Tickets are on sale and more acts have been announced for the 2013 Kihncert, which will take place at Morgan Hill’s Outdoor Sports Complex Oct. 12.
The Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance, which runs the City-owned 38-acre soccer field complex on Condit Road, is in the final planning stages for the all-day rock & roll show which has been a South Bay tradition for well over a decade, according to MHYSA president Jeff Dixon.
Organizers are working on finalizing all the details of their crowd and traffic management plan at the facility, including how many police will be on duty for the event and potential off-site parking areas to accommodate the expected large crowds, Dixon said.
“The key for us is traffic control and management, security and perimeter control,” Dixon said. “We’re bringing in community volunteers who have experience in event security and event traffic management.”
MHYSA’s permit for the Kihncert lists an expected attendance of 15,000, according to Dixon. The OSC has hosted such crowds, or larger, before – notably for the 2013 Freedom Fest July 4 fireworks show, which brought about 25,000 spectators to the soccer field complex.
The Kihncert is an all-day concert organized by Greg Kihn, the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame inductee and former DJ of KFOX 98.5 FM.
This year’s Kihncert headliner is former Poison frontman Bret Michaels, according to Kihn’s website. Also performing are the Greg Kihn Band, The Tubes, dada, the Brodie Stewart Band, XEB (founding members of Third Eye Blind), and Mad Jack.
Tickets are available at the website www.kihncert.com. General admission tickets are $15 each. “Soundcheck Party Packages,” which include two tickets to the Kihncert, a parking pass, souvenirs, early entry to the venue, access to the pre-show “soundcheck party,” and a meet-and-greet with Kihn, cost $95 each.
Also available for purchase on the website are general parking passes ($10 each) and preferred parking passes ($25 each).
Kihn is partnering with Arts Related Technical Training for Entertainment Careers, or ARTTEC, to produce the 2013 Kihncert. ARTTEC is a Morgan Hill-based production company that employs local high school students.
The Kihncert, which is scheduled to take place from 12 to 11 p.m. Oct. 12, will also feature a “Kihntoberfest” beer and wine garden, with an adjacent stage to showcase emerging artists between the main stage performances, according to the Kihncert website.
Dozens of food, merchandise and art vendors will also be on site.
The Kihncert has become an annual South Bay summer tradition, with previous Kihncerts performed at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. Acts performing in previous Kihncerts have included The Who, Steve Miller Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx, Kansas, Yes, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Paul Rodgers and Boston.
The 2013 Kihncert promises to be one of the biggest events ever held at the City-owned OSC, a 38-acre complex of soccer fields, according to organizers.
This past summer, the facility hosted the California Youth Soccer Association’s District II Cup, which brought in between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors.
The facility has also hosted two non-athletic events: The No Bull Barbecue and the 2013 Morgan Hill Freedom Fest’s Fireworks Show.
The nonprofit MHYSA contracts with the City of Morgan Hill to run the OSC, which is owned by the City.
The MHYSA has also agreed with the City to enforce a slate of rules common to similar entertainment, food and art festivals in the area – including no outside alcohol or coolers allowed in the venue, Dixon said.
The Outdoor Sports Complex is at 16500 Condit Road.
