25 Years ~ ProgDay North Carolina

[winkersnufs]

Friday it is !

Yes indeed... come Labor Day weekend, the 25th version of the beloved ProgDay music festival will be taking place. I had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Peter Renfro a little while back. Peter was instrumental in starting the festival all those years ago and I asked him if 'he realized the significant mark he, and the ONGOING festival' has made in many of our musical lives'? Same festival brought later Steve Sly and currently Mr. Bennet is in the seat. ProgDay is still here, continues to showcase many stellar bands form around the globe, and remains an absolute yearly favorite of many here at Progressive Ears. Indeed ~ Me Too.

A firm personal handshake to all who have been involved. The band selection committee, the food vendors, the sound people, ALL who give of their time in public relations, ticketing, and many things that go on behind the scenes to bring this awesome weekend of music to the listening ears each year!

Again.... Thanks Peter Renfro for the significant early vision!

I'm going once again!

Carry On
Chris Buckley

[Jimmy Giant]

A very personal thanks from me to Peter for all your efforts and expense in getting this all rolling on the east coast. The legacy continues 25 years on my friend. Thank you Peter! And also Debbie for all your support and friendship. Thanks as well to all who have supported PD in the past and future. Rock on!

JG

[SteveSly]

Michael is like the Chris Squire of ProgDay. Many people have come and gone over the years, but he is the only person to have been involved in the organization for every one of those 25 years.

[smcfee]

Steve, I believe that would make you the Trevor Rabin of ProgDay, and me the Trevor Horn.

[Lopez]

This will be my 15th year going, and I still feel like the new guy to ProgDay having missed the Peter Renfro years. Thanks to all involved for one of my highlights of each year.

[SteveSly]

Steve, I believe that would make you the Trevor Rabin of ProgDay, and me the Trevor Horn.

[3RDegree_Robert]

Steve, I believe that would make you the Trevor Rabin of ProgDay, and me the Trevor Horn.

I am the Jimmy Haun of ProgDay

[progeezer]

I am the Methuselah of ProgDay (and Dave Astley is my father!!)

[adap2it]

I am the Methuselah of ProgDay (and Dave Astley is my father!!)

Shut the f**k up you S.O.B!

[adap2it]

This was my first Progday...

Progday 97.jpg

[Rick L.]

I have only been to one when I was there to perform with Eccentric Orbit. Good times. A primo nerd hang.

[Proglodite]

Thank you Chris, Jimmy and everyone else! I've become much more of a lurker here at ProgEars the past couple of years as my wife's health has continued to decline. But I am looking forward to getting back to the Farm and seeing everyone! --Peter

[Gruno]

Who were the staff manning the stations when I attended ProgDay 2003?

[SteveSly]

This was my first Progday...

Progday 97.jpg

Mine too.

[SteveSly]

Who were the staff manning the stations when I attended ProgDay 2003?

That was the year Nick played right? I am pretty sure I met you as I remember meeting Nick. I was a member of the organization, but not sure who was in charge at the time. Sean McFee maybe? Michael was certainly heavily as was Mike Prete, but I don't remember who was doing what. I am out of town all week this week, but have a program back home that lists who was who in the organization at the time.

[smcfee]

2003 was the year I tried to take a step back and was supposed to be the "volunteer coordinator", and then between the positions that went unfilled and the people who flaked I ended up doing half the jobs, some of which I had no clue how to do. Going by memory, but Steve, Michael, Mike, Peter, Gerhard, Roy & Rhea (& me) would have been the most likely people at the merch table or the gate, Geoff & Jay were on stage. It ended up being a pretty fun year with a lot of stories but it was chaos at the time.

[Steve F.]

^^^^^^^^^^^

You and your clipboard are forever seared in my memory.

[winkersnufs]

My apologies for not mentioning some of the significant others who have been at the helm. Mr. McFee(sp?) and others MY BAD!

Carry On
Chris Buckley

[smcfee]

^^^^^^^^^^^

You and your clipboard are forever seared in my memory.

The clipboard was helpful because it allowed me to know exactly how screwed I was at any given point in time.

[SteveSly]

2003 was the year I tried to take a step back and was supposed to be the "volunteer coordinator", and then between the positions that went unfilled and the people who flaked I ended up doing half the jobs, some of which I had no clue how to do. Going by memory, but Steve, Michael, Mike, Peter, Gerhard, Roy & Rhea (& me) would have been the most likely people at the merch table or the gate, Geoff & Jay were on stage. It ended up being a pretty fun year with a lot of stories but it was chaos at the time.

I don't really remember. I didn't become overall coordinator until 2005, so was still a peripheral player at that point. Gerhard was probably still the financial guy then. Peter was probably still highly involved. Michael was probably the main band booker as he had assumed that role by that time. Geoff and Jay were definitely running the stage. Maybe Paul too, but not sure. All the years have kind have run together though. Someone ought to right a book. There is a lot of great ProgDay history out there, but it is getting harder to remember it all accurately.

[Flightwave]

Thank you Chris, Jimmy and everyone else! I've become much more of a lurker here at ProgEars the past couple of years as my wife's health has continued to decline. But I am looking forward to getting back to the Farm and seeing everyone! --Peter

I’ll say a prayer for your wife tonight. Thank you for the great Prog memories you helped create with Progday.