South Forsyth Band Boosters Present Unique 'Rock' Concert

Posted Tuesday, April 25, 2006

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

Take a night of beautiful music. Add the dazzle of fireworks against a spring sky. Now, imagine it in the most unusual setting: a quarry floor, 160 feet below ground level. The result is Concert in the Quarry 2006, an event benefiting the South Forsyth High School band program.

On the evening of Saturday, May 6, Martin Marietta Materials will transform their quarry, located near Johns Creek Business Park, into a stunning outdoor theater that will feature the talents of trumpeter and vocalist Joe Gransden. Gransden was voted “Best Local Jazz Act” in 2005 by the readers of Creative Loafing. The concert, presented by South Forsyth Band Boosters, will also feature the South Forsyth High School Wind Ensemble which recently performed at the University of Georgia’s prestigious JanFest. Fireworks will cap off the concert. Scott Slade of NewsTalk 750 WSB Radio will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening.

“We look forward to having music lovers visit our quarry and enjoy an evening of music and fireworks under the stars,” said Michael Dobbs, Plant Manager for Martin Marietta’s Forsyth Quarry. “The event allows us to both support our community and raise awareness about the work of the quarry.”

“Concert in the Quarry” was first held in 1998 by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at the Martin Marietta quarry in Carmel, Indiana. When Cathi Kruse heard about the Indiana concert last year, she became interested in holding a similar event in Georgia to raise funds for her daughter’s band program at South Forsyth High School.

“It’s been a lot of work, but we are incredibly excited about this event,” said Kruse, who is president of the school’s band booster program. “We’re giving people a chance to enjoy a night of great entertainment and, at the same time, support a very worthwhile cause.”

Transforming a working mining operation into a concert and fireworks venue requires months of planning and several days of setup. “As you might imagine, it takes a lot of work and ingenuity to transform an active quarry into a concert venue,” said Dobbs.

Concertgoers will park their cars in the Johns Creek Business Park and be taken down to the quarry floor via 55-passenger motor coaches. Shuttles will run between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to allow enough time to transport everyone before the 7:30 p.m. concert time. A limited number of early arrivers will be allowed to tour a lower section of the quarry, 350 feet below ground level, to learn more about quarry operations and see the large equipment used in the mining process. Because of the time it will take to transport people to the concert site, Kruse stressed that everyone should allow plenty of time to park and take the shuttle down to the quarry floor. Latecomers will not be allowed to enter the quarry after the last shuttle run.

Event sponsors include Northside Hospital–Forsyth, Dyno Nobel, Kroger, Hedgewood, Metrac, UPS, Johns Creek Business Association. Additional sponsors include Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Up the Creek Fish Camp & Grill, who will be providing meals for the VIP tent.

General admission tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at the Johns Creek Kroger, Sharon Greens Kroger, and Café Di Napoli on Old Atlanta Road. Hamburgers, hot dogs, snacks, soft drinks, water, coffee, and desserts will be available for purchase at the concert site. Outside food and beverages, including alcohol, are not permitted. Photography, video, and sound recording are prohibited during the performance. Tickets are non-refundable. In the event of rain, the concert will take place on Sunday, May 7.

For more information about the concert or to purchase tickets online, visit www.ConcertInTheQuarry.com.

Discuss this story in our forum...


Please also visit: