Probably one of the worst kept secrets on Pensacola Beach made the daily newspaper’s website. The “Young Guns” – Nick Bodkins and Nick & Scott Wheatley-have parted ways with Five Flags Tourism Group, which owns the October music festival. Scott and Emily Mitchell, who were the big investors in the two-day music festival, have remained.
I’ve talked both with Nick Bodkins and Scott Wheatley—and with the Mitchells. All have agreed to keep the break up out of the press. Bodkins has moved to New York City. The Wheatleys have their Gulf Breeze bar, The Bridge, which they plan to expand. I don’t expect them to be out of the event promotion business.
The Mitchells have hired a marketing group from Austin, Tex. to help sign up national sponsors and have begun lining up their acts. Scott Mitchell shared that ticket sales are strong and he is very excited about the new venue on Pensacola Beach.
I hate to see the break up, and I like all the parties involved. Bodkins, Wheatleys and Emily Mitchell were all named 2011 Rising Stars. Life moves on and all will be successful in their future ventures. The IN will continue to support DeLuna Fest, The Bridge Bar and whatever the heck Bodkins does next—which I am sure we all hear about on Facebook soon.