When Hammer time hits Saturday, Boise Music Festival organizers say they’ll be ready.

Because ready or not, here Boise comes.

Is there really any doubt that the second annual Boise Music Festival — which drew a crowd estimated at 70,000 people last year — will be the state’s largest single-day gathering in 2011? Similar numbers appear inevitable for a free, all-day concert from MC Hammer, Sugar Ray, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and dozens more acts. The words “free” and “festival” trigger a park-rushing instinct in Boiseans not unlike that of a homing pigeon.

“I expect another record crowd,” said Boise police Lt. Kent Lipple, before quipping: “You say it’s free. And MC Hammer’s down there? You can’t touch that, can you?”

Nope. But, as Hammer says, you can break it down: Nobody in their wildest dreams could have predicted last year’s turnout at Ann Morrison Park. The Boise Music Festival’s debut in July 2010 was both a titanic success and, depending on your perspective, a face-palming mess.

Organizer Peak Broadcasting, which operates six local radio stations, distributed 75,000 free tickets in advance and another 25,000 at the gate — but eventually wound up letting in anyone who showed up. Some sunburned Boiseans had started jumping fences for a chance to see the Backstreet Boys and Bret Michaels.

With thousands still streaming into the park at 8:30 p.m., it was the sort of eye-popping gathering unfathomable since the heyday of the Boise River Festival, which went kaput in 2002.

“It was just, like, ‘This is incredible,’” remembers Kevin Godwin, senior vice president at Peak Broadcasting.

Fans jammed shoulder to shoulder near the main stage. Beer lines were hopelessly long. Water was a prized resource. Frustrated by the claustrophobic environment, some festivalgoers bailed early.

But the vast majority obviously had a blast. The fledgling event instantly filled a void left by the RiverFest’s demise. The buzz was huge. That day, “Boise Music Festival” ranked No. 15 on Google Trends’ Hot Searches.

LESSONS LEARNED

Using lessons learned from that sweltering marathon, the second Boise Music Festival should run considerably smoother and more comfortably. With a little luck, it will set the tone for many festivals to come.

“The organizers have worked very well with us,” said Ginger Jewell, park facility coordinator for Boise Parks and Recreation.

“I think we’ve got a great plan,” Godwin said.

The biggest change: location. Rather than holding the festival on the west side of Ann Morrison Park with the main stage near Americana Boulevard, the main stage will be on the east side near the clock tower.

“The Americana corridor from last year, that’s flipping over to the soccer fields, because the soccer fields provide us way more room,” Godwin said.

Unlike 2010, tickets will not be a part of the entry system.

“Anyone can go to the park and enjoy it without having any tickets,” Godwin said.

Virtually every organizational aspect of the event has been beefed up. There will be 20 percent more vendors, bringing the total to around 200. Beer-vending staff and facilities have been tripled to help shorten lines.

Parking — a challenge last year — is not allowed in the park (except handicapped). But the amount of space has been increased at off-site lots. Free shuttles will run from Boise State and Boise Towne Square.

MORE SECURITY

There also will be nearly double the number of security staff, Godwin said: 44 from a private company and 36 Boise police officers. Last year, Boise police made just five misdemeanor arrests. But there were additional ejections and warnings. Police also received lots of calls about missing kids and property, Lipple said.

“It’s the busiest 15 hours I’ve had in a long, long time,” he said.

This year, Boise police will have a better plan and stronger presence. Peak Broadcasting will pay for any overtime.

“I expect this year to be a much better event in terms of public safety,” Lipple said.

Still, organizers warn, don’t expect a flawless experience. Such a thing doesn’t exist when this many people converge. Putting on the Boise Music Festival is a massive, complex undertaking.

“We’re going to learn a lot this year,” Godwin said. “It probably won’t be perfect again this year. But we’ve had 12 months to work on this now.”

Besides, if it does wind up being perfect, will it be as exciting?

Boise singer-songwriter Nate Fowler, who will perform on one of the festival’s five stages, wonders about the event’s “critical mass.” By moving to the wide-open soccer fields in the park, will the Boise Music Festival lose some of last year’s mega-crammed magic?

“I think the way they set it up, it just felt so packed — I think that helped boost the energy,” Fowler said. “I’m just curious to see how the energy feels and looks.”

As long as the beer lines move faster, it’s hard to imagine anyone complaining.

Michael Deeds: 377-6407

If you have Saturday, July 23, circled on your concert calendar, you’re not alone. It’s a music day unlike anything the Treasure Valley has seen.

Four major concerts will occur simultaneously:

Æ The Boise Music Festival at Ann Morrison Park, which is expected to draw tens of thousands.

Æ Pop singer Katy Perry at Taco Bell Arena.

Æ Banjo player Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers at Eagle River Pavilion, which is expected to draw more than 3,000 fans.

Æ Fleet Foxes at the Knitting Factory, which is on pace to sell out at 999 tickets.

So has Boise turned over a new leaf as a concert mecca? Is this day a sign of things to come?

Not really, promoters say. It’s just an anomaly — an awesome, 24-hour anomaly.

“I just think this is one of those times when the stars aligned,” said Creston Thornton, owner of CTTouring/Land of Rock, which puts on shows at Eagle River Pavilion. “And I just think it’s really cool that Boise has the opportunity to have all these choices.”

“It’s certainly not by design of any of the promoters,” added Greg Marchant, COO of Knitting Factory Entertainment. “I can’t speak for the other guys, but none of us would like to have our events on the exact same day as another person.”

Still, nobody seemed worried about attendances being compromised.

“You have four very different demographics,” Marchant says. “Which means while some fans may cross over to each show, at least in the case of Fleet Foxes, I’m not concerned in the least it will affect what certainly will be a sellout.”

In the case of the free Boise Music Festival, having another concert in town isn’t necessarily a bad thing, said Kevin Godwin, senior vice president of organizer Peak Broadcasting.

“We’re promoting the hell out of the Katy Perry concert on Kiss (FM) and Mix (106),” Godwin said. “We’re giving tickets away. And we’re hoping maybe she feels a need to come over and say hi or something. Who knows? She may want to be in front of 70,000 people.”

And while the Valley may never see another day quite like July 23, 2011, concert clashes are an occasional fact of life.

“It’s not always the best scenario for promoters, but that’s the business we choose to be in,” Marchant said. “The only time it doesn’t work — which is not the case here — is if you’ve got Harry Connick Jr. at one end of town and Norah Jones at the other. That would just be painful for everybody involved.”