2018 Oro Valley Music Festival
Naranja Park, Oro Valley, AZ, October 13-14, 2018
by Mary Andrews
The Oro Valley Music Festival (OVMF) for 2018 had its share of challenges with their fourth festival year. The first day is produced by iHeart radio’s 97.1/ The Bull country music radio. Who knew that the disclaimer ‘a rain or shine event’ would be put to a test in Tucson, Arizona. That is just what happened
Chris Young headlined the country music day on a rain drenched Saturday. . Young mentioned that he had attended a friend’s wedding the night before in Nashville. When he left the next morning at 5 a.m., he wasn’t sure he would be able to get into to Tucson. Young made it and he gave the damp fans everything he had.
The charming crooner dished out tunes like “Losing Sleep,” “Who I am With You,” “Save Water Drink Beer,” “I Can Take It From There,” and “Aw Naw.” The set was well worth wading through the mud and the rain to see their hero.
Earlier in the day Cassadee Pope from URLope performed her entire set as the drizzle turned into sheets of rain. The Voice graduate shouted ‘Rain can’t stop us,’ as a group of fans huddled close to the stage. She sang her hit “Wasting All These Tears” and as the set progressed she sang some rock covers like Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me” and Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
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High Valley took the stage with a stagehand sweeping the water off the stage during the entire set. They donned plastic ponchos midway and continued singing without missing a beat. Before they were done, the clouds parted and the sun made a miraculous appearance for the first time.
Danielle Bradbery is “The Voice’s” season four winner. She sang her songs “Sway,” “The Heart of Dixie,” “Worth It” and many more crowd-pleasing songs. Her high energy was infectious that set the mood for Young.
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The second day was hosted by IHeart radio’s My 92.9, variety music station. The day was the polar opposite of the previous day both with the weather and the music. Fans and entertainers alike were delighted to have a sunny, dry day.
Variety was a good description for the day. The headliner was jam band O.A.R. O.A.R. finished the festival in fine fashion, but more laid back than some of the acts earlier in the day.
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Marc Roberge led the band in delivering straightforward rock and light reggae music. He is a professional and not necessarily chatty as he delivers crystal clear, soaring vocals. DiPizzo strikes lightning on stage with his baritone and tenor saxophones.
Song staples like “Lay Down,” “Something Coming Over,” “Night Shift,” and “Program Director” were among the offerings of the night.
Singers/songwriters Ian Axel and Chad King of A Great Big World performed their hits that included “Say Something” and “This is the New Year” in their upbeat short set. There is no angst in their music. The set was a happy music vibe.
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Singer, MAX aka Max Schneider, turned the tables by taking a good festival and turning it into a great festival. The singer was saving his voice and his energy backstage so that he could explode on stage with dancing, body flips, and a big voice for the fans. The ‘fun sized’ singer performed his songs “Lights Down Low,” “Holla,” “Savage” and “One More Weekend.” MAX was determined to have everyone remember who he was by the end of his set.
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Mat Kearney had to follow the MAX frenzy. It was a difficult task, but Kearney did an admirable job. The set started a bit laid back, but by the end he had the fans stomping, cheering and begging for more. Kearney is better known for more intimate settings and writing songs that are more laid back and thought provoking. Songs performed included “Wanted Man,” “Runaway,” and “Money.” Kearney had the entire audience in his pocket by the end of his set.
Switchfoot threw a party and gave a show stopping performance as frontman Jon Foreman pulled every trick in his ‘bag’ to give fans a thrill. He took every opportunity to physically reach out to the fans including crowd surfing and hand slapping. Songs performed included “Hello Hurricane,” “Float,” and “Dare You to Move.”
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The festival ended on a high note.
Chris Young
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High Valley
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