The Spin Doctors, a nationally touring band who had a string of hits in the ’90s, are headlining this year’s WAMMfest in Greenwood on Aug. 19.
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For those who were alive in the early ’90s, the songs were inescapable.
The Spin Doctors were a quintessential alt-rock band from the era, populating the airwaves with hits such as “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” They’d go on to sell more than 5 million copies of their debut album.
This August, organizers of the annual WAMMfest will bring the nationally touring, Grammy Award-nominated act to Greenwood. And it wouldn’t have been possible without a push, and funding from local tourism officials.
Festival County Indiana, the county’s tourism organization, has used its grant program to encourage groups to enhance special events all around Johnson County. One of their points of emphasis has been helping to bring in more nationally-known entertainment.
By booking the Spin Doctors for the Aug. 19 event, WAMMfest organizers the Sertoma Club of Greenwood have met that threshold, said Kenneth Koskey, executive director of Festival County Indiana.
“Today’s visitors are looking for a unique experience — something they can’t get in their own backyard. If you continue doing business as you have for years and decades, there’s nothing to attract the visitor,” he said. “By bringing a national act like the Spin Doctors in for WAMMfest, this is a new attraction, and gives visitors a reason to come here and have a unique experience.”
Festival County Indiana created its grant program as a way to entice organizations to bring new festivals, events, projects and attractions to Johnson County.
Groups could also qualify for funding if they submit plans to substantially improve existing events — for example, turning a one-day event into a two-day event, or adding entertainment to a festival, Kosky said.
Past recipients of the grants include the star-themed art installation at the Artcraft Alley in downtown Franklin, the Gatling Gauntlet obstacle course in southern Johnson County and Franklin’s Halloween Town festival.
When Kosky presented information about the grant program to the Sertoma Club in early 2023, he outlined how the club could use it with WAMMfest.
“We talked about this festival, which at one time had been one-of-a-kind in this area, has faced increased competition from amphitheaters and other similar events,” Kosky said. “We talked about how they could take it to the next level.”
WAMMfest was created in 2009 by the Sertoma Club, a philanthropic organization focused entirely on raising money for community causes. The idea was to put together a cultural showcase in Greenwood that would appeal to a wide variety of people, therefore generating more money for good causes.
Through ticket sales, the Sertoma Club has been able to donate more than $950,000 to local causes. In the past, the club was able to support efforts ranging from the Greenwood parks, police and fire departments to Girls Inc. of Johnson County to the White River Township Fire Department’s Christmas Angels program. The club was also a major contributor to Greenwood’s City Center Park project.
Club members focused on four main cultural areas — wine, art, music and microbrews.
The festival was an immediate success. More than 4,500 people attended the inaugural WAMMfest, and attendance has grown steadily over the past decade.
But where the idea of a festival centered around art, music, wine and beer had once been novel, similar events are common now.
The Sertoma Club worked together with Festival County, and the idea emerged to try and bring a national musical act to headline WAMMfest this year, Kosky said.
They also discussed having tiers to festival admission — offering not only a regular admission level, but a VIP experience that included prime parking, viewing area of the main stage and exclusive restrooms.
Using a $2,500 grant from Festival County, the Sertoma Club was able to book the Spin Doctors.
“Because they substantially improved that festival, we decided to offer them a grant,” he said. “The whole idea is, let’s try this. If it’s successful, they might make enough money that they can bring a different national act next year, and continue it at that higher level moving forward.”
While the Spin Doctors will serve as the centerpiece of the festival, Sertoma Club organizers have also lined up a diverse mix of regional and local acts to span the entire day.
Groups such as Jimmy Buffett tribute Parrots of the Caribbean; local country rockers Blue River Band; funk outfit Fancy Sauce and jam rock band Pushing Daisy’s Band will perform throughout the day.
Local artists will set up throughout the festival, while beer and wine vendors offer up the best in Indiana products.
Tickets to the event are $15 through July 31, and $25 after. The VIP experience, which included preferred parking, seating and restrooms, is available for $75.
IF YOU GO
WAMMfest
What: An annual festival celebrating local wine, art, music and microbrews, organized by the Sertoma Club of Greenwood, with all the net proceeds distributed back to support youth, individual and community organizations.
When: Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19
Where: Craig Park, 10 E. Smith Valley Road, Greenwood
Performers: Headliner the Spin Doctors; Parrots of the Caribbean, Blue River Band, Fancy Sauce and Pushing Daisy’s Band.
Tickets: $15 through July 31, and $25 after. Children 12 and under are free. The VIP experience, which included preferred parking, seating and restrooms, is available for $75.
