't happening, either.

"Although confirmation has not been made and a contract has not been put in place, there's a lot of potential surrounding a possible, fantastic event in October at our stadium," Libonati said.

"With all the Internet conversation and excitement surrounding the past Bonnaroo weekend, there's a good opportunity that exists that an event like this could come to fruition at this point."

Sounds as if these online bloggers are onto something.

Other acts heavily rumored to be on the bill: Pearl Jam, the String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Gov't Mule, John Mayer and Wilco.

Several gossip sites also suggest each day of the festival will end around 7 p.m., and will be followed by concerts featuring one or more of the acts at venues such as the T&M, MGM Grand Garden Arena and House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Another possibility: an Oct. 31 blowout show at Sam Boyd to cap it all off.

"It sounds like those on the Internet are preparing themselves for a fantastic event," Libonati said coyly. "It's great to read all those things on the Internet. I hope it does come to fruition."

How much of this actually happens remains to be seen, but the hunch here is that something big will definitely go down that weekend.

Don't count on any one specific act among the rumored list actually showing up and you won't get let down, but it seems clear the festival will have a distinct jam-band feel, with a sampling of other musical flavors sprinkled in.

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

Two local bands return home from the road to play Jillian's this weekend.

First, hard-rock outfit Magni-Fi, which participated in last year's Ozzfest tour, headline a four-band bill tonight with support from Corner Stone, Rock 'n Roll Soldiers and Left Standing. Music starts at 6:30. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Then on Saturday night, rock band the Higher checks in for a hometown gig at 6. Bedlight of Blue Eyes, My Epiphany and Secret Lives of the Freemasons open. Tickets are $8 at the door, $10 in advance.

Legendary reggae group Toots and the Maytals headline the annual "Reggae in the Desert" festival Saturday night at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater.

Famous for such enduring reggae classics as "Pressure Drop" and "Monkey Man," Frederick "Toots" Hibbert and his band earned this year's Best Reggae Album Grammy award for 2004's "True Love."

Also on the bill: Sister Carol, the Toasters and Tippa Irie. Doors open at 5 p.m., with music scheduled to run from 6 to 11. Tickets are $16 in advance, $20 at the door.

Indie-pop band Hot Hot Heat warm up the House of Blues Saturday night, with opening acts Robbers on High Street and the Blue Van. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door.

On sale

John Mellencamp and John Fogerty team for a Sept. 3 show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Tickets are $45, $65 and $85 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mandalay Bay box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

The reunited Backstreet Boys perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Aug. 27. Tickets are $35, $45 and $65 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the Mandalay Bay box office and Ticketmaster.

The Doobie Brothers stop at the Mandalay Bay Beach on Sept. 24. Tickets are $38.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the Mandalay Bay box office and Ticketmaster.

Asia and ex-Santana vocalist Gregg Rolie share a July 30 bill at the Club at the Cannery. Tickets are $9.95, $14.95 and $19.95 and are on sale now at the Cannery box office, by phone at 617-5585 and at www.showtickets.com.

The Whispers play the Club at the Cannery on Aug. 27 with comedian Don "DC" Curry. Tickets are $30, $40, $50 and $60 and are on sale now through the Cannery box office.

Toni Braxton has canceled her scheduled Aug. 19-20 shows at the Mirage. Refunds are available at points of purchase.

Pepe Aguilar performs at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on July 30. Tickets are $50 to $110 and are on sale now at the Aladdin box office and through Ticketmaster.

Kenny Rogers plays the Sunset Station Amphitheater on Sept. 9. Tickets are $22.95 to $49.95 and go on sale on Saturday at Station Casinos, by phone at 547-5300 and at www.sunsetstation.com.

Dinosaur Jr. brings its reunion tour to the House of Blues on Aug. 13. Tickets are $22 and $30 and go on sale at 10 a.m. on June 25 through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Gaelic Storm hits the House of Blues on July 14 with support from local product Franky Perez. Tickets are $13 and are on sale now through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Le Tigre lands at the House of Blues on July 23 with opening act Electrelane. Tickets are $14.50 and are on sale now through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Rob Zombie plays the House of Blues on Aug. 19 with opening band Mastodon. Tickets are $30 and $35 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Moenia and Alexs Syntgek team for a Sept. 11 show at the House of Blues. Tickets are $37.50 and $55 and are on sale now through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.