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>> LOCAL NONPROFIT HOPES TO TURN 5-K RACE AND FREDSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL INTO AN ANNUAL EVENT

June 25, 2009 12:35 am

BY ZACK SMITH

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Musical history was made in August 1969 when 400,000 people descended upon Woodstock, N.Y., for a once-in-a-lifetime concert event. Forty years later, a slightly smaller audience will descend upon the Cannon Ridge Golf Club Sunday to take part in the ambitiously named FredStock '09.

The forces behind FredStock are Ozzy Ramos, founder and chief executive officer of local nonprofit Home of Miracles and Embraces, and Bob Smith, the director of development for HOME Sports.

Ramos, who lost his wife and two children to complications from AIDS, founded HOME in 2006 to provide support for children with HIV.

The FredStock festival was conceived as a way to raise funds and awareness for the organization. Last year, HOME attempted a similar festival on a much smaller scale. A lot has been added for the second edition.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. with a 5-k walk/run. The free music portion will last from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., along with a kids' pavilion and food area.

When it was decided that there would be a 5-k, Smith thought back to his positive experiences at the local Turkey Trot and sought help from Vic Culp of the Fredericksburg Area Running Club.

"He went out and certified a really nice course a very scenic course for people to participate in," said Smith.

The 5-k will be run on roads surrounding Cannon Ridge and is USA Track & Field certified. Smith said early online registration has already surpassed the goal for the race.

The music portion of the festival will begin after the race and features a large and varied lineup performing on the two stages. "I guess you could say we're cutting a wide net as we are covering a lot of genres. We have a band for everyone's taste."

There will be some jazz and funk with Anthony Campbell and the Third Stream Giants. "We had a fun time last year and are really excited about the size and scope of this year's festival," said Campbell in a recent interview.

Un Mundo, a local 12-piece Latin group, will perform classic salsa music. The rest of the showcase is filled with punk, alt and Christian rock groups, along with some solo artists.

Smith is excited about the closing act, B-Hive, a soulful rock group from New York. "We had been putting the lineup together for six months [and were] really grateful for them to be added to our bill."

Since this is a family event, the organizers also have arranged for plenty of kid-friendly activities. Beginning at 11 a.m., there will be soccer tips and autographs with members of the Fredericksburg Gunners, the local United Soccer League franchise. HOME Sports also will be running a "fun" pavilion that will consist of many youth activities, including a moon bounce, rides and carnival-type fun supplied by Creative Entertainment.

Smith said teens will enjoy GamePad's Octocom, an eight-station gaming pavilion featuring "Rock Band," "Guitar Hero," "Mario Brothers" and other popular titles.

As with any new event, it is hard to say what kind of turnout to expect from Fredericksburg locals, but Smith is optimistic.

"It has been a lot of work, but it has also been a lot of fun putting it together--we want to make this an annual event."

People who would like to enter the 5-k can register at iwannagohome.org. There is a $20 entrance fee, and the event will occur rain or shine. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets--but keep in mind that, unlike the original Woodstock, no coolers will be allowed.

Zack Smith is a local freelance writer, musician and educator. Reach him at
Email: barzac@aol.com.