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Music festival halfway to goal as deadline looms Dancers mix it up to live jazz at KOBI's Studio C during a previous Southern Oregon Music Festival. [Mail Tribune file photo] Sunday Feb 19, 2017 at 12:01 AM Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune The Southern Oregon Music Festival has received pledges for about half of the $50,000 it needs to raise by March 1 to ensure its survival, and it's "do or die" from here on out, a festival official said. The festival has taken place every year since 1989 in downtown Medford. "We are only halfway there,” said Executive Director and board President Dennis Ramsden. “We only have two weeks. We need pledges now.” Loss of three major sponsors who contributed a combined $50,000 for a number of years has prevented the festival from signing musicians so far. The three-day event is scheduled for Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. It would include 17 bands playing in five venues for a total of 95 performances. For now, only pledges are being taken, said Ramsden, with payment needed if the drive succeeds. He has more than a dozen $1,000 pledges, and commitments have come from Washington, California and Bend, as well as locally. Festival operation is an all-volunteer effort with no paid employees. After raising the money needed immediately, Ramsden said the group would focus on establishing ways to ensure long-term financial viability. About half of the festival's funding has traditionally come from donors and sponsorships, with the other half from admission sales. Last year, 1,800 passes were sold. Started as a Dixieland Jubilee, the event later became the Medford Jazz Festival in 2009 and took its current title in 2014 to reflect more diverse musical offerings that include zydeco, doo-wop, swing and other styles. “I’ve heard a lot of people say it is just Dixieland. That’s the unfortunate branding it is stuck with,” said Joy Olson, a regular attendee and professional fundraiser who is voluntarily advising the campaign. “It’s an asset that been around for 28 years. People expect it; the musicians are locked into it. It would be very sad to give it up.” Zydeco band Gator Nation was the first non-Dixieland group at the festival 20 years ago and has been back annually. “I would be very hard hit if this festival was not able to continue,” said Willard Blackwell, Gator Nation's leader. “Kids of all ages are at the festival, where they can enjoy time together along with the musicians. That is the ideal way to be involved from our musical perspective, where we can bring music that brings the whole family out.” Violinist Tom Rigley and Flambeau have also been festival regulars for more than 10 years. Rigney sent out an alert to his group’s email list in an effort to help save the festival. Besides performances, the organization has put bands into schools and created a used-instrument supply program for children four years ago that won an eChievemt award form NPR’s eTown. “For years, the Medford School District has had an extremely supportive partnership with the festival that’s helped extend the love of music and performing arts to our students,” said Superintendent Brian Shumate. “We believe music is a connection to the classroom, and having a strong arts community is not only important for student achievement, but for the city of Medford as a whole.” Ramsden set up a booth Monday and later spoke to 350 people at a forum for The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County at the Rogue Valley Country Club. He has also addressed Medford Rotary and other groups and welcomes additional speaking opportunities. Postcards on the fundraising effort have been sent to 5,000 people on the festival's mailing list. The chamber also included information in its latest newsletter. “It was really birthed out of the chamber. It was housed here for years,” said Eli Matthews, senior vice president of Travel Medford. “It helps drive cultural factors and the reputation of the community. We want to make sure it keeps thriving.” Information is available at somusicfest.org or by calling 866-448-1948.  — Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]