2000 City Stages

2000 City Stages poster

The 2000 City Stages was the 12th annual edition of "Birmingham's World-Class Music Festival". It was held during the weekend of June 16-18, 2000, in and around Linn Park.

The 2000 festival resulted in a shortfall of $500,000 from projected revenues. Attendance was reported as 130,000 for the weekend, down 47% from 1999. Factors blamed included an increase in weekend passes from $25 to $35, a "no comp" policy requiring volunteers to pay $20 to work the event, and forecasted rain.

Immediately after the festival, organizer George McMillan predicted a $400,000 to $500,000 loss, despite an estimate of an $11 million "economic impact" from the event. Ultimately it was reported that the event's deficit was $847,000, which McMillan described as a, "near-death experience."

The next City Stages was moved to May in hopes of being able to book better acts and enjoy milder weather.

Poster

The 2000 official poster was designed by New Orleans artist Anne Scheurich

Line up

• Saturday
  • Chicago
  • Jethro Tull
  • The Jayhawls
• Sunday
  • James Brown
  • Martin Sexton
  • Mike Plume Band
• unknown
  • John Mayer
  • Odetta
  • The Supremes with Mary Wilson
  • Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
  • Man or Astro-man?
  • Mars Electric
  • Joe Ely
  • Dead Cel Factor
  • Wayne

Gallery

• 

  2000 City Stages pass

• 

  James Brown at City Stages 2000

References

• Milazzo, Don (June 25, 2000) "City Stages organizers count up the losses." Birmingham Business Journal
• Cobb, Mark Hughes (June 11, 2005) "Boon or bust for outdoor festivals." The Tuscaloosa News