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The 44th rendition of iFest will be leaner as event organizers
keep an eye on expenses. Heavy rain one day last year
impacted overall revenue and that put the Houston Festival
Foundation in the hole. It managed to pay off 80-thousand
dollars owed to the city. Meanwhile, workers were busy
preparing for the opening weekend. IFest Production Manager
Lupe Olivares oversees the festival’s 5-stages:
“Tomorrow we have, down at the BudLight World Stage, Grammy Award winner La Santa Cecilia from Los Angeles California. We have the New Master Sounds coming in from New Orleans and from England we have Laura Mvula, she is equivalent to the Grammy in England winner. We have a little bit of everything for everybody.”
He says Australia’s diversity is alot like Houston, and that will
be showcased on stage:
“It’s become a very serious festival that musicians that are on tour seek us out because they want to be part of it. But I think when the magic happens, and the people see the magic and they love the show, and they’re clapping and they’re just so happy, it makes all that hard work worthwhile, you know? Yeah, it’s great.”
Olivares says stage enhancements should compliment other
features including an expanded living museum and a return to
Sam Houston Park, which was renovated. iFest attracts more
than 250-thousand runs this weekend and next in ther heart of
downtown Houston.