Live Nation sent out a tweet Friday night announcing the Watershed Music Festival.
What’s the Watershed Music Festival?
According to the festival’s website, Watershed is “the Northwest’s premier country music festival” and it will be happening at the Gorge Aug. 3-5. Other than the dates little is known about the three-day event but if you do some Internet sleuthing you might be able to find some clues that point to possible details.
If you pay attention to the Watershed Twitter account and see who the fest follows you’ll find some of the usual suspects that any music festival should be paying attention to including Guerrilla Candy, Sound on the Sound, Live Nation and one name that stands out, Brian O’Connell.
O’Connell is one of those behind-the-scenes players in the music industry who the average music fan doesn’t know about but if you’re a country fan there’s a good chance he’s been involved with one of your favorite artist’s tours. He’s a six-time CMA winner for Country Music Promoter of the Year who happens to be president of Live Nation’s country division. He won his sixth promoter of the year award for the honor at last night’s CMAs and he works directly with artists such as Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan and others.
Speaking as someone who covered multiple country music concerts back in the day for the Seattle P-I, I know there is a huge demand for country music in the Seattle area (it’s the No. 1 radio format in the city). Couple that with the east side of the state’s massive love of country music and the success of Goldenvoice’s Stagecoach Festival and there’s the possibility for something big to happen at the Gorge in August.
Unfortunately, despite the demand most country music stars don’t spend much time touring in the Seattle area and instead stay closer to Nashville, the south and other areas where country music is believed to better resonate. However, destination festivals are big draws and Live Nation has had success producing festivals at the Gorge. If Watershed is a success it could change how the Northwest is perceived by those in the country music industry and if O’Connell is involved (and there is a good chance that he is) then expect Northwest county music fans to get their very own version of Sasquatch!
The festival’s website features a ticker counting down the days until the festival is announced so expect all to be revealed in 25 days.
