Tune In, Turn On
Putting together a multi-band music event is extremely challenging and time-consuming. No matter how well-planned and executed, there’s never a guarantee that money will be made. You have to really love music, working with bands and know that no matter how hard you work, there’s a good chance things won’t go exactly as planned, or as hoped.
Jerry Ryan, lifelong Jersey Shore resident and founder of the Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival taking place Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19 at the recently renovated Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, has been presenting his all-original music festival for nearly two decades – no easy feat in an area mostly known for cover and tribute bands.
Ryan’s ETIMF has also, through the years, acted as an avenue for autism awareness, something Ryan knows all too intimately, as his son, Jeremy, is autistic.
Tune in Turn On interviewed Ryan last week about his upcoming festival.
DD: Explain the inner passion that led you to create the Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival, and why you keep it going each year.
JR: I don’t think I could’ve kept this going all these years if it didn’t come from somewhere deeply personal. This all started with my son, Jeremy – and he’s still the reason it means everything to me. I feel a responsibility to keep that going. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being just something I do… it became part of who I am.
DD: Who are a few of the acts to watch performing at ETIMF this year?
JR: Acts to watch? Honestly… all of them. But if I had to highlight a few, you won’t want to miss Rubix Pube, Fair Panic, Lackadaisical Lemon, Abby Lee and Jon Caspi & The First Gun. That said, this lineup is stacked from top to bottom. I’m not exaggerating when I say you really don’t want to miss any of them. We’re also excited to have the School of Rock from Cherry Hill, Deptford, Brick and Montclair performing on Sunday, so the future of music is definitely well represented and very bright.
DD: How would you describe the southern New Jersey original music scene at present?
JR: I’d describe the South Jersey music scene right now as a work in progress – but no one can question its resilience. Through the ongoing challenges of keeping original music alive, it continues to adapt instead of fading away. I’m just grateful to play a part and I’m especially thankful for the venues that continue to give original artists a platform in a landscape often dominated by cover bands.
DD: Talk about the future of the Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival. What’s ahead?
JR: This year’s Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival will be my final multi-day festival. For the past 17 years, I’ve given everything I have to this local music scene – day after day, year after year – and I have no regrets about that commitment. It’s truly been a dream come true. Now I feel it’s time for me to shift my focus toward some other goals that have been sitting on the back burner for a while. But I’ll see you in October 2027 for the 18th Annual ETIMF, returning as a one-day event. I also want to take a moment to recognize my great friend Khalid Quesada, who will be performing at his 17th consecutive ETIMF. He is an incredibly talented musician and a deeply loyal friend, and I’m grateful to have shared so many years of this journey with him.
The Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival will take place April 17-19 at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, 133 S. Tennessee Ave., in Atlantic City.
The event is open to all ages. Festival hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 per day or $30 for a three-day pass. Tickets available at the door. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/elephanttalkindie?
Photo by Aiden Scott
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
