Amped

By Paulette Perhach

Outside Ryan Dettra’s corner of the administrative office, backhoes dig up bad drains, inspectors in ties murmur about, and Sept. 2 silently ticks closer.

That’s the day the six-year makeover ends, and the stage opens for the Blackwater Sol Review.

It’s a trial by festival for the amphitheatre.

The staff of three sits in the cramped administrative office, watching the amphitheatre’s resurrection from a small window.

The powers that be hired Dettra to bring in the acts, after seeing his successes booking bands such as Modest Mouse, Dr. Dog, and the Thermals to the stage of Café 11, which he’s owned for five years.

In July, Dettra gave a tour to JJ Grey, the lead singer of the band Mofro, who will headline the grand opening.

“Is this where they used to do ‘The Cross & The Sword’?” asked Grey, as the group stepped into the tented space.

It is.

The amphitheatre was built to house the play, about St. Augustine’s founding in 1565. The production ran six nights a week for 10 weeks each summer from 1965 to 1996, and became Florida’s official state play in 1973. It’s believed as many as 600,000 visitors saw the show.

Dettra and Grey strolled down the steps, past the new, slightly cobwebbed seats.

Grey jumped up on stage and took a stroll, giving a nod to the canopy and the rows of seating.

“This is hip,” he said.

Grey has been wanting to play the amphitheater for a while, partly to connect with Gamble Rogers, a local folk musician who died while trying to save a drowning swimmer in 1991 and for whom a local school and folk festival are named.

“He’s one of my biggest heroes,” said Grey.

But Grey won’t be playing the festival named for his hero. He’ll be playing the Blackwater Sol Revue, already being touted as the “first annual.”

He’ll be joined by Los Lobos, Tony Joe White, The Legendary JC’s and The Lee Boys with acoustic tweeners by Willie Green and Will Connor.

“If I could do a festival and pick the bands, here’s who I’d pick,” said Grey.

The amphitheatre opening was enough to get Grey to come to St. Augustine, mingling with the big boys of Memphis, Philadelphia, Boston and Tampa, on Mofro’s Country Ghetto Tour lineup.

Will the opening of the new venue be enough to attract other bands that aren’t inspired by a love of Old Florida and memories of childhood trips to Ripley’s?

“I think St. Augustine’s just got vibe,” said Grey. “So many musicians I know, when you’re on the road, your world revolves around the 22 hours you’re not on stage. All musicians have to do is come here once or twice and dig it, and all the way across the board, people will say it’s a good place to play.”

Dettra hopes so.

While he has a history of getting great indie bands at Café 11, he’ll have to focus on more mainstream acts for the amphitheater.

“There’s not as many indie bands who have made it to this point,” he said.

While he did have the Flaming Lips scheduled (then canceled due to construction delays), the musical acts on stage will be more mainstream. They’ll also book circus-type acts, like a smaller version of Cirque de Soleil, and possibly put on fashion events.

The amphitheatre will fit about 2,500 spectators under the canopy, 1,000 in its upper seats and 4,500 total with some flex seating.

“Ours is the only mid- to small-size amphitheater of this caliber,” said Dettra, motioning at the new facility, landscaped with young magnolia trees. “We’re the only venue like this in North Florida. We’ll have one of the best outdoor venues in the United States in our little town.”

He hopes people realize what the city has and take advantage. He’s planned a winter wonderland for December, complete with an ice skating rink, elf-size houses and fire pits for ‘smores. They’re looking into a toboggan ride but will probably save that for next year.

Tommy Bledsoe, the Special Events manager who sits in the big office in the little office building, said the amphitheatre will be a place for people to experience something new, such as with the Sol Revue.

“This is the kind of stuff I’m excited about,” he said, talking about the variety of bands booked for the day. “I think people will come out and hear music they wouldn’t normally.”

He also hopes this will provide a venue for shows for his teenage daughters, who he usually drives to Jacksonville to attend concerts.

“We know there’s a big audience for people my age, for baby boomers,” he said. “We also know there are a lot of younger people who will support live music. I think we’re kind of going to bridge that.”

They’re hoping the amphitheatre—like the Fort, the Plaza and the Bridge—will join the ranks of the symbols of life in St. Augustine.

“This is the big place for that nice, big show,” said Bledsoe. “Shared experiences, that’s what community is.”

MP3 - JJ GREY & MOFRO - The Sun Is Shining Down