festivalPass Stories

Hello festivalPass friends! This week, we have an insider of one of the most unique festivals that we’ve ever heard of, the talented Guilhem Pouza. 

Pouzza Fest, a punk rock festival that takes place in the Montreal, Quebec didn’t come from Guilhem’s last name; even though it would be easy to make that connection. The name was actually created from combining the words poutine and pizza, and that’s how you get “Pouzza”; it’s an awesome name for a jam-packed multi-day festival. 

The event was co-founded by Hugo Mudie, a musician that was inspired to start something new after playing at “Fest” in Gainesville, Florida. Pouzza was poised to have it’s 10th Anniversary Festival in 2020, until COVID-19 derailed the live event. Pouzza  had already built a lineup of about 150 punk rock bands over a three day span so the rescheduling was unfortunate for punk fans who planned to be in Montreal for this monstrous event. Guilhem couldn’t promise us that Pouzza would be back in May of 2021 because of government protocol in Canada, but he is optimistic that they can get back on track in the future. 

As much as music is at the center of Pouzza Fest, this is a live event that is much more than a regular music festival. They also do barbecues, brunches, and beer gardens. But what really takes it over the top, is the baseball tournaments. Not only can you enjoy what the bands have to offer, but you can get a group of buddies and register your own baseball team for the festival’s tourney. The baseball tournament takes place at a park within walking distance of all the action. The fee covers beer for the team, t-shirts with team logos, and three artists are added to every squad; so you may end up being teammates with your favorite band or musician. 

It’s a shame that circumstances didn’t allow for Pouzza Fest this year, but Guilhem definitely got Pat Tully excited for when it will make its return. As always, these stories shed a lot of light on where the industry is right now, and where it will go in the future. Guilhem Pouza shares his political views and what he hopes for Pouzza Fest. He also came equipped with the best backdrop of any guest on the show so far.

“Now that Pouzza has grown, we are probably going to keep on doing this forever.” - Guilhem Pouza

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Guilhem on:

Pouzza Fest’s Website- https://pouzzafest.com/en/

Pouzza Fest’s Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/PouzzaFest/

Pouzza Fest’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/pouzzafest/

Pouzza Fest’s Twitter-  https://twitter.com/pouzzafest

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website-  https://festivalpass.com/

This week, Pat Tully has another guest who knows a thing or two about live events, and even more about wine. Noble Riot co-founder, natural winemaker, and Denver’s own, Troy Bowen. 

In 2005, Troy was working as a touring stage manager, and when he was back home in Long Island City, he worked at a local cafe. The owner of that cafe later opened a wine store, and bought Troy in to work there. This is where he gained his love for small production, organic, natural winemaking. Working at this small wine shop allowed Tony to build up his knowledge on the winemaking processes that would help him grow into the winemaker he is today.

His appreciation and love for wine continued to grow, until finally, Troy set out on his own. Troy, a member of the Sommelier Society of America, started Noble Riot Wine Bar in Denver, Colorado. Troy and his team are very proud that Noble Riot has become a great success, and a staple of the Colorado wine scene. It all started with Troy’s passion and dedication to his craft, and a resiliency and desire to not cheat the process. His mission to bring organic, quality wine to his customers is inspiring. 

Making and selling wine aren’t the only things that Troy has going on these days. He is the co-founder of Colorado Natural Wine Week, an event that he feels will make a big comeback in 2021, post COVID-19. Noble Riot is going strong after making adjustments during the global pandemic. They’ve added outdoor dining, and are looking to do more virtual wine tastings in the near future. So, if you are in the Denver area and need a break, you can either order your wine to-go, or you can safely enjoy a glass on their socially distant patio.

Pat and Troy share some awesome stories about visiting vineyards across the United States, their favorite wines, and thoughts about the term, “oenophile”. You do not want to miss this one. Having a glass of wine while you watch or listen is definitely encouraged!

“My idea is that wine shouldn’t be, (always) something that is a processed food item.” - Troy Bowen   

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Troy on:

Noble Riot’s Website- https://nobleriot.com

Noble Riot’s Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/nobleriot.denver/

Noble Riot’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/noble_riot/

Colorado Natural Wine Week- https://conaturalwineweek.org 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Hello festival friends! This week, we have the talented musician, singer, and songwriter, Andy Thomas. 

Andy has been touring on the live music scene for almost 20 years, so it’s safe to say that he’s earned his spot as a Festival Pass guest. As a Denver native, Andy is known for being an integral part of a few different bands. Early in his music career, Andy started to make a name for himself with bands like Tin Horn Prayer, and The Knew. 

This man is a true artist, and doesn’t stick to one type of sound within rock music. His newest band, Lost Walks, is a seven member band that has released a rock opera, even though his roots are closer to punk rock. No matter what band he was a part of, his music showcases his immense talent. 

The pandemic has altered everyone’s lives personally and has forced almost every industry to re-evaluate how it handles business; especially person to person contact. In the last decade or so, it’s hard to argue that the music industry hasn’t gone through the most drastic changes, and that was before the effects of COVID-19. Andy gives his perspective on how musicians can use this time to create some of their best work, and if he thinks the beloved stages and festivals will make a comeback, post-vaccine of course. 

Live music is something we need as a society across all genres. Wherever you may be, there’s been a great show that was played somewhere near you. Andy and Pat rehash great memories of shows that were put on by iconic bands around the world. This episode is full of amazing stories about the festivals Andy Thomas has played in the last two decades, including one on a cruise. 

“That’s the hardest thing about COVID, it’s trapped all of us, and it’s not a good feeling. I think all of us just want to get out and experience things…all of us want this to end so we can get out and experience the world and realize what a beautiful place it can be.” - Andy Thomas 

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You Can Find Andy On:

Andy’s Author Page- https://www.westword.com/authors/andy-thomas-5053206-

Lost Walks’ Website- https://www.lostwalksband.com 

Lost Walks’ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/LostWalks 

Lost Walks’ Instagram-

 https://www.instagram.com/lostwalksband/ 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

FestivalPass Stories gives you the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes at the biggest live events in the country. This week, host Pat Tully has an old friend, baseball legend and World Series champion, Jeff Nelson.

Known in MLB circles as, “Nellie,” the 6’8’’ righty was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984, but made his big league debut for the Seattle Mariners in 1992. During his time in Seattle, he played on some excellent teams, finally breaking into the playoffs in 1995. The next year, he became a New York Yankee. Nelson was a big part of a magical season that ended with a World Series victory over the Atlanta Braves; New York’s first title since the late 70’s. This team went on to win the title in 1998, 1999, and 2000, making it one of the greatest dynasties in the history of Major League Baseball, and in professional sports overall. 

Late in his career, Nelson returned to play for the Mariners, and had short stints for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. Since retiring, Nelson channels his love for the game as a commentator. He is also the host of a podcast for the New York Post called Pinstripe Pod.  

At festivalPass Stories, every live event is talked about in terms of festivals. There may be no bigger sports festival than the World Series. Jeff Nelson has been in his fair share of World Series, so he knows how much of an incredible spectacle the fall classic is. He speaks about the media presence, the electricity of the event, and everything in between. 

The World Series is underway, and like everything in 2020, this year feels a lot different. The matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers representing the National League, and the Tampa Bay Rays, representing the American League, has already been an awesome series. 

Listen, as both Pat and Jeff give their predictions, and share some great stories about one of the greatest sports venues in it’s peak. If you’re a baseball fan, this episode is sure to bring back memories. 

“We actually probably didn’t  really enjoy the World Series until our second time in ’98, because then we already knew what to expect.” - Jeff Nelson

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Jeff on:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/NYnellie43

Jeff’s Podcast-  https://nypost.com/podcasts/pinstripe-pod/

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/ 

Instagram - https://instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival 

Website - https://festivalpass.com

This week Pat sits down with Comedian Larry Fulford. Listen in as they talk comedy, COVID and 'Summer Camp' for Comedians

Everyone in the world could use laughter, now more than ever. Comedians have a big responsibility in our society. We depend on them to deliver the unaltered truth, and at times, act as our sub-conscience. They literally have the task of saying what some of us may be thinking, exactly the way we think it. During the pandemic, live events and festivals have been taken away from us; but that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy ourselves and bond in other ways. Fortunately for us, Zoom has made it possible to appreciate one of the oldest art forms, even if it does take some time getting used to.  

Larry Fulford, a resident of Chicago, Illinois, has been a comedian for almost 10 years now. With a decade of experience, he has performed at comedy clubs and festivals all over the country. He shares with Pat just how much fun working these comedy festivals are, and describes them as “summer camp” for comedians. 

Even when we all take our seats in that bar, comedy club, or venue, Larry believes that virtual events over Zoom will be here to stay. He admits to dismissing the idea at first, but that was before he tried it out. It is difficult to have a comedy show when you can’t hear the laughter, but a few of his buddies are coming up with new ways to change the dynamic.

Since the national lockdown, Larry has been taking his time to work on his craft, and has a new style of comedy show on the horizon; which sounds like a game changer in the virtual events world. Pat Tully has had guests in almost every industry that can put on a live show, but Larry gives his insight on how diversity and unpredictability separates comedy events from other art forms like music or sports. It’s good to know that there are entertainers out there that are still trying to bring us some humor. 

“When you’re a comedian, you’re out there trying to make people laugh. So I think that there’s this false sense of people thinking they know who you are.” - Larry Fulford

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories!

https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Larry on:

IMDB-  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580160/

Twitter-  https://twitter.com/LarryFulford

LinkedIn-  https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryfulford/

Website-  https://larryfulford.com 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/ 

Instagram - https://instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival 

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

This week, Pat chats with another remarkable guest; filmmaker and film festival director, Matthew Toffolo.

One may make the argument that the film industry has been hit the hardest during the global pandemic. Thousands of theaters were closed and hundreds of big productions were stalled almost over night. Unfortunately, many of those theaters will stay closed, and some of those films will never be made. However, the new stay at home normal has opened the door for many creatives to explore storytelling in different ways; and that’s where Matthew Toffolo comes in. 

It’s the film festivals where some of the best feature length movies and short films are screened for the first time. The general public knows about the bigger festivals on the circuit like Sundance, Toronto Film Festival, and Tribeca. But what you may not know, is that there are hundreds of these festivals across the country; you may even have one in a town near you. In 2007, Matthew began one of these smaller festivals called, WILDsound Festival.

Matthew created WILDsound film and writing festival with the intention of giving back to the filmmakers. In his experience submitting to most festivals, the criticism that people had wasn’t as constructive as he would have hoped, and didn’t make him a better filmmaker. Where WILDsound separates itself from the others, is that the filmmaker gets real reviews of their work, and they put on weekly events instead of once a year. 

Matthew has directed over 50 short films in his career, but this episode isn’t only about movies. As a resident of Canadian, Matthew brings a unique perspective on the political climate in the United States, social justice, and even sports. As always, Pat Tully gets his guest to open up about family, new habits during COVID-19, and of course, the world of live events.

“It took a long time to really nail down how to finesse and moderate these things for the best of the filmmakers, and it kind of just took off from there.” - Matthew Toffolo

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories!

https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Matthew on: 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/matthewtoffolo/

Website- https://matthewtoffolo.com

WILDsound Film Festival- https://wildsoundfestivalreview.com

WILDsound on YouTube-  https://www.youtube.com/c/WildsoundFestivalMonthly

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Festival Pass Stories, your favorite podcast on all things live events is back with another episode! This week our host, Pat Tully sits down with retired NBA player, former New York Knick, and Indiana basketball legend, Jared Jeffries. 

Pat caught up with Jared just before the beginning of pro basketball’s main event, the NBA Finals. This has been an unusual season for the NBA, with the national pandemic coming in the middle of their regular season. However, commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA was able to regroup and finish the season in the notorious, “NBA Bubble”. The Playoffs have been intense as ever on the court, even though the players aren’t performing in front of fans. Jared Jeffries shares his experience with the Nuggets organization during his time in the bubble, and just how difficult it is mentally for everyone there. Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, and Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, are sure to put on quite a show for us at home on NBA’s biggest stage. 

The Finals are always a spectacular festival, but Jared Jeffries recalls his own account of an equally great sports festival, the NCAA Final Four. Jeffries lead his alma mater, University of Indiana Hoosier team to the “big dance,” the National Championship Game in 2002. Jared had a successful college and professional basketball career, but now as a retired player, he has shifted his focus to other avenues. 

The former Director of Player Personnel for the Denver Nuggets, is a man of many talents. Jeffries was seen as a rising star as an NBA executive, and still has strong relationships with players today. Recently, Jared was the President of Echo Fox, an eSports organization. Now, he’s a teacher of social studies and history, but that isn’t all he's up to. Jared hosts a brand new show called “Modern Fishing,” where he gives his audience tips and technique on fishing. 

Festival Pass is all about the behind the scenes stories of festivals that you won’t get anywhere else, and Pat and Jared deliver some great tales. Not only do Pat and Jared give their insight on what we can expect in The Finals during COVID-19, but they also talk about the New York Knicks’ free agency. Whether it’s stories about playing with Michael Jordan, or being in a locker room with coaching legend Bobby Knight, this episode is more than enough to keep you entertained. 

“You have to make sure every player educates themselves, and finds their own belief system, and what they’re passionate about.” - Jared Jeffries

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Jared on:

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/modernfishingtv/

Jared’s Twitter- https://twitter.com/modernfishingtv

Modern Fishing TV- http://modernfishingtv.com

Modern Fishing TV on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLDF-HWietzJdjieiRw8cNw

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

This week, Pat’s special guest is none other than Martin Martinez, Managing Director at Founder Institute Texas, member of the Advisory Board at South By Southwest (SXSW), and founder of A-Player Media. 

There’s just no escaping a conversation about COVID-19, especially in the world of festivals. However, these talks are getting more positive with the recent news about a vaccine that could be available to the public before the year’s end; and no one is more excited about that than Martin Martinez. 2020 has been the year of cancellations, but Martin and his team are more determined than ever. While some are packing in their careers in the live events industry, Martin and A-Player Media are digging deeper to come up with new ideas for virtual events, and putting on smaller live events in the future. 

As a branded events and entertainment company, A-Player Media has had their sights on the live events industry from the beginning of the pandemic. This has given them confidence in putting on engaging virtual events that audiences can enjoy in the comfort of their homes. Martin himself has been using this time to his advantage by improving his skills in video production and broadcasting. 

South By Southwest (SXSW), known as “South By” to those in the events industry, is one of the biggest arts festivals in the entire world. As an advisor to the festival since 2017, Martin was devastated to hear the news of it’s cancellation. Still, Pat and Martin share optimism for the prestigious festival’s return next year. That will be something that you won’t want to miss. 

Working in the events industry is not for the weak-hearted. Martin shares an unforgettable story with Pat about the time he met Amy Winehouse, and his introduction to the events world. Take our word for it, this story is one of the highlights of the festivalPass Stories Podcast. 

“We’re ready to host large scale things, and we're working on some large scale things that are all going to be done virtually.” - Martin Martinez

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

You can find Martin on: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinmarteen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinmarteen 

A-Player Media’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplayermedia/

A-Player Media’s Website: https://www.aplayermedia.com 

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/ 

Instagram - https://instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival 

Website - https://festivalpass.com/

Pat Tully is back with another esteemed guest. In this episode, he has a dynamic convo with the great, Kim Owens, VP of Strategies & Operations at FestiFi. 

You may not realize it but festivals have so many moving parts. Kim gives us a sneak peek into how she, and FestiFi, play one of the most crucial roles in putting at large scale events by providing WiFi. FestiFi’s motto is “No problems. Just Solutions”. That is what they feel people should experience at festivals when it comes to connectivity. 

Kim and Pat discuss how FestiFi’s services can accommodate festivals and events; even when they’re located in the middle of nowhere. Today’s society is all about versatility, and there is nowhere where that is more prominent than the events and entertainment business. Kim plays a crucial role in FestiFi’s success in the industry. She is also the founding editor at Kaffeine Buzz, an online magazine and radio show that has been around for almost 20 years! Kim is very passionate about sticking up for groups that are underrepresented, and as the founder of “Women In Production,” an organization that mentors women in the events world, she is able to follow that passion every day.

They converse about the complications of the COVID pandemic and the entertainment industry’s response. Kim even shares how COVID has changed her life on a personal level, bringing meditation and gratitude to the forefront. Listen in as Pat and Kim share old stories from working events, and how the business will look moving forward. 

“We are all still wanting to keep the industry moving forward in terms of creating new solutions, new experiences, that we never would have thought of, or had the time to think of before...” - Kim Owens 

You can find Kim on:

Instagram-

https://www.instagram.com/kaffeinebuzz/ 

Twitter- 

https://twitter.com/kaffeinebuzz/media 

FestiFi-

https://festifi.co 

Kaffeine Buzz-

http://www.kaffeinebuzz.com 

Connect with Festival Pass! Facebook - 

https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/ 

Instagram - 

https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/ 

Twitter - 

https://twitter.com/pass_festival 

Website - 

https://festivalpass.com/

This week on festivalPass Stories, to kick off the start of the NFL, host Pat Tully is talking to his friend, former NY Giant and two time Super Bowl champion David Diehl. 

They discuss how disappointing it was to watch all different types of sports getting cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they are optimistic for the future of the NFL in this unprecedented time as it is now slowly starting to come back. They feel that everything is new and exciting this season because we have never seen this before. Diehl states that going into any season, you always can say “expect the unexpected” because there is always going to be a team that’s going to take a turn for the better or a turn for the worst. However, in a season like this, there were no preseason games to get a glimpse into what the season could be like for these NFL teams. He feels this is an exciting time where anything on any given Sunday can happen. 

David and Pat discuss how teams coming into this season with new coaches and new coordinators have the upper hand. Because other teams don’t have footage of them from preseason, they don’t know what to expect. David says when you’re  playing football in the NFL, you only have 16 opportunities to show what you can do, each opportunity is precious. He says if you don’t learn from past mistakes and work to fix them going forward, it is very easy for an NFL season to get away from you. 

David Diehl is a two time Super Bowl Champ with the NY Giants and now gets to experience the magic of the Super Bowl as a broadcaster. Although Super Bowl week is like a festival in many ways, when David was there as a player, it was all business. Now that he is a broadcaster, David feels he can let loose a little and enjoy the Super Bowl in it’s festival form. As a broadcaster he enjoys being able to share his insight about a sport that he absolutely loves and is so thankful that he still gets to be a part of the NFL. 

 Pre COVID he was looking forward to going to France for a wedding and Croatia this summer to visit his family. However, he is grateful that he has had more time with his daughter and has been able to be the dad that he has always wanted to be. Which is why he retired from playing football in the first place. David feel that being a dad is one of the greatest things he has done in his lifetime!

You can find David on: 

Twitter- https://twitter.com/davediehl66?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Intstagram- https://www.instagram.com/donediehl66/?hl=en

Connect with Festival Pass!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/getfestivalpass/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/festival_pass/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/pass_festival

Website - https://festivalpass.com/