Published: June 28, 2009 11:03 pm      

MARK MAYNARD: Charles in charge as Motion adjusts

Chuck Charles and his band of merry men and women (aka the Summer Motion committee) love a challenge.

They took on a big one this time.

While moving Summer Motion’s big-name concerts from the riverfront to Central Park was a necessity because of the work being done on the riverfront, it also brought out the naysayers.

The committee loves those who say it can’t be done.

Their collective answer? Watch us.

Given today’s economic climate, it would have been easy for Charles, the president of Summer Motion, to have backed off this summer and gone on a one-year hiatus until the riverfront is ready for a return.

But Charles is more of a charge guy than a retreat guy.

“If I’d say that to our committee, they would have said, ‘No way. We’re going to have it,’’’ Charles said.

The show must go on, and it will.

The Summer Motion committee doesn’t get enough credit for what they do.

Charles describes them as a team of “problem-solvers.”

They never say it can’t be done.

They say tell us what needs to be done and we’ll find a way to get it done.

It’s with that get-it-done spirit that Summer Motion has grown into one of the top summer festivals not only in Kentucky but the entire South.

For a community our size, this is gigantic entertainment. We should appreciate it and the manpower and volunteer power it takes to put something of this magnitude together. This is no one-man job or overnight sensation.

The Summer Motion committee puts in countless hours to make sure Ashland has the best festival possible.

For sure, there were hoops to jump through this year because of logistics. But instead of complaining about the situation, the committee adjusted with that can-do attitude.

Charles doesn’t think moving the concert series from the riverfront to the park will hurt attendance one bit.

“We may even have more come to the park,” he said.

One reason for what he believes could be one of the biggest Summer Motions ever attendance-wise is the weak economy.

“People are looking for things to do that are cheaper and close to home,” he said. “Bingo! What’s better than free and in your back yard?”

Another reason for a potential crowd swell could be the national youth soccer tournament that’s being staged in nearby Barboursville, W.Va. Organizers there are looking for ways to entertain between game sessions. It’s only a short drive to Ashland and brochures have been provided to every player participating.

“I think we’ll be close to our average (attendance) and probably more,” Charles said.

While there’s not the huge name attraction that usually comes to the riverfront for Summer Motion, there’s enough star power to keep everybody entertained. Country star Jake Owen, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Micky Dolenz and The Reflections are the headliners from Wednesday to Saturday, respectively.

As for parking, it won’t be any better, or worse, than any other Summer Motion event. It’s just that instead of the concerts being on the river, they’ll be in the park.

As usual, the Summer Motion committee is doing everything possible to make this year’s event as memorable as the last 20 years.

And with Charles in charge, I’m not going to be the one that says they can’t do it.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.