MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Approximately 4,500 station and local residents flooded the Torii Pines golf course here Saturday to celebrate the first Summer Music Festival Open House.
Along with live music, attendees indulged in food, drinks and entertainment. Children played in bounce houses, slides and other games. Free prizes were given out to attendees during intermissions, and a raffle contest ran throughout the festival.
“This particular event is important because it joins the community and reminds the community that we are one together,” said Sean McHenry, Marine Corps Community Services marketing officer and event coordinator.
Unlike past Summer Music Festivals, this year’s open house theme welcomed all local Japanese residents aboard station to enjoy the festivities.
“Ones in past years were specifically for the (Marine Corps Air Station) Iwakuni community, where as this is open up to anyone in Japan who wants to come,” said McHenry. “We got some units out here that are doing things, so they get a better feel of what we do here,” he added.
Where service members were the prominent performers in the past, this year’s festival had a large variety of bands and entertainers. From local Japanese blues bands to head banging U.S. rockers, a blend of musical genres filled the Iwakuni atmosphere throughout the festival.
Performances included: Ghetto Script, The Iwakuni Elite Tigers, 13s, Blues Workshop, Iwakuni Daiko, Jalopy, Johnny “V” Vernaza and the headline alternative American band Airiel Down.
The festival not only fed the crowd servings from a musical melting pot, but gave the performers a chance to share their music with a broader crowd.
“The performers are not specific to the base,” said McHenry. “Most of these bands have a following, so of course the people who follow the bands are going to come to hear them perform, but (the bands) are also opened up to a whole different sector who would never hear them.”
Performers like 13s lead singer and guitarist, Damon Lauer, said the event gave an opportunity to broaden their fan base.
“People who wouldn’t usually come to see our band come out here, and they get into it,” said Lauer. “So next time they’ll keep an eye out on stage for us.”
For event attendees like Sgt. David Gonzales, the festival was an opportunity to build camaraderie between him and his Marines.
“Being out here in the heat cooking and serving the attendees gives the Marines time to bond and raise money for our unit at the same time,” said Gonzales. “So it benefits everyone.”
For a first time open-house event, McHenry said the turnout was a huge success, and he hopes more locally-involved events can be planned in the future.