New Woodbury Music Festival Bursts Onto Scene

No ? No problem.

graduate Tim Dao, a deejay, wanted to get on the Woodbury Days schedule this year. When that fell through, he decided to hold his own festival aimed at the city’s younger set.

“It was kind of disappointing, but I wasn’t going to sit on that,” Dao said. “I always wanted to deejay an event like that—something huge for the community.”

The inaugural Sunburst Festival, organized by Dao and a group of his friends, is set for 1:30-9 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at . Six acts—two deejays, two bands and two acoustic groups—will perform. The lineup:

• My Muse (Josh Tollefson)
• Dear, Dear Daisy - Moua Meng Yang
• Whistle Kid
• Exit Pursued By a Bear
• Audio Thought - Paul Chang
• Ravepulse - Tim Dao (Pho Dim Tao)

Dao, 20, said has helped organize smaller events, but nothing of this magnitude. The St. Thomas University student worked closely with Ann Ringgold, recreation specialist for Woodbury, to get the event up and running.

“It’s been great working with the city and I really appreciate their support. I feel like I owe them a lot for this,” said Dao, who worked closely with his friend Paul Chang, a grad, to bring the event together.

For the most part, the city simply donated the space at Ojibway Park and provided a sound technician and equipment, Ringgold said.

“They had a lot of their ducks in a row,” she said.

Woodbury police officers spoke with planners about decibel levels and Ringgold made sure the poster had contact information and a rain date. Dao and his friends also sent Ringgold a CD with music from the acts on it so she could make sure the tunes would be “family-friendly,” she said.

“They’re really talented,” Ringgold said.

The event also gives the city a chance to plug into the younger set in Woodbury, Ringgold said.

Dao echoed that sentiment, saying the festival should draw college-age students and younger for “a big, massive hang out.”

Because the festival “basically came together in a month,” there are no concessions lined up, Dao said, and people are encouraged to bring a picnic meal.

While he acknowledged that the planning process has been overwhelming at times, Dao said he’s pleased with the way things turned out and hopes the Sunburst Festival becomes an annual event.

“I’ve been told: If you want something to happen and no one else is doing it, you have to do it yourself,” he said. “If it works, I did something amazing.”

For more information on the Sunburst Festival, visit the event’s Facebook page by clicking here.