Paso Pops organizers promise a bigger, better celebration this July 1
The Swing Dolls make their Paso Robles debut at the 2nd annual Paso Pops concert
2nd annual concert to feature patriotic-themed music, fireworks and more
-After a rousing turnout last year, Paso Pops, A Paderewski Festival Event returns on July 1st at the Paso Robles Horse Park. It promises to be bigger and better.
For starters, emcee Casey Biggs aka Paso Wine Man, who made a dramatic entrance via helicopter last year, is all geared to outdo himself this time around. What can the guests expect? Not to spoil the surprise and excitement, Biggs who serves as the festival’s executive producer simply replied, “Topping last year.”
San Luis Obispo Symphony Orchestra performing at the 2016 Paso Pops concert
The fireworks display will be turned up several notches as well with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” set to a cannon fusillade. The 2017 program will feature the Swing Dolls rendering a salute to our Armed Forces, and the 60-member San Luis Symphony Orchestra joined by the Youth Symphony will perform under the baton of maestro Christopher Woodruff. The concert in the majestic “pops” style will showcase arrangements from Leonard Bernstein to John Phillip Sousa.
Over coffee at the Paso Robles Inn, Steve Cass, founder of Cass Winery and the brainchild behind Paso Pops, discussed the upcoming 2017 concert. We were joined by Marjorie Hamon, president of Paderewski Festival and board member Cri Cri Solak-Eastin. Cass addressed some of the hiccups experienced by the organization last year, since the team was not prepared for such a large turnout.
“The Internet lit up last 12 hours and we sold 1000 tickets,” Cass recalled. The total count last year was 4,400 people and this year the team is prepared for an attendance of 6,000. Which means the organization needs to double up on volunteers.
“We are shooting for 150 volunteers,” Cass remarked. The volunteer perks include two Diplomat tickets, access to the canteen area and a Paso Pops T-shirt.
“We are setting up a special area for volunteers next to vice-presidents’ tables, so they are very good seats,” added Solak-Eastin.
Casey Biggs and the happy members of 2016 Paso Pops post fireworks
To facilitate access, this year the user-friendly parking area will have several shuttles and golf carts transporting the crowds to the venue; there will be early arrival starting at 4 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. A walk-around tasting showcasing 40 local wineries will be open from 5 p.m. to 7.30 pm for adults holding reserved seating. The pre-concert time is also geared to be kid-friendly offering interactive arts activities and a petting zoo.
In addition, there will be no ticket sales on the day of the concert, said Cass. The deadline for ticket sales is June 29th, unless the event sells out earlier. “These changes should minimize the entrance issue,” he said, referring to the considerable vehicle backup experienced last year.
“We’ve got this cool young band to perform at the after party,” Cass said. To stagger the flow of crowds exiting en masse, the rocking music of Ricky Montijo and the Mojitos, coffee trucks and the raffle offering two sideline tickets to an LA Rams game will keep many from leaving the venue early. “We want people to stick around for 30 to 40 minutes,” Cass noted.
To minimize long lines at the wine stations, more tables will be added this year, with wines priced at three tiers, (such as in the $20, $30 and $40/bottle range) so people can select the wine and pay for both food and beverage with “Paso Bucks” available at cash stations.
As for food, there will be a number of food trucks or attendees can pre-order boxed meals online from Alegretto Vineyards Resort special concert menu. Plus people can bring their own picnic baskets (but no beverages). Alegretto is among the key sponsors this year along with Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Travel Paso Robles Alliance, and Cass Winery.
Paso Pops 2016 fireworks finale
“I’m not saying it’s going to be perfect but it’s going to be a helluva lot better,” said Cass with a positive take on the 2nd Annual Paso Pops Festival.
The Paderewski Festival was founded in 1993 to honor the Polish composer and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s association with Paso Robles. The first concert was held during the annual Zinfandel Festival weekend, recalled Cass. It evolved into a popular music festival until its demise in 2003. It was revived by Cass at his winery following a rock and roll competition in 2005. Cass determined rock and roll and fine wine were not a great match, The next year in 2006, they switched music genres to classical music, featuring Paderewski compositions performed by noted English pianist Jonathan Plowright. That performance inspired a number of community leaders to restart the Paderewski Festival in 2007 in the form it is today.
This type of music was more in line with the vintner’s sensibilities whose interest in Paderewski also stems from the fact his wife Alice Cass is Polish and a pianist.
Over the years the festival has grown as a four-day event. “We’ve had classical, jazz, instrumental, alternative and everything you can imagine, but no rock ‘n’ roll,” Hamon emphasized. “This is our festival and it’s in November,” she informed. As part of the Paderewski Festival, the addition of Paso Pops is adding a new dimension to the Festival’s repertoire.
So how did Paso Pops originate? Enter Cass again. Paso Robles had a history of staging 4th of July fireworks.
“But when the recession hit everyone ran out of money,” Cass said. He proposed to the city officials to jumpstart the fireworks. “They loved the idea but at the time were watching their budget.” Cass approached the city again three years ago. “And they went for it,” said Cass with a satisfying grin.
The Paso Pops concert has launched itself as a brilliant companion event to the Paderewski Festival, each stemming from a genuine grassroots efforts by the local community.
Proceeds from the concert benefit several local charities among them the Paderewski Festival Youth Piano Competition and Student Cultural Exchange Program, San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony, Studios on the Park Youth Art Program and Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation.
For tickets visit www.pasopops.org.
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