By JESSICA MARIE MARTIN
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
A few minutes with Cheeks McGee:
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START A MUSIC FESTIVAL?
"At the time, I lived outside of Quincy and couldn't find venues in Quincy that would embrace live original acoustic music. I wanted to put on a festival that local bands could play at no matter what their genre and have people there to hear them. I wanted it to be a mini-Woodstock, but I only had $50 in my pocket to spend on making this festival."
HOW DID THE FIRST FREEDOM FESTIVAL GO?
"I first had to find some musicians who would be willing to play. I contacted some people I had met playing on the road and ended up booking four bands ... to play for free. I cooked tons of food for all the members and opened my home to them. I made some very cheap simple fliers and promotional signs from old junk in our shed, then stuck them on the side of the road and in my yard. The turnout was about 100 people, and most of them brought tents and camped. It was a great gathering of good people, good music and good times."
WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT A FREEDOM FESTIVAL?
"I had a great idea one year to incorporate my hot tub in the crowd where people could sit and watch live music. Well that went over too well, and lots of people got into the hot tub, then that meant a lot of people got out creating a huge mud swamp. By the end of the festival, everybody was covered in mud. It was a blast."
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE FALL THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF THE END OF SUMMER?
"Since I started the Cheeks and Friends Freedom Festival, it has always been the big end-of-the-summer bash, but the past few years with my hectic nationwide summer tours, I haven't had enough time to promote and plan, so this year decided to move it back into the fall where the weather is a little less harsh and less summer festivals are going on. September is what I was shooting for, but with my schedule, we had to go deep into October for an open date."
HOW DID THE FAIRGROUNDS GET CHOSEN AS THE LOCATION?
"We have been battling to find a permanent place to have the festival each year. This year being at the fairgrounds is a big step going from the farm to hosting it in different venues in Quincy and last year at Quincy University. It's like it is taking the next step into what I have always envisioned this to be, and I am really excited about having it at the fairgrounds because the possibilities are endless."
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THIS YEAR'S LINEUP?
"In the past, I have had bands from cities around the region, like Chicago, Peoria, St. Louis, Champaign, Macomb and Columbia. Those were bigger bands that I would meet on the road and would talk them into playing my festival, but this year since we were moving it to the fairgrounds, I wanted to keep it local, like it started. I invited local bands that I respect and have shared the stage with this past year."
HOW LONG WOULD YOU LIKE TO KEEP THE FESTIVAL GOING?
"My ultimate goal would be to have this every year and make this a staple in the Quincy community."
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE TODAY?
"We are so lucky to have so much great local original music in Quincy, and people should really take advantage of not only my festival, but any local shows in Quincy. Most of the time, $5 is all it costs to see some amazing music right here in Quincy, and if you were in a big city, you would be paying $10, $15 or more to see these same bands and musicians. Supporting local music starts with the musicians in the area. We need to be each other's biggest fans, and you will be surprised what that will do to our music scene. We as musicians appreciate when people support our local music, and we thank you to those that have and do."
