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WRITTEN By Savannah Logan Pearce

This past weekend on Saturday, May 7th, the members of the Bibb County community and beyond showed up and showed out to support the 5th Annual Woodstock Music Festival, with an estimated 3,000 guests in attendance.

PHOTOS BY SAVANNAH LOGAN PEARCE

It was a perfect day for a music festival – full sunshine, temperature in the upper 70s, and a nice breeze. Families and groups of friends gathered together on the lawn of Holiday Raceway, enjoying the country music that played before the first band came on, getting snacks from food trucks, grabbing a t-shirt or putting their name in for the raffle to win door prizes, and saying hello to one another.

 

Sponsors’ tents lined the lawn, including headlining sponsor Bibb Medical Center. If you had a chance to stop by their tent, you were met with the smiling face of Joseph Marchant, President and CEO of BMC. When asked if there was anything he would like to say about the event or their generous sponsorship, Mr. Marchant said, “It’s just an honor to be here and to be able to sponsor such a great cause. If anything, I’d just like to thank the mayor and the Town of Woodstock for allowing us this opportunity to come together as a community to support the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition.”

 

Along with Bibb Medical Center, other major sponsors included Senator April Weaver and Representative Russell Bedsole, who further supported this event with ensuring that the Town of Woodstock received an event and tourism grant. Ty Corbell, Woodstock Councilmember running for County Commission, and The Bibb County Commission were also big supporters of the music festival.

 

Cheryl Dodson, in her top hat and flashy sunglasses, stood with the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition table when she wasn’t on stage. I was able to speak with her a bit on the true cause of the Woodstock Music Festival and what we gather together as a community to support. “The Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition, also known as ASPARC, is who I represent,” she began. “What we provide is QPR training, which is like CPR, but for your mental health.” On a pamphlet on her table that she had set up, I was able to see that QPR stands for “Question, Persuade, Refer.” On one of the first few pages, the pamphlet elaborated on the short and simple acronym: “Question a person about suicide; Persuade someone to get help; Refer someone to the appropriate resource.” Something that ASPARC states clearly is that QPR training is not a form of counseling or treatment, but rather it is intended to offer hope through positive action.

 

Mrs. Dodson continued to talk about this cause that she is genuinely passionate about. “The training only takes about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, and we don’t charge for it – and now that we’re able to promote it on Zoom, we’re able to train people around the state, around the country, and even overseas. It’s been a very powerful tool for us.” She went on to say that they were able to educate around 2,000 people with QPR training last year, but their goal this year is to educate 5,000 people.

 

“What the Town of Woodstock has done for us, was that, well – we originally didn’t have any funds. The first time I ever went to a meeting four years ago, we had only $2,000 in the bank,” Mrs. Dodson shared. “But this event alone, just selling t-shirts raises $3,000.” A bright smile spread across her face at what she told me next. “And this year, they’ve even given us the proceeds of what we get at the gate! We could get another $8,000 to $10,000 based on attendance today.” With that kind of resource, ASPARC could be funded for almost a year. “We’re also working to obtain grant funding, but it’s just incredible, you know, for a small town like Woodstock to be able to educate the nation.” To wrap up our conversation, Mrs. Dodson couldn’t speak enough to how proud she was of her community and the work ASPARC is able to do because of their support.

 

If you would like to know more about how you or someone you know can receive QPR training through the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition, you may call their main line at (205) 677-6116 or send them an email at info@asparc.org.

 

To begin the show, the national anthem was performed by Dauton Moore, who rightfully received much applause and cheers from the audience.

 

First up on the lineup for the evening was Tab & the Mojo, who played a good mix of covering well-known country classics as well as playing a good deal of originals. A few people braved their way from their seats to stand in front of the stage to dance and sing along, and after a while, a few more piggybacked off their bravery and joined them. By the end of Tab & the Mojo’s set, a small crowd had gathered to welcome the next artist on the lineup – Lorrie Morgan.

 

Lorrie Morgan is well-renowned for being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry at only 24 years old. A true veteran performer, Morgan knew how to work the crowd, charming and charismatic as ever. She and her band performed many originals (such as “What Part of No” and her collaboration with The Beach Boys “Don’t Worry Baby”) and cover songs that everyone could sing along to, including Shania Twain’s iconic “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”. At one point throughout her set, she slowed it down with Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All”, and a few couples even slow-danced with one another as the sun began to sink behind the trees. However, she soon picked the pace back up after the sun set, letting the lights of the stage work their magic in the dimming dusk of the evening. There’s no doubt about it – Lorrie Morgan and her band sure know how to put on a show!

 

After Morgan and her band finished their set, the people of the crowd made a second round for snacks and supper – whether it be roasted corn, cotton candy, BBQ, or tacos – while they waited for the headliner: The Marshall Tucker Band. Children (and hey, maybe a few adults too) found whoever was selling light up toys that could be shot high up into the air, launching them towards the sky with childlike abandon, happy to chase them down wherever they might land. People bundled up their babies as the evening chill set in, and a few couples and families could be seen dancing and goofing off together, earning giggles from the little ones. Everything combined allowed for a family-friendly atmosphere that could be cut straight out of a scene from a movie – the kind of scene that embodies what community is truly about. (That is, if you’re a sap like me who thinks in that kind of way.)

 

When The Marshall Tucker Band played the first few notes of their first song, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, the excitement evident to all. Having been around for 50 years, The Marshall Tucker Band is one that is clearly well-loved in our community, if the singing and dancing along was any sign. They showed up and rocked out, and even though it was getting late (as they didn’t even begin their set until after 9:00 p.m.), a large crowd remained as the band members brought out instruments like the saxophone and the flute for solos that would knock your socks off. Of course, they played their classic, well-known hits, such as “Fire on the Mountain” and “Runnin’ Like the Wind” much to everyone’s delight.

 

The 5th Annual Woodstock Music Festival wouldn’t have been made possible without the time, energy, determination, and efforts of several people who are clearly committed to this event’s continued success. One person in particular is deserving of a shoutout for all the behind the scenes work she does: Tiffney Cook McCulley, town clerk and producer of the Woodstock Music Festival. On the Festival’s Facebook page, Mayor Jeff Dodson was quoted thanking Tiffney for all of her hard work and dedication. “Tiffney is a key part of the success and growth of the Woodstock Music Festival and our annual Light the Night Christmas event. She leads by example with a pure heart of dedication to her community. She cares about Woodstock, and it shows with every action and effort made. We appreciate you Tiffney!”

 

It’s official – the 5th Annual Woodstock Music Festival was a huge success. Here’s to an even more successful event next year!