The first annual WesFest: A Concert To Benefit The Wes Wehmiller Scholarship at Berklee College Of Music, took place at The Gig in Los Angeles on February 16, 2006. It was a gathering of friends, family, and loved ones for a night of music and celebration of the life of Wes, and was the start of an annual tradition that continues to the present day. Below you’ll find some of the original promotional text for the event.
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WesFest:
A Concert To Benefit The Wes Wehmiller Scholarship
at Berklee College Of Music
featuring The Mike Keneally Band
also performing:
SMUG
Kira Small
Dan Rockett
Ali Handal
Touched
Bryan Beller
EVENT DETAILS:
February 16, 2006
The Gig
7302 Melrose Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90046
“This scholarship will be a permanent reminder of his musical spirit,” said Berklee College Of Music President Roger Brown when first announcing the establishment of the scholarship. “Wes fits into what Ron Carter said: ‘Nobody notices the bass player until they stop playing’ – well, we’re sure noticing Wes now!”
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The event was a great success, raising over $10,000. for the scholarship fund, and living up to Paula Wehmiller’s exhortation to Wes’ friends to “carry it on,” so that Wes’ memory would live on for those who knew him, and even for those who didn’t. That’s what WesFest is all about – sharing Wes’ musical life with others to raise money for a deserving student to someday attend Berklee, and have the same opportunities Wes and his friends had to express their musicality to their fullest potential.
The four-hour inaugural concert featured seven acts, all of whom were touched by Wes’ music (he played with just about everyone on the bill), photography (his pictures were used in the album artwork of many of the acts), and spirit. We would also like to thank each of the performing artists for their generous donation of time and talent by recognizing them here, and providing a link to their websites so you can get an idea of what Wes’ musical world was like.
The organizers of WesFest and the Wehmiller family would like to thank everyone who contributed to the event, either by buying a ticket to the show, making a non-ticket donation to the fund, or helping to organize the event in any way. We look forward to making WesFest an annual celebration, and invite your participation in any way you can contribute to the event’s ongoing success.