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We hate to finally say it, but Pocologan 2021 (as we all pictured it) won't be happening in 2021. The reason? 50% the pandemic and 50% three of the organizers are having babies this year. Wild, eh?
Organizing live music events is WAY too much fun, so there is certainly something on the horizon. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook or join the mailing list to stay updated on upcoming shows. With Love, Team Poco
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The Pocologan team was THRILLED to learn that the talented and kind Ronnie Davis was on site at Music & Comedy at the Drive In to capture some amazing drone footage and photos. This spectacle might be old news to the Sussex Drive-In team, but us live music promoters were totally blown away by the 300-car crowd honking their horns and flashing lights. The safety and security team did an AMAZING job spacing the cars 6ft apart and enforcing social distancing measures. Check out the video and photos below! Life is a Boot: Jamie Comeau & the Crooked Teeth are Breathing New Life Into the East Coast6/10/2020 Read the full article here. A collective hailing from Saint John, New Brunswick, Jamie Comeau & The Crooked Teeth feature a four-piece band that combines style and originality with personality and stage presence to bring forth a unique alternative blue/indie folk sound. The Crooked Teeth rose quickly to popularity in the East Coast music scene after winning the Harvest Jazz & Blues Stingray Music Rising Star Competition in 2017. Read the full article here.  Pocologan Productions Director Jeffery Keleher sat down with Livin' the Dream Podcast host (and our good buddy) Chris McAleenan to discuss the upcoming Music & Comedy at the Sussex Drive-In. You can sense Jeff's happy anxiety at the prospect of being the FIRST drive-in event in Canada. Watch/listen here: LINK  Pocologan Productions Director Jeff Keleher had a heartwarming chat with The Pagan Place Podcast. They discussed rocket launches, mental health, and how to present music and comedy at a drive-in theater. Host Kalen Capson wanted to learn how the Pocologan Team plans to work around the "no festival" rule and still give the people live music. Listen here.  Read the full article at Huddle.today.  New Brunswick could see a revival of drive-in entertainment as physical distancing measures keep people out of movie theatres and live shows at indoor venues.
Jeff Keleher, director of Pocologan Productions, has teamed up with the Sussex Drive-In to host a live show on June 12. The line-up for Music & Comedy at the Sussex Drive-In, includes The Divorcees, Jamie Comeau & The Crooked Teeth and James Mullinger. Nearly half of the tickets were sold just a day after Keleher made the announcement. “They’re going quick,” he said. Read the full article at Huddle.today. Click here to view the full media release and resources. Sussex, NB - On June 12th Pocologan Productions, in partnership with the Sussex Drive-In, is hosting Music and Comedy at the Sussex Drive-In, the first-in-Canada live music and comedy event of its kind. This unique format will allow music fans to enjoy a community-oriented outdoor live music event for the first time since the introduction of COVID-19 isolation measures. All profits will be donated to the Rotary Club of Sussex so they can continue to provide growth and development opportunities for the people of Sussex, NB. Performances will include music by The Divorcees and Jamie Comeau and the Crooked Teeth, and comedy by James Mullinger. The Sussex Drive-In has capacity for 300 cars to safely view video on a large 4-storey screen. Live artists will perform on the stage that will be located in front of the screen. A multi-camera set-up will feed live performance footage onto the screen so everyone can see the action in a social-distancing-friendly manner. The audio from the show will be transmitted to cars using the drive-in’s FM transmitter - a classic drive-in experience! In New Brunswick's current state of reopening patrons are required to stay in their vehicle, except to use the washroom or to buy concessions. For the most up-to-date physical distancing guidelines, patrons are asked to visit gnb.ca/coronavirus. A friendly and experienced team of volunteers will be on-site to help the audience enjoy a safe event amid the pandemic. The washrooms will also be kept clean with enhanced sanitation measures. When asked why they decided to host this event, Pocologan Productions Director Jeff Keleher said “for people like us who host events for their community, we don’t do it for the money. You have a drive for it. When the rug gets pulled from underneath you, the drive is still there. It started off as a need to satisfy that drive, but it’s turned into this giant, magical, group effort. We hope this will continue to be a platform for as long it’s needed.” The gates will open at 8PM on June 12th. The show starts at dusk. Who's Performing? The Divorcees For over a decade, Moncton New Brunswick's The Divorcees have been known nationwide as one of Canada's leading keepers of the outlaw country flame. Winners of two East Coast Music Awards, the band's brand of no-nonsense, blue-collar americana with a Canadian edge has won over fans and peers alike from coast to coast James Mullinger James Mullinger was one of the UK’s top comedians and the Comedy Editor for GQ magazine when he moved to Canada six years ago. Since his arrival, he has taken the country by storm. Sold out shows across the country, appearances on CBC’s The Debaters, movies, TV shows, festivals, awards, stand up specials – he’s done it all. An award-winning writer, comedian and filmmaker, he spent 15 years in a senior position at British GQ magazine, interviewing everyone from Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Rudd to Rachel Weisz and Scarlett Johansson and launching the magazine’s digital division. In April 2016 and 2018, James sold out Harbour Station Arena in New Brunswick, outselling both Jerry Seinfeld and Guns N Roses at the same venue. His latest stand up special, Almost Canadian, shot straight to #1 on the iTunes charts and was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Taped Live Performance. It is available to watch internationally on Amazon Prime Video. In June 2017 he launched Atlantic Canada's first ever international magazine, [EDIT] - an award-winning premium media brand devoted to celebrating business leaders and creatives doing the unexpected while expanding Atlantic Canada’s global reach. James has also raised more than $150,000 for Atlantic Canadian charities. He is a much sought after corporate clean comedian and keynote speaker internationally on the subjects of marketing, media and uplifting positivity celebrating life, work and play in Canada. Jamie Comeau & the Crooked Teeth Jamie Comeau & the Crooked Teeth is a 4-piece alternative rock/folk group with blue grass inspirations based in Saint John, NB. These 2017 Rising Star winners are gaining serious momentum, and since March 2018, they have taken themselves on the road through the Maritime’s everywhere from Nova Scotia to Prince Edward Island. Their personality and stage presence bring forth a sound that is somehow both unfamiliar and familiar to the audiences they meet. About the Sussex Drive-In and Campground The iconic Drive-In landmark located on Highway 1 is not only undertaking a physical upgrade in 2020 but changing colors and steel from orange to fire engine red, but a venue upgrade as well by playing events other than movies! New owners Don & Tina Monahan who purchased the Drive-In along with the KOA Campground have been working diligently with a multitude of organizers to bring entertainment to New Brunswickers in a safe format that will respect all social distancing parameters that have now quickly become part of our daily lives. What was once started back in 1967 as a leading edge movie venue is quickly re-inventing itself 50 years later to satisfy the new applications for these types of facilities! About Pocologan Productions Pocologan Productions is a family-run organization of Jeff, Jenny, Bob, and Rick Keleher. Their flagship event, the Pocologan Camp Party, is an annual independent music and arts festival that celebrates top music talent and artistic counterculture. Like everyone in the music and arts community, the pandemic represented a threat to their safety, livelihood, and sense of identity. Team Poco’s core mission is to bring music to audiences, so creative solutions like live streams and Music and Comedy at the Drive-In are a natural fit. FAQ for Attendees How Will it Work? The Sussex Drive-In has capacity for 300 cars to view video on a large 4-storey screen. Live bands will perform on the stage that will be placed in front of the screen. A multi-camera set-up will feed live performance footage onto the screen so everyone can see the action in a social-distancing-friendly manner. How will I enjoy the show from my car? We’re bringing in a full video crew to capture the performances for projection onto the big screen. The audio from the show will be transmitted to your car using the drive-in’s FM transmitter - a classic drive-in experience! Will there be concessions for sale? Yes, there will be a canteen selling snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Will washrooms be available? Yep! enhanced cleaning procedures will be in place. How can I practice safe social distancing? In New Brunswick's current state of reopening you are required to stay in your vehicle, except to use the washroom or to buy concessions. For the most up-to-date physical distancing guidelines, visit gnb.ca/coronavirus. A friendly and experienced team of volunteers will be on-site to help patrons enjoy a safe event amid the pandemic. Are there age restrictions? Nope! This is an all-ages, family-friendly show. Come one, come all! Can I stay overnight? You sure can! The KOA Sussex campground is right next door. Make your reservation here. #sussexdriveinmusic Contacts Jeff Keleher, Director, Pocologan Productions jeff@pocologan.ca 506-450-9992 Jenny Keleher, Marketing Director, Pocologan Productions jenny@pocologan.ca 506-230-3277 Don Monahan, Sussex Drive-In and KOA Campground sussexcampground@gmail.com Michael Depp, Rotary Club mcdepp@gmail.com Links Click here to access a folder with images and graphics. Eventbrite Tickets Link Pocologan.ca Link Music & Comedy at the Sussex Drive-In Event on Facebook Pocologan Camp Party on Facebook Sussex Drive-In on Facebook  Poco Fam,
As you are all probably expecting by now, after the Government of New Brunswick’s announcement on April 24th we have made the decision to postpone this year’s festival to 2021. This was an unhappy decision, but not a difficult one. The health and safety of all of you, all of us and all of our performers is paramount and even if we’d been able to proceed in some limited fashion by August it would have been with great compromise and that's something we’re not willing to do. Poco 2021 planning has officially begun and you can bet it’s going to be exactly as awesome as you would imagine a festival would be after having an extra year to plan! Stay tuned for more details! What about tickets though? There are two options: 1. Choose to reuse your ticket at our 2021 event. Anyone who doesn't refund this year will automatically be on "the list" for 2021. 2. Request a full refund from Eventbrite – we will honour all requests. If you have trouble, please reach out to us directly. The required information should be included in the email you received after purchasing your ticket. That’s not the end of the story though, friends. We’re working hard on all sorts of unique ways to connect performers with audiences in the mean time, so stay tuned! Much love from The Kelehers & the rest of Team Poco Photo thanks to Alex Cook at The East Performing Artists and Visual Artists are invited to apply to do their thing at the 2020 Pocologan Camp Party!
The Pocologan Camp Party wants each and every Pocologanite to express themselves freely and artistically for a weekend. Professional artists and performers can earn free admission and other perks by making their art part of our festival experience. What's a "Performing Artist"? This application is for performers who make art with the movement with their bodies. Whether you're a warrior of fire, hoop, poi, staff and all beautiful things in between! Click here to apply. What's a Visual Artist"? This application is for visual artists of all kinds: painters, sculptors, weavers, designers, decorators, and everything in between! Click here to apply. The Pocologan Camp Party is proud to announce that after five successful years at "The Camp" in Pocologan, NB, the organizing committee has secured a partnership that will allow the festival to greatly expand capacity and improve the overall festival experience in the coming years. The new site is at Retreat Lake in Chance Harbour, NB. This iconic site was the home of Sunseeker's Ball, a retired and highly successful indie music festival that is sure to spark nostalgia for New Brunswick's music festival fans.
“We realize that this new site is nothing short of iconic in our festival scene. Most of Team Poco got our very first inspirations from the Sunseeker’s Ball and hope folks will put their faith in us to revive this site to its legendary status over the coming years,” says Festival Director Jeff Keleher. The event founders, the Keleher family, have valued the cooperation and support from the local community of Pocologan for the past nine years. "The ever increasing support through the years from our neighbours was the only reason we were able to showcase all of those amazing performances. It wouldn't have been possible without them", says Keleher. As a way to continue to grow, the organizing committee has decided to move to the iconic Retreat Lake site near Chance Harbour, New Brunswick, in cooperation with its new partner, the John Law Corporation. The festival will take place this year on August 21st and 22nd with affordable Super Early Bird weekend passes for only $55 at pocologan.ca. New Brunswick is home to an incredibly skilled and passionate music community, with enthusiastic support for independent artists and events such as the Pocologan Camp Party. Independent music festivals promote rural tourism and provide economic opportunities to the surrounding communities. Even a small, growing event like Pocologan provides thousands of dollars in compensation and promotional support for dozens of local musicians, tradespeople, and artists. The surrounding community enjoys a spike in marketing and traffic that promotes regional investment and purchases of food, accommodations, and services. New Brunwick’s rural communities are proud to support local events like Pocologan and look forward to them every year. The Pocologan Camp Party (Poco) is an independent New Brunswick music and arts festival that celebrates top music talent and artistic counterculture. Poco was founded by the Keleher family and is organized alongside a group of passionate and experienced volunteers. Poco's mantra "wholesome debauchery" encourages free expression In a safe, tolerant, and welcoming environment. The event was a private backyard party for several years until its first public event in 2017. The event sold out in 2019 and the organizers are excited to expand capacity in 2020 with the new venue. Poco has welcomed local favourites like Gordon Gets Lost, Slowcoaster, Jamie Comeau and the Crooked Teeth and thrilling out of towners like Big Smoke Brass. |
The KelehersThe members of the Keleher family are the organizers of the Pocologan Camp Party alongside a dedicated team of passionate volunteers. Archives |
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