Park City will host a music festival the week before Sundance next year. The first Orion Independent Music Festival has been announced January 14-20 for the Main Street area of Park City. Sundance, which has dabbled in music in year’s past, then begins on the 21st.
Organized by Steffon Olsen of Salt Lake City, Orion promises “national and international artists” but also to give exposure to unsigned artists. So far it looks like there will be quite a bit more of the latter and less of the former. The website is a little difficult to navigate but I don’t see anyone booked that is likely to bring the world’s Beautiful People to town a week early ahead of the Sundance Party.
A writer for the Park Record newspaper describes something a little more organic. As many as 60 bands and dozens of record reps kicking the tires. Olsen promises one big name performer will “attend” Orion but it’s not clear if they’ll play. He’s not dropping any names. Olsen’s hoping for up to 3,000 folks per night which may be a little ambitious.
Kudos to Park City. Maybe we’ll get a notable act before January. Or perhaps the nascent event will bloom into a full blowout in 2011 with side venues and a main stage that lures brooding Hollywood socialites and their retinues to Utah for an extra week of Seeing and Being Seen.
Shows are $5 each with wristsbands for the week priced at $40.
UPDATE: It looks like the headliner for 2010 will be Joshua James Wednesday night January 20 at the Spur. Band of Annuals opens.