03/24/2026
I don't know where to start.🥹
I have been in absolute awe of the response to our inaugural FOXFEST for the ARTS Music & Art Festival at Nance Plaza in honor of the amazing Philip James Fox! It was a wonderous day, full of music, poetry, visual arts, creativity, and connection!
I'll start by thanking my partners in creativity:
Co-founder and Music Director, Drew Jacobs, who put together a stellar lineup of musicians for the day, and spent many evenings pouring his heart and soul into rehearsing with the other members of the Phil Fox & Wicked Gift Tribute band.
Co-founder and Theater & Arts Director, Alyson McKellar Clardy, who oversaw and emceed our theater production, GODTIME, handled the lion's share of social media posting, created the beautiful Art Garden entry piece, and put together a moving retrospective of Phil's theater productions, among other things.
Board Member, Keith Jacobs of Coharie Ventures, who either donated, or provided at cost, the printing for the festival, coordinated the merch printing, photographed the festival, and was instrumental in drumming up support for the naming of the Philip James Fox Stage.
Board Member, Graciana Love of Solaris Arts Collective, who pulled together, managed and hosted the Art Garden, and acted as liaison with Coastal High School and other young artists.
Board Member and one-time Wicked Gift band member, Reuben Long, who not only put together the stage, sound & lighting for the theatrical production of GODTIME, but also filmed the second showing of it after playing drums for the Phil Fox & Wicked Gift Tribute band and overseeing festival filming.
Board Member and pillar of the Myrtle Beach creative community, Brian Roessler, who kicked off the festival with a wonderful set of original music, and often provided comic relief.
Thank you to the volunteers who really came through helping with set up, break down, and holding down merch:
Melanie Turner (an absolute superstar - the Maven of Merch!)
Mark Adcock
Joey Clardy
Rita Rose
Sergey "Winter" Kitchenko
Daniel Begley
Special thanks to Kris Dumas of the Conscious Soul Festival 🧘♀️ April who not only loaned us tents, but showed up like an angel to help us set up and tear down.
Enormous thanks to Jesse Mosel for her amazing graphic design work on everything from banners, posters & t-shirts to stickers, flyers & play programs. It was a mountain of work in a short amount of time.
Special Thanks to Dan McGraw for live painting and giving others the opportunity to express their creativity.
Special Thanks to the Mayor of Myrtle Beach, Mark Kruea, for coming to officially dedicate the stage "now and forever" to Philip James Fox and hang out with us! Thanks to the other members of the Myrtle Beach Council who unanimously voted in favor of the naming.
Special Thanks to Grand Strand Brewing Co for supporting us in the amplification of original art by so graciously gifting us space for our Art Garden.
Immense Gratitude to our sponsors:
Black Cat Vinyl Records (GOLD SPONSOR)
SILVER SPONSORS -
Froth & Bubble Mobile Bar Co
Over The Moon Productions
Strand Home Search
Coharie Ventures Inc
The Magick Room
Maureen Ward ❤
AJ's Pizza
*Extra Special Thanks to AJ's Pizza for keeping us fed all day!
Ginormous Thanks to the musical performers & poets who took to the Philip James Fox Stage for an amazing celebration of creativity:
Brian Roessler
Coastal High School
Jade
Bo Bryan
Melissa Joiner
Rita Rose
Nevada Smith
Kristina Lewis
Toureforte (James Uzzel)
Sergey "Winter Kitchenko"
Windley
Julia Weaver
Peyton Benton Trio
The Phil Fox & Wicked Gift Tribute - Drew Jacobs, Reuben Long, Conner Mills, Devin Hopkins, Peyton Benton, and Daniel Simons.
*Extra Special Thanks to Daniel Simons for running sound all day as well.
Special Thanks to Lara Maraqa of Wesawabear for filming the Phil Fox & Wicked Gift Tribute set.
Special Thanks to Chuck Walker of Bedlam Hour for coordinating the Coastal High School set.
Thank you to James Knight for sharing your personal story with the writing, directing, and acting in GODTIME.
Thanks to the other cast and crew of GODTIME:
Kendal Jones
Callie Boyle
Joan Hodge
Sarah Heist
Garrett Johnson
Alyson McKellar Clardy
Brooks Clardy (no relation)
Nancy Weiss
Heather Benson
Nova Knight
Brian McKenzie
*Thanks to Scott & Hailey Saba and Daniel Begley for lending a hand at the last minute.
EXTRA Special Thanks to the incomparable Kate Curran and Fresh Brewed Coffee House for being an amazing force of nature, holding space for original works, and serving so many in our community.
Special Thanks you to Christiána Connor for her beautiful painting of Phil's "Holey Guitar" which raised $200 for FOXFEST for the ARTS
Eternal Gratitude to everyone who donated to FOXFEST for the ARTS, especially various members of the FOX Family from all over the country.
Very Special Thanks to my ROCK, My Tall Drink o' Water, and the greatest thing to ever happen to me, Daniel E Begley who kept me some semblance of sane.
Thank you to all who attended!
And finally, the BIGGEST THANKS goes to Phil Fox for living a life that was an embodiment of the spiritual gift of encouragement and an invitation to embrace one's own uniqueness and share it with the world! Our mission, Sir, is to carry on your enormous legacy as we strive to inspire, encourage, and amplify the arts & artists!
HLB 💜🤘🤩
P.S. These are not nearly all the pictures that will come out of this special day. Many are still being edited. Thanks so much to those who provided these photos.
Photo Credits:
Charles Slate
Melanie Turner
Coastal High School
Colin Foote Burch
Gary Hood
Sarah Nicole
Sarah Freed
James Knight
Madison Summers
