Making Sweet Music for the Community!
When you wake up everyday, do you think. Wow I have the opportunity to do something extraordinary for my community?
Then do you act on it? Today I’m honored to interview two people who believe in the power of music and community. Nate Logsdon and Chris Lyng founders and organizers of the Maximum Ames Music Festival.
Ames, Iowa is a small college town located in the middle of the United States. The beautiful city receives a lot of attention in presidential election years, but this week it’s all about Music, Art, and a Strong Community! On the eve of the festival I spoke with it’s founding fathers!
Patrick Tape Fleming: What has been the best experience working on this festival together for the second year?
Nate Logsdon: We have a great working relationship, we love hustling together for Ames! I think one of the coolest experiences so far this year was when Chris confirmed with Jeff Mangum, we were dizzy with excitement.
Chris Lyng: I think the best thing this year is being able to use the knowledge we gained from last year to plan this year’s fest. Last year we were doing everything for the first time. This year people know who we are and it makes it easier to collaborate with even more people.
PTF: With over 130 bands playing in 4 days, where do you even begin as a music fan. What are your tips for surviving a festival of this magnitude!
CL: Jump around. If you have a All Fest Pass you have the freedom to come and go as you please. Also, go to stuff you have never seen or heard off. We curated this festival to be awesome all the way through. No duds guaranteed!
NL: Check out the schedule and select your top picks for shows! Choose show in your budget and bounce around Ames checking out all the glory.
PTF: Making dreams come true is an emotional experience, with this festival you guys have made a dream of mine come true by bringing Jeff Mangum to Ames, Iowa. How do you even start considering artist when you start planning a festival of this size?
NL: We have a goal of bringing in artists whose story overlaps with the story of Iowa music.. Jeff Mangum is beloved around the world and his music has a particular resonance in Ames because of the connected histories of the Ames and Athens, GA music scenes (which exist largely because of the Poison Control Center!) We wanted to get Jeff because we love his music and we wanted to create a narrative of Iowa music history that connects to his art.
CL: We look for artists that have an Iowan connection or builds an Iowan story. Jeff Mangum and Wanda Jackson are living legends and it is an important part of Max Ames to have Iowan bands sharing the stage with national headliners!
PTF: You have made Maximum Ames Fest not only about music, but about Community. Why is the city you live in so important in everything you do.
NL: We love living in Ames, it’s a great place to start a business or be an artist (or be both, like we do!) We aren’t doing this for ourselves, we’re doing it for the community because we love living in this town and we want people to take pride in this town.
CL: We love being from and living in Ames. Ames has so many opportunities and amazing people that have collaboration in their blood. We could not pull off a festival like this anywhere else. It is a uniquely Iowan and Ames festival. That is why Ames is in the name.
PTF: Can people still get tickets?
NL: YES! Until midnight Wednesday you can pre-order wristbands. After
that, visit our ticket booth or buy tickets to shows at the door of each show!
CL: Yes. At maximumames.com and at the ticket pickup locations and at the door.
PTF: You said in Juice Magazine that Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen would be your dream headliners, if they could do 3 songs to close the fest together what would they be.
NL: OH MY GOD GREAT QUESTION! In this order: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Amazing Grace, Atlantic City
CL: I gotta get drunk - Willie (cuz I love this song), Thunder Road, The party’s over (both Springsteen and Willie together)
PTF: What are you going to do when you wake up Monday morning, when the festival is all wrapped up?
CL: Going to work, booking Mumford’s upcoming tour and planning Maximum Ames Music Festival 3!
NL: GET BACK TO HUSTLING!
A big thanks to Nate and Chris for talking to me! You truly Inspire Extraordinary Performance. I’m super excited to see their band Mumfords and over 130 others this week in Ames.
For more information on Maximum Ames Festival check out…
