Our good friends from the NJ Proghouse take over NEARfest
(Reprinted from the NEARfest web site)
Passing the Torch
NEARfest is happy to announce Jim Robinson, Ray Loboda and Kevin
Feeley as the successors to the management of the festival. In
January, co-founders Chad Hutchinson and Rob LaDuca made public their
plans to retire from the festival after 10 great years at the helm.
Following the 2008 event, Jim, Ray and Kevin will take over as the new
guard. NEARfest will carry on with the same diversity that has made
it so successful over the past decade. With the changeover will also
come new ideas to help move NEARfest forward into its next phase.
Jim Robinson grew up playing various musical instruments, including
trumpet, french horn and bass – even taking lessons from Dave LaRue
(Steve Morse Band, Dixie Dregs) at one point. Jim founded the New
Jersey Proghouse in 1999 (then called the Central New Jersey Music
Showcase) after being inspired by his attendance at the very first
NEARfest that same year. Since then, Jim has teamed up with Ray and
Kevin among others, to develop the NJ Proghouse into a successful
concert series. Since 1999, Jim as been the “official” head-cracker
at NEARfest, but in recent years has assumed an important role in
transportation. Jim’s relationships with both domestical bands and
labels, as well as running the NJ Proghouse and being a member of the
ProgDay band commitee for three years, has given him a vast amount of
experience on which he can build on with his new role with NEARfest.
Ray Loboda grew up in the ’70s listening to progressive rock music and
emulating his heroes in cover bands. Ray has been a NEARfest-goer
since 1999 and never looked back. He met his good friend and cohort
Jim Robinson at the NEARfest ticket day luncheon in 2000 and the two
formed a strong bond in their common loves for prog rock, prog metal
and especially Kansas. Ray and his wife Noreen supported the NJ
Proghouse for a few years before becoming members of what Ray
eventually donned the “Staph.” Ray has forged many important
friendships over the years with the likes of The Flower Kings,
Riverside, Knight Area and echolyn, not to mention many record
executives and band managers. Ray was also a member of the NEARfest
transportation crew and the ProgDay band committee with Jim. Ray’s
business sense and PR skills will serve him well as he steps into the
NEARfest management fold.
Kevin Feeley is instantly recognized by his snowy white hair and
beard. Kevin has been the production manager for NEARfest since 2004
and can be seen pacing the stage with his headset often during the
weekend. Kevin’s professional background as both an audio engineer
and a production manager allow him to run the stage at NEARfest as a
well-oiled machine. In the past, Kevin has worked live concert and
corporate events such as Grammy-winning artists like Steel Pulse and
Spyro Gyra, the JVC Jazz Festival in Europe with Roberta Flack, the
Bush/Quayle Inaugural and the first Clinton/Gore Inaugural. On a fan
level, Kevin has been supporting progressive music since the early 70s
by attending such shows as ELP’s “Brain Salad Surgery Tour” and Yes’
“Close to the Edge” tour. Kevin is a member of the NJ Proghouse
Staph, providing audio and production services and equipment. Kevin
also met his long-time girlfriend Suzan Picard at the smolderingly hot
NEARfest 2000 preshow while watching Echolyn perform. In his four
years with NEARfest, Kevin has brought may great ideas to the show
helping it to become the smooth operation that it today. He also
found us our great video technician Matthew Walker. Kevin’s knowlege
of the inner workings of the technical side of the festival make him
an easy choice to help carry on the flame. And speaking of flames, he
also makes fantastic hot wings.
Congratulations to Jim, Ray and Kevin. Along with Rob and Chad, I’m
sure the progressive rock faithful with you the best and will show you
support in your new roles with NEARfest.
Thanks for writing this.