By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
Concertgoers, rejoice: Paper Mill Island will be alive with the sound of music this summer, thanks to an exclusive agreement between the village of Baldwinsville and Creative Concerts.
“By the time the summer’s over, hopefully it’ll be at least 20 events,” Mayor Dick Clarke told the Messenger.
The Baldwinsville Board of Trustees voted last month to allow concert promoter and Creative Concerts owner Chuck Chao to book concerts for the rebranded Bud Light Amphitheater.
“This is a guy who does this for a living and seems to know everybody across the country,” Clarke said of Chao. “We think we’re in pretty good hands.”
According to Village Engineer Steve Darcangelo, Chao will pay the village $585 per event plus $1.25 for every ticket sold after 500 tickets.
“We could end up making more money, but he won’t get penalized if it looks like it’s going to rain,” Clarke said. “In the end we think it’ll probably even out pretty good.”
Clarke said the free Tuesday night concerts at the island will continue, and Chao will also assist with the second annual Baldwinsville Canal Arts Festival. Chao told the village board Dec. 7 that classic rock, country and jam bands are likely the best fit for the venue.
Creative Concerts also handles shows for venues such as the Westcott Theater, the Lost Horizon and the F-Shed in Syracuse; Beak and Skiff Apple Orchard in LaFayette; Flour City Station in Rochester; and the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois.
Clarke said the village considered a handful of concert promoters and chose Chao because of his established relationship with food and drink vendors and his understanding of the village’s past concerns with concerts on the island. In the past — notably after the 2014 95X Fest — village residents complained about the noise and vulgar language coming from some musical acts.
“We gave him a little bit of leeway on the sound,” Clarke said.
The village code says everyday noise must be below 70 decibels between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and below 60 decibels from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. “when measured at the adjoining property line nearest the sound source.” According to the agreement with Creative Concerts, the maximum sound level is 108 decibels.
Concerts must end by 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and by 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The first two shows that have been announced for the Bud Light Amphitheater are Led Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out (May 19) and Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra (May 20). To learn more or to buy tickets, visit creativeconcerts.com.
