By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Fever Fest, an annual fundraiser concert to be held July 29-30 at John Maysenhoelder’s ‘Maysen Manor’ on the outskirts of Lennoxville, is just around the corner. Well over a dozen local bands and musicians will show off their stuff at the event, which is free (donations welcome) and will offer food available for purchase. The Record dropped by Maysenhoelder’s house to speak with him about the specifics.
“If you’re a musician in the area, you know who I am, because that’s what I do,” Maysenhoelder began. He sells, buys, and fixes guitars, he specified. Fever Fest started as a party in his backyard. “All my customers are musicians,” he continued, so the event began as a place for them to share their music with each other for fun. So many people attended his girlfriend suggested they use the event to raise money for good causes. “That works really well,” he added. “People need to see live music these days… [and] every band will sound great,” Maysenhoelder said, referring to the top-notch sound system they will be using. “It’s everything from country, to rock, to jazz, to blues, to punk,” he said. If you don’t like the music, wait 45 minutes, he added. Each band will be strictly limited to a set of that length, he insisted.
Robert Lafond, owner of Lennoxville’s Provigo, will donate all the meat to be barbecued and sold at the show, Maysenhoelder said. Boulangerie Georges, a Sherbrooke bakery, is donating half of the buns. Siboire Microbrasserie is providing beer for the musicians at no cost. “We’re not selling any alcohol… that’s a different ballgame,” he explained, but attendees can bring their own (no bottles). Admission is free, he continued, but there will be raffles and a donation box to raise money.
