August 9, 2012

Some 'tomfoolery,' but so far Music at the Track a winner

By Ray Routhier rrouthier@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Oxxfest is the second concert in the new Music at the Track series at Scarborough Downs, started this year by Bangor-area music promoter Alex Gray of Waterfront Concerts.

click image to enlarge

Wiz Khalifa headlined a July 31 hip-hop festival at Scarborough Downs.

Courtesy photo

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The first show was a hip-hop festival headlined by rapper Wiz Khalifa on July 31, which attracted more than 6,000 people. About 20 people at that show were treated for exhaustion, dehydration or intoxication by rescue workers.

The Music at the Track series was approved by the Scarborough Town Council, and council members seem to feel the problems at the July 31 show were minimal. Judy Roy, vice-chairperson of the town council, said she hadn't received any complaints from constituents over the Wiz Khalifa show.

"As long as the guidelines are followed, I believe the concerts are good for the community and the community businesses that are patronized because of them," said Roy.

Gray, who also organizes outdoor concerts at the Bangor Waterfront Pavilion, said he thought the incidents of intoxication at the Khalifa concert were the result of "young people engaging in tomfoolery prior to arriving at the event and the current humidity."

"Young people have to come prepared and make good decisions. I recall being young and feeling bullet-proof. This is the greatest contributing factor," said Gray. "In time, we will train our customer base, and issues should subside."

The only other Music at the Tracks concert scheduled for this year so far features classic rockers ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd on Sept. 7. But there potentially could be two other concerts at the track, as the council gave Gray approval for up to five shows for the season.

In Bangor, Gray has outdoor concerts scheduled through September.

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