Guthrie Stopover tour conducts first meeting at City Hall

The City of Guthrie held their first community meeting regarding the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover Tour slated for Guthrie in September. The turn-out filled the city hall chambers with several business owners and citizens.

City Hall chambers were packed for the first meeting concerning the Gentlemen of the Road tour. Photo By Chris Evans

The City announced on Feb. 5 they landed several bands to perform in Guthrie this coming summer, including Grammy Album of the Year winners Mumford & Sons. Along with the megastar band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Willy Mason, Alabama Shakes, The Vaccines, Bear’s Den, Half Moon Run and Those Darlins are slated for the Cottonwood Flats and downtown streets of Guthrie.

Along with Guthrie, Lewes (UK), Simcoe (Ontario), Troy (Ohio) and St. Augustine (Florida) will host the road show. Tickets (25,000) for the Guthrie tour sold out in less than 48 hours.

Project Manager Cody Mosley, who serves as the City’s Economic Developer, told the crowd of an estimated 100 people there were several questions they currently do not have until they met with JAM Productions in a few weeks.

JAM is based out of Chicago and is the largest independent producer of live entertainment in the United States. JAM has worked with every top name in the music industry, from U2 to Smashing Pumpkins, from Frank Sinatra to Harry Connick, Jr, from Dolly Parton to Garth Brooks and literally thousands of others.

However, Mosley was able to share information regarding volunteers, retail, emergency services and entertainment and who will over-look each area. Elise Friese will help cordinate volunteers, transportation, parking, administration, communications, signage and accounting. Mary Coffin will answer questions and handle vendors, merchants and lodging. Police Chief Damon Devereaux and Fire Chief Eric Harlow will help lead first aid, law enforcement and emergency management. Finally, Mosely will handle performers and JAM.

City Manager Sereniah Breland says numerous towns and their civic leaders have shown envy on the selection of the Gentlemen of the Road Tour stopping in Guthrie. Breland went on to say this type of venue could cost in the neighborhood of $225,000 to book such an event, but that the City has an investment of zero dollars to bring the two-day event on Sept. 6 and 7.

Local merchants shared advice with other merchants on the information they learnded after calling and asking several questions for the merchants in Bristol, Tennessee, who hosted the popular group on the 2012 Stopover tour.

The most popular advice given was to stock up on their merchandise and be ready for the crowds. Already, Debbie Prather, owner of the Stables Cafe, has said her business will be open 24 hours a day while the event was in town.

There are still questions to be answered, but City officials feel confident they can take advantage of the seven months to prepare and the background information they are gaining from their new friends in Bristol.

The following emails have been setup for any questions and to leave information:

[email protected] – Cody Mosley

[email protected] – Mary Coffin

[email protected] – Damon Devereaux

[email protected] – Mary Coffin

[email protected] – Elise Friese