Since 1997, Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp has been providing rock star dreamers with a chance to meet, jam, and perform with real, all-star musicians across the U.S. The camp rolls into Nashville for its first Music City appearance this weekend with a stellar line-up from such arena-filling acts as Journey, Tesla, Extreme, and more.
The camp is the brainchild of former sports agent and music tour manager, David Fishof, who says he conceived the idea while managing the first tour of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. “I got to spend this amazing summer traveling with a fantastic line-up of musicians, and it was so much fun,” Fishof says. “It gave me the idea of sharing this experience with other people.”
Far more than just a V.I.P. meet & greet, the Nashville edition of the camp is a four-day immersive experience where attendees will play, write, and record music with professional musicians in a studio, culminating with performances at The Mercy Lounge and Exit/In.
“The camp is all about changing people’s lives through the power of music and having the chance to jam with their heroes.” Fishof says. “We focus on people who played music when they were high school or college and wanted to be full-time musicians, but had to give it up to find a ‘real’ job. Deep inside they still wished they could have made it, or at least tried to make it.”
With different tracks for attendees ranging from complete novices to highly skilled amateurs, the camp offers something for every level of rock ’n’ roll dreamer. But Fishof notes it’s not just the campers who find their lives transformed by the experience.
“It’s life-changing for the camp counselors as well.,” Fishof says. “As Nancy Wilson of Heart said after working as a counselor, ‘We spend a big part of our careers trying to make it, but once you do, it becomes all about lawyers, agents and managers. This camp is about pure music.’”
The Nashville edition of Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is Feb. 28 — March 3, and will feature keyboard and rhythm guitar player Jonathan Cain and drummer Steve Smith from Journey; solo artist and former guitarist for Extreme, Nuno Bettencourt; Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon and bass player Brian Wheat, along with several other professional musicians. For more information and to purchase tickets visit rockcamp.com.
