COMSTOCK -- In his first year running the Comstock Music Series, Jim Proskocil has been emphasizing one theme since March, when he began preparing for this year's festivals.
"My goal is to survive this year," said Proskocil, an Ord native who lives in Plattsburg, Mo.
The scale may be smaller, the names not as big, but Proskocil sees this year as the foundation for bringing success back to Comstock's annual music festivals.
If he does well, he hopes to multiply his budget by four next year.
In the meantime, he doesn't believe he's sacrificed the quality of this year's shows.
The country festival, which runs today through Sunday, will sport a more laid-back style than in years past, he said.
"It's going to be, ’Bring your lawn chair, sit and listen to good music for 10 hours and enjoy a beer,'" Proskocil said.
And next weekend's rock festival will tilt a bit more toward the '80s heavy metal, rather than the '70s classic rock of years past.
"These guys are just as good, maybe a little bit louder," he said.
Of course, most Central Nebraskans will be a lot less likely to know as many of this year's artists as in years past.
This weekend's country festival is headlined by Trent Tomlinson, Jessica Andrews and John Conlee. Jim Rice, Leroy Van Dyke, T.G. Sheppard, Sheila Greenland and the Extreme Bull Riding Tour are also scheduled to appear.
Next weekend's rock shows are headlined by Great White, Firehouse and Nazareth with Manny Charlton. Tommy Tutone, Missing Persons, Head East and regional bands will fill out the slate.
There's a good reason many of the Comstock's past household names are missing from that list.
Proskocil bought the 2nd Wind Ranch near Comstock, site of the former Comstock Windmill Festival, Comstock Rock and Godstock events, this spring.
His Comstock Music Series is not a continuation of those events, which were run by Henry Nuxoll and Roland Shafer.
Those concerts were a popular summer attraction since they were launched in 2000, but they had lost steam in recent years.
The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission was reluctant to issue a liquor license for the 2006 events, citing reports by the Nebraska State Patrol about rampant underage drinking.
And Nuxoll was charged last year in Custer County Court with a felony for writing thousands of dollars of bad checks for the festivals.
Nuxoll has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and his trial is scheduled for September.
Having not received the license for the new series until March, Proskocil didn't have much time to put together a festival that would keep music alive in Comstock.
But through some help from friends in the business, Proskocil said he's been able to pull together a respectable show.
He said potential sponsors are watching, willing to sign on for next year if the next two weeks go well.
Some Comstock fans, though, are so devoted they were willing to sign up no matter what, in order to keep the festival alive.
"(They said), ’If you don't have bands, we'll bring a radio,'" Proskocil said. "We had at least 100 people like that."
IF YOU GO
Comstock Music Series
- What: Country and rock music festivals.
- When: Country, today through Sunday; rock, July 17 through 20.
- Where: 2nd Wind Ranch, northeast of Comstock.
- Schedule: Country: Regional bands, today; Trent Tomlinson, Jim Rice, Extreme Bull Riding Tour, Friday; Jessica Andrews, Leroy Van Dyke, Extreme Bull Riding, Saturday; John Conlee, T.G. Sheppard, Sheila Greenland, Sunday.
- Schedule: Rock: Regional bands, July 17; Great White and Tommy Tutone, July 18; Firehouse and Missing Persons, July 19; Nazareth with Manny Charlton and Head East, July 20.
- Tickets: Visit www.comstockmusic.net for more info or to order.
