Q&A with Great Idea organizer

Local music festival “The Great Idea at Enchanted Forest” is back for a third year at the Turner-area theme park (8462 Enchanted Way SE) on Friday, August 10 and boasts a line-up that includes popular independent national acts Quasi, Typhoon and The Builders and The Butchers as well as many regional artists. The music runs from 2 p.m. to about 8 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $22 in advance ($30 at the gate) and can be purchased online at the festival’s Web site (GreatIdeaFest.com) or in person at Ranch Records’ Salem location (237 High St. NE) or Gilgamesh’s “The Lounge” (210 Liberty St. SE).

Salem Weekly asked festival organizer Doug Hoffman questions about the event and where its headed in the future.

SW: What’s your pitch to the music fan on the verge of buying a ticket to the Great Idea?
DH: I can personally guarantee you will increase your smiles for the day on August 10th if you chose to buy a ticket — between the atmosphere and interactive qualities of the Enchanted Forest as a setting, plus the wide range of styles of music: one would hear throughout the day. Everything from the tranquil auditory hypnosis of “His Name Shall Breathe” in a wooded setting by the Three Bears House to the unforgiving and infectious landmark songs of Quasi performing in the heart of Western Town!

SW: How will this year’s fest be different than in years past?
DH: This year we’ve made a real effort to give the happening-goer an opportunity to see every act by staggering the performance schedule. Also, this year for our guests 21-and-over there is a beer garden hosted by Gilgamesh Brewing opening at 6 p.m. near one of the main stage areas. Additionally, CCTV will be on-site all day taping the entirety of the happening in high definition for editing later into a feature length documentary, so one might find themselves interviewed as part of a timeless production!

SW: What would be the performance you are looking forward to seeing the most?
DH: I am not usually able to see an entire performance by any one group as I am typically in T.C.B. (taking care of business) mode and making sure everything in all parts of the park are running smoothly. It is extremely important to me that the family behind the Enchanted Forest is more than satisfied with this happening’s operation and execution in order to insure The Great Idea’s continued development! What an opportunity! I am playing in The Apheliotropic Orchestra reunion so I suppose I’ll have to sit put for that.

SW: How has it been working with Enchanted Forest these past few years?
DH: It has been a very progressive and fulfilling experience working with Susan (Vaslev) and Derek (Vaslev) on this event (two members of the Tofte extended-family that own/operate the Enchanted Forest). Progressive in the sense that I believe this is Derek’s strong contribution to the heritage of the growth of the park. Music is very important to him and to me, so when the idea came to us to put this together it made a lot of sense that we work in absolute cooperation with the rest of his family to achieve what we all want out of this: a positively inspirational experience. Fulfilling in the sense personally to me that this is the culmination of all of my training and experience working in live production and entertainment through The Space, Halloween productions, alleyway shows, etc. Its my life’s work.

SW: What lies in the future for the Great Idea?
DH: The Great Idea will continue to develop and grow into a multiple-day campout happening and the potential for an overgrown amphitheater being utilized at the top of the hill is something I am interested in continuing to discuss with the family at the park. I believe that we will continue to surprise people with the caliber of acts we host in the coming years. I am planning on reopening The Space as well, and with these two ventures — along with a lot of other people who give our community vitality through their hard work and optimism — I hope to help crush any apathetic or downtrodden notions about the truly talented organic art-and music-culture experience in our city.