Diamond Head Fest Erupts

Oahu, Hawaii’s Diamond Head crater is about to erupt with live music – something that hasn’t happened since 1988, when Tina Turner performed a private concert for 2,000.

The Diamond Head International Music Festival & Conference will launch festivities in April 2006 in hopes of creating an annual international gathering.

The event, scheduled for April 19-25, 2006, will feature the first musical performance inside the crater in about 17 years, along with several concerts throughout various Hawaiian venues, round table discussions, workshops, exhibits, seminars and more, according to Integrated Outsource Marketing CEO Ron Gibson.

“We figure, with Hawaii as the backdrop, what a perfect place to hold this and have people look forward to it each year as a must-attend function,” Gibson told Pollstar. “We believe this event will have a huge appeal to leisure travelers, the world music industry and the local community as well.”

Upon receiving approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources to use Diamond Head State Monument for a one-day signature event inside the 7-acre crater, Gibson is planning an all-day live concert with a “huge stage” scheduled for April 22nd.

He has been negotiating with top artist managers and solidifying relationships with Hawaiian artists as well. Without revealing any specific names, Gibson said he is in discussion with “incredible talent.”

Artists who performed in the crater during the ’70s include Santana, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Miller, Linda Ronstadt, Boz Scaggs, Buddy Miles and others.

“It’s an event that roots back to the Woodstock days,” Gibson said. “There were concerts held inside the crater and they ranged from an audience of 20,000 to a free event they did with about 70,000.”

The theme of the conference, which will take place in Waikiki, will be “Technology Meets Music.” It will deal with realistic issues including digital rights management, streaming media capabilities, gaming and music, publishing, new radio, touring and more.

“The industry is changing and rapidly moving, and to keep abreast of what’s going on, we’ll have seminars on ‘How do you do business in China?’ and ‘How do you break the India market?'” Gibson said.

He added that for the first year, the festival will maintain a “boutique size” with about 7,500 available tickets. With sponsors and promotions, however, he expects approximately 10,000 attendees.