The organizers of the third annual SummerFest announced Monday morning that Snake Oil will again headline the May 18 festival.
Snake Oil—Ikons of Rock—a “rock star show on steroids,” according to one of the SummerFest’s organizers, Greg Mullins—was a true crowd-pleaser last year, playing rock anthems that had the masses both singing along and pumping their fists in the air.
Snake Oil impersonates some of the most recognizable bands in rock from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, including Kiss, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Heart, Joan Jett, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Queen, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Blondie and Alice Cooper, among many more.
Brian Bishop, another organizer, said the response to Snake Oil was so strong last year that organizers wanted to bring the band back.
The festival, organized by the Sons of Henderson, which includes Mullins, Bishop and Jonathan Dixon, serves as both a fundraiser and as a method to raise awareness for local nonprofit organizations.
Each year, the organizers choose one nonprofit to donate the revenue from the event. This year, as they did last year, they’ve chosen Audubon Kids Zone.
Bishop said that SummerFest raises money through a few different channels. First, it takes in funds from sponsorships from local companies. The main sponsor this year is First Federal Savings Banks. It is also sponsored by Fence Pros, Robert John and Associates, 103 GBF, Ellis Park, Bally’s, Faupel Automotive and Riverview Coal.
There’s also merchandise and water sales, as well as a beer garden. The event has reserved tables for $1,000 and VIP reserved tables for $1,200. And volunteers roam the crowd doing a “bucket shake,” Bishop said.
After the bands and crews are paid, and all the other bills are taken care of, the remainder goes to AKZ.
Last year, AKZ was awarded $12,000. According to a Hendersonian report last summer, AKZ used the money to help offset costs for summer programs.
The festival begins at 5 p.m. when local nonprofits showcase their organizations. The beer garden also opens at that time.
At 6 p.m., local singer/songwriter, Lindsey James Williams, will take the stage. Williams said he had to miss last year’s SummerFest because of a conflict in his schedule, but he’s excited to be a part of it this year.
“I’m always happy to do something in my hometown,” he said.
Williams said he’s been working on an album in his home studio and wants to play some of his original songs, but if the energy is right, he’ll play some crowd-favorite cover songs.
After Williams, Jack Russell, who once fronted the 1980s hard rock band, Great White— think “Once Bitten Twice Shy”—will perform with his two-man acoustic band, Jack Russell’s Great White.
Snake Oil will perform to end the evening.
The stage will be set up at the intersection of Water and Second streets.
For more information, go to SummerFestKY.com.
