A momentous, bittersweet year for Meadowbrook

Meadowbrook Performing Arts Center's Annual Media Day was held yesterday, and it included the usual fanfare such as a roll out of the summer's concerts and messages from sponsors U.S. Cellular and the National Guard. However, there was a moment during the proceedings that was both celebratory and bittersweet.

Toward the end of the ceremonies, General Manager R.J. Harding brought his father, and Meadowbrook founder, Robert Harding onto the stage, and presented him with a granite plaque etched with his likeness, which will be installed at the facility.

In response to the gesture, Robert took the microphone and reminisced about how far the concert venue has come in the dozen years since its founding in 1995. The elder Harding did not shy from emotion, telling the group of friends, sponsors and business partners that even when he is gone, a part of him will remain at Meadowbrook.

The subtext to the event, R.J. explained afterward, is that Robert is quite ill, stricken with cancer. "He may not see this concert season," he said, and he said he wanted to take the opportunity to present his father with "a physical piece of his legacy" that will symbolize the enduring memories that Robert will leave behind.

The plaque shows the Meadowbrook founder wearing a Panama hat and glasses, with his arms raised above his head. Each of his hands is making the same shape: pinkie and pointer fingers extended, middle and ring fingers curled into the palm. Below the image are engraved the words he, last summer, concluded an on-stage appearance with the Beach Boys with: "Rock On".

Robert told the sponsors in the crowd that he was proud of what they've been able to build together, and that it couldn't have been done without their loyal and significant support. "That isn't bullshit, that's just plain English," he said with characteristic frankness.

Green rocks

One of the announcements at the Media Day event was more exciting to R.J, Harding that the rest: that of Meadowbrook's accelerating green initiatives. Termed "Greenerpalooza," the initiative will look for every feasible possibility to reduce the venue's impact on the environment.

This year, the environmental initiatives will include reduction of paper usage in office activities and using "green" office materials when possible. The food service materials will be switched from paper to materials made out of corn starch, and the generator for the stage will be powered with biodiesel.

Those are only the first wave of changes, said R.J. Harding. Future plans will include powering the venue through solar panels and wind turbines, and using a customer's zip code to calculate his or her "carbon footprint" incurred through travel to the venue, and then suggesting that the customer donate an equal amount toward an environmental cause.

The shows

Here are Meadowbrook's shows for the summer, with more sure to be added: Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foghat. June 18; ZZ Top, June 19; Charlie Daniels Band with Shooter Jennings and .38 Special, June 21; Phil Lesh and Friends, June 22; Kidz Bop Live, July 3; Melissa Ethridge, July 5; Chicago, July 6; Donna Summer, July 8; Martina McBride, July 13; "Weird Al" Yankovic, July 15; Crosby, Stills and Nash, July 23; Leann Rimes and Gary Allan, July 27; Hippiefest, Aug. 1; Boston and Styx, Aug. 2; Jethro Tull and Peter Frampton, Aug. 3; John Fogerty, Aug. 5; Reba McEntire, Aug. 8; Live, Collective Soul and Blues Traveler, Aug. 9; Backstreet Boys, Aug. 16; Montgomery Gentry, Aug. 21; A Prairie Home Companion, Aug. 24; Travis Tritt, Aug. 31; Michael McDonald and Earth, Wind & Fire, Sept. 11; and Sugarland, Sept. 28.