Elkhart Park Board approves lineup and production contracts for summer music festivals
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Summary
The Park Board unanimously approved entertainment contracts for the city's summer festival series, including the Rhapsody Arts & Music Fest headliner and a production contract with EA Pro.
The Elkhart Park Board on May 20 unanimously approved a slate of entertainment contracts and a production services agreement that cover the city's summer festival season, including Rhapsody Arts & Music Fest.
Board members approved contracts for a variety of performers and family entertainers slated across Rhapsody and other events. Liz Dettner, events coordinator for Parks and Recreation, described the scheduled acts: a morning easy-listening opening act (Cambray/Rhapsody opening), afternoon blues and folk bands (Sugar Lime Blue; Bridal Land; Sugar Lime Blue and similar acts), bluegrass duo FOG ("Fairly Old Guys"), an eighties hair-cover band for Friday headline sets, and Mister Z Band as a Saturday-night headliner. Family and community programming approved included Kevin the Magician and Clark Lewis, who will perform multiple family-stage shows, and a variety of other acts (Betty B and the Rope Walkers; Midtown Mad Men; Mr. Z Band).
The board also approved a production-services contract with EA Pro, the new production company that will provide sound and stage services for Rhapsody, Independence Day and Island of Blues. Dettner told the board that staff expects separate fees for each event but said the $12,104 line item discussed "is probably just for Rhapsody"; she said staff would confirm the final breakdown. The production firm was described as local to the region and recommended by local festival partners.
Board members signaled support for keeping a diverse roster: Dettner said the Rhapsody programming intentionally includes multiple genres and that the department issued an open musician application this year to broaden participation. Motions to approve each entertainment contract and the EA Pro production contract were made, seconded and carried by voice vote with all in favor.
Why it matters: the contracts finalize performers and technical production for several large, city-hosted events that draw residents downtown and to neighborhood parks during the summer season. Production contracting affects event budgets, staging logistics and scheduling for multiple weekends.
The events coordinator said staff will circulate confirmed schedules and final production-fee breakdowns once EA Pro and purchasing complete the contract paperwork.
