Music fans flock to Clovis for festival

Music fans from England, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas were in town as early as Wednesday for the 2010 Clovis Music Festival.

Clovis and Curry County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ernie Kos said the fans came to see the Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum and to buy tickets for the festival’s shows that will be held 7 p.m. nightly today through Saturday.

“We’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll,” Kos said.

Kos said set up for the festival, an annual celebration of Clovis’ music history involving Norman Petty and Buddy Holly, has run smoothly but ticket sales aren’t what organizers had hoped for. Tickets can be purchased at the chamber or at the door for the concerts, Kos said.

Slated to the take the stage today is Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Johnny Rogers, Blackwater Band and Kevin Montgomery. Festival attendees will hear from Will Banister and the Mulberry Band, Brian Hyland, The Coasters and Bobby Vee on Friday and Kevin Montgomery and Johnny Rogers, The Originators of Rock and Roll featuring Johnny Rogers as Buddy Holly, Bobby Brooks as Little Richard, Darrel Crowy as Jerry Lee Lewis and Donny Edwards as Elvis backed by the Killer Vees on Saturday.

Festival Chair Randy Petty said the festival celebrates music from the 1950s.

The Clovis Music Festival also includes tours of the Norman Petty Studios and Norman and Vi Petty Rock 'n' Roll Museum, Rockin' Motorcycle Rally, Desert Cruzers Hillcrest Car Show, and a symposium about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Norman Petty Studios.

Kos said about 6,000 attended the festival last year and organizers are hoping to exceed that number this year.

Clovis Music Festival schedule

Today

8 a.m.-5 p.m. — Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum tours, $5 admission

10 a.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

2 p.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

7 p.m. — Blackwater Band, Kevin Montgomery, Johnny Rogers and Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas, Curry County Events Center, $20 general admission

Friday

8 a.m.-5 p.m. — Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum tours, $5 admission

9 a.m. — “Kids Rock” rock ‘n’ roll assembly, Mesa Elementary School

9 a.m. — Rockin’ Motorcycle Rally, High Plains Harley-Davidson

10 a.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

12 p.m. — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Norman Petty Studios Symposium, Business Enterprise Center, $5 admission, includes admission to the rock and roll museum

2 p.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

7 p.m. — Will Banister and the Mulberry Band, Brian Hyland, The Coasters and Bobby Vee, Curry County Events Center, $20 general admission

Saturday

8 a.m.-3 p.m. — Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum tours, $5 admission

8 a.m. — Desert Cruzers 13th annual run to Hillcrest Car Show, Hillcrest park

9 a.m. — Rockin’ Motorcycle Rally, High Plains Harley-Davidson

10 a.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

12 p.m.-2 p.m. — Back to the 50s at Foxy’s Celebration, Foxy’s Drive-in

2 p.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

7 p.m. — Kevin Montgomery and Johnny Rogers, The Originators of Rock and Roll featuring Johnny Rogers as Buddy Holly, Bobby Brooks as Little Richard, Darrel Crowy as Jerry Lee Lewis and Donny Edwards as Elvis backed by the Killer Vees, Curry County Events Center, $20 admission

Sunday

8 a.m. — Rockin’ Motorcycle Rally, High Plains Harley-Davidson

10 a.m. — Rockin’ Gospel Sing-a-long, Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum

Tickets and information: www.clovismusicfestival.net and Clovis and Curry County Chamber of Commerce at 763-3435