JOINS  ALL GOOD AND BONNAROO MUSIC FESTS
IN APPEAL TO 20-SOMETHING CAMPOUT CROWD

Band lineup includes Grouplove, Modest Mouse,
Death Cab for Cutie, Cold War Kids, The Killers
 
By Kaitlin Nëwman and Andrew Windham
 
Rainbow trees, hammock slung forests, hot air balloons and the scent of fresh rain set the atmosphere for the sold-out woodland music festival known as Firefly, which hit Dover, Del. the last week of July and seems destined to become a summer tradition.

The festival’s first-annual lineup included big names like Jack White, The Killers and the Black Keys, supported by bands such as Modest Mouse, Grouplove, Death Cab for Cutie, the Flaming Lips and Cold War Kids.

The three-day festival offered attendees the chance to buy a camping pass that included a 10×30-ft. campsite where they could set up camp with tents, propane grills, coolers and flags marking their territory.

Within a few hours of opening, the dull grass was covered with tents of every shape and size, resembling a colorful shantytown of music enthusiasts.  The mood was bright and relaxed, in contrast to the dull skies hanging low above Dover.

“In my opinion, camping was pretty much overall good,” said Brian Haack, one of the attendees — most of whom were in their early to mid-20s — in an interview with Voice of Baltimore.

However he noted that “they definitely could have given more space. Having to fit your car and your tent in the same space was difficult. It was in a really nice location though; for the majority of it people were in good spots. If the festival is bigger next year they’ll have to move to a bigger location or it won’t fit. Overall, it was really good!”

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STEPHANIE BOWEN  IS FIRST  TO ATTAIN  NEW TITLE;
WINS ANNUAL COMPETITION AT PADONIA STATION
OVER 104 OTHER CONTESTANTS,  16 FINALISTS

STAR SPANGLED BANNER PERFORMED 18 TIMES AT FINALS
 
By Alan Z. Forman
 
When’s the last time you heard the Star Spangled Banner performed 18 times in a single evening? — and cheered wildly every time you heard it?

When did you ever hear it sung by 17 semiprofessionals, most of whom were as good as any featured singer you’ve ever seen or heard on television, on stage or in the movies?

This is no exaggeration. The 17 finalists at Padonia Station’s annual competition to pick the first ever “Voice of Baltimore” were so surprisingly good Monday night it was nearly impossible for the six judges who had to evaluate them to pick a winner.

Each was required to sing one song of their own choosing plus the national anthem before a packed house, capping six weeks of competition for the award:  One of the prizes for the winner is the chance to sing the Patrick Henry song at an upcoming Baltimore Orioles baseball game at Camden Yards.

Or at least that’s what one of the contestants thought, obviously not someone from Baltimore. As she introduced the song she mistakenly attributed it to the Revolutionary War patriot from Virginia instead of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key, who penned the lyrics while being held captive aboard a British warship bombarding Fort McHenry in the Inner Harbor in 1814, where the famous flag then flew.

History however was her only fault, and was probably the only mistake of the night: she sang the song beautifully.

Not to be outdone, the 18th rendition was performed during intermission by a 64-year-old first-round contestant (not a finalist) decked out in red, white and blue named Susan Clark, who sported a red, white and blue cane as well.

But the No. 1 rendition Monday night was sung by a 25-year-old Towson University graduate from Forest Hill — a community in Harford County, north of Bel Air — named Stephanie Bowen, who blew the audience away with her version of what was once a drinking song, and also her take on Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” her song of choice for the final event.

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CONTEST WINNER NAMED MONDAY AT PADONIA STATION

Stephanie Bowen (pictured, right) was named the first ever “Voice of Baltimore” at Padonia Station Monday night, winning out over a field of 17 finalists for the honor.

One of the two numbers she performed for an SRO audience at the popular Lutherville sports nightclub was the national anthem, which she will reprise at an upcoming Baltimore Orioles baseball game at Camden Yards.

More than 100 Baltimore area singers competed for the honor over a six-week period beginning June 4.
 
Photos and story, plus video, to follow late-night Wednesday.

Stephanie was interviewed in the a.m. on radio station WNST.net 1570-AM by “Catch the Buzz” co-hosts Paul Mittermeier and Damon “The Bulldog” Yaffe. Check out the podcast (at http://bit.ly/SS1qYS) by clicking here.

(VoB Photo/Debi Fowler)