A Little Bit of Nostalgia

Before there were Bonnaroo, Coachella and Ozzfest, Las Vegas had its own one-day festival in Junefest.

Then, well, things changed and Junefest was no more.

But, on Saturday, Junefest celebrates its second year of rebirth with a show at the South Point.

The event is sponsored, as Junefest always has been, by KKLZ-FM, 96.3, and headlining the show will be Junefest alum Steppenwolf with John Kay — the band played Junefest IV in 1996 — Berlin with Terri Nunn and The Family Stone.

Also scheduled to perform are local bands Leaving Springfield and Forgotten Door, both of which earned their spots via a “Fight for Fest” contest, and The Wedge Brothers featuring KKLZ personality Mike O’Brian.

From 1993 to 2001, Junefest was one of the most anticipated events on Las Vegas’ summer music calendar. The daylong concerts on fields near Sam Boyd Stadium featured marathon-length shows, fireworks and a roster of classic rock headliners that over the years included Jethro Tull, Joan Jett, Journey, Styx, Ted Nugent, Foreigner, Pat Benatar and Joe Walsh, sometimes augmented by such local favorites as John Earl & The Boogieman Band, Mama Zeus and Epstein’s Mother.

Then, Junefest disappeared, a victim, says KKLZ program director Justin Chase, of changing demographics, as well as KKLZ’s format change from classic rock to greatest hits.

But, last year, Junefest returned, albeit in a slightly different form. Chase explains that both he and Tom Humm, KKLZ’s general manager, always have liked staging such events for fans.

It turns out fans obviously hadn’t forgotten the annual summer musical kick-off, either, Chase says.

“Junefest was huge back in the day, and we had a lot of listeners that called and said, ‘Why don’t you bring it back?’ ” he says, adding, “We decided it was about time we brought this event back.”

Longtime Junefest fans will find Saturday’s event to be different from the all-day, outdoor event they remember. For one thing, it will be indoors, in the South Point Arena. And it will begin at a reasonable 5:30 p.m.

The notion, Chase explains, is that “people who listen to our station would appreciate moving indoors, into an air-conditioned arena.”

“I don’t know about you,” he adds, “but I don’t really want to spend all day out in the sun at Sam Boyd Stadium.”

And, in another change from previous Junefests, the event will be about more than music. KKLZ is billing the event as “Las Vegas’ largest high school reunion,” and audience members can avail themselves of several activities that tie in with that theme.

“It’s kind of that season,” Chase says. “There are a lot of high school reunions this time of year, and a lot of graduations, so we thought we’d have some fun with that this year.”

For example, audience members will be asked to sign guest books for local high schools as they enter the arena. Then, Chase says, the school with the most alums in attendance will receive a $5,000 prize.

Guests also are asked to dress in period clothing from their own high school years, and prizes will be awarded for best-dressed couple, best hair and best outfit from the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s.

“We’re even doing worst yearbook photo,” Chase says. For that one, concertgoers are asked to scan their worst yearbook photo and e-mail it to KKLZ (win@963kklz.com).

Then, Chase says, “we’ll select three to five of them to show on-screen, and the crowd will decide who wins.”

Audience members even may opt to have a prom-type photo taken of themselves at the show.

“So,” Chase says, “it’s different elements that make it more than just a concert.”

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.