DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708300939

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MIKE ABRAMS, STAFF WRITER   
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   68 lines

MUSIC STARTS BIG WEEKEND

Young men on ``rent me'' mopeds, women in sparkling bikinis and nostalgic baby boomers ready for an evening of eclectic sounds ushered in Labor Day weekend.

Couples held hands and licked ice cream cones. In-line skaters finessed through barely perceptible cracks in the crowds. Groups of men and women strolled along Atlantic Avenue Friday night.

``I look for beautiful bikinis,'' said Chase Warren, a New Yorker visiting for the weekend. ``The people are just great in Virginia.''

As the sun set, sound checks on cluttered stages bloomed into full-fledged concerts with flashing lights.

The fourth American Music Festival boasts more than 40 concerts on 10 stages during the unofficial five-day weekend. Among the Friday night draws: KC & The Sunshine Band, The Village People, Spin Doctors and Survivor.

Lisa Coleman of Yorktown hit the Oceanfront early in the day. Two things called out to her this holiday weekend.

``The sun,'' she said. ``The fun.''

City trolleys, running in designated lanes along Atlantic Avenue, appeared packed all evening. Hotel and motel operators anticipated 90 percent or better occupancy rates for the resort strip's 8,000 rooms.

``Any major holiday weekend is important,'' said David Groth, owner of David's Beach Shop at Seventh Street and Atlantic Avenue. ``(But) we'll have a significant drop-off after Labor Day.''

Within earshot of his store, the musicians on the festival's main stage were anticipating crowds of 20,000 all weekend.

Dona and Behle Schaaf of Richmond were looking forward to Sunday performances by America and Fighting Gravity. Friday night, they sat on the Boardwalk railing and listened to the Spin Doctors.

``We come every year,'' Behle said, ``for relaxation and sun.'' ILLUSTRATION: BETH BERGMAN photos/The Virginian-Pilot

Cynthia Kennedy of Virginia Beach goes wild over KC & The Sunshine

Band Friday night at the American Music Festival in Virginia Beach.

The music fest will hold more than 40 concerts on 10 stages during

the unofficial five-day weekend.

The Village People are a hit Friday night, singing ``Macho Man'' at

the American Music Festival. Musicians at the festival said they

were expecting crowds of about 20,000 all weekend.

DETAILS

When: Today through Monday.

Where: Headline concerts at Fifth Street Stage on the beach,

others at 24th Street Park and 17th Street Park and along the

Boardwalk.

Call: 491-SUNN.

TODAY

Hall and Oates - 2 p.m., Fifth Street Stage. Ticketed event.

A Flock of Seagulls - 1 p.m., 24th Street Park. Free.

Dave Mason Band - 5 p.m., 24th Street Park. Free.

Loverboy - 9 p.m., 24th Street Park. Free.

The Grass Roots - 1 p.m., 17th Street Park. Free.

The Turtles - 5 p.m., 17th Street Park. Free.

Foghat - 8:30 p.m., 17th Street Park. Free.

Regional Bands: Power Play, 4 p.m. at 14th Street; Off the

Record, 5 p.m. at 20th Street; Madfly, 6 p.m. at 26th Street; Rhythm

Kings, 7 p.m. at 13th Street; Rumblefish, 8 p.m. at 22nd Street; The

Haze, 8:30 p.m. at 25th Street Park; Falstaff, 10 p.m. at 25th

Street Park.

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