Elvis has not left the building. He lives through hundreds of tribute artists who recreate his every move, pose, sneer and vocal pyrotechnic.
Today, tribute bands abound in saluting the living as well as the departed or disbanded.
The 115th Cuyahoga County Fair is paying tribute to popular artists with Grandstand Shows Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during the week of August 9th at the Grandstand featuring salutes to such bands as Pink Floyd.
When: Saturday at 8:15PM
(7pm doors / 10:30pm fireworks)
Web: floydtribute.com
Presented by: 98.5 WNCX
Tickets
Presale through 98.5 WNCX:
General Admission: $9.85
Track Seating: $17.98
Click here to order online (cost does not include $6 Fair admission)
WISH YOU WERE HERE will perform their 10th Annual Summer Show on SATURDAY AUGUST 13 at the CUYAHOGA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS in Berea OH at 8pm. The band will play both “The Dark Side Of The Moon” and “Wish You Were Here” albums in their entirety, along with other Pink Floyd classics.
"Traditionally our 'Annual Summer Show' has celebrated a milestone Pink Floyd tour, anniversary, or WISH YOU WERE HERE achievement," according to WYWH bassist/vocalist Eric "Eroc" Sosinski. "Last year was a celebration of our band’s 15 Anniversary, so this year we are commemorating the City Of Cleveland’s official ‘Resolution of Congratulations’ that has just been presented to the band’s founders in recognition of WISH YOU WERE HERE as one of America's most successful Pink Floyd tributes.”
The band returns once again to the Grandstand Stage at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, also again directly partnered with WNCX 98.FM, Cleveland's Classic Rock station, who are celebrating their 25th Anniversary. According to Sosinski, “We've had a great relationship with WNCX ever since we formed and they have certainly contributed to our success here in Northeast Ohio."
WNCX Program Director and Air Personality Bill Louis has long been a vital supporter of the band, often hosting live in-studio broadcasts and interviews. "You don't last 15 years without knowing exactly what your audience wants. If you want an authentic Pink Floyd experience, then you want to see WISH YOU WERE HERE," said Louis.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday June 8 at 12noon & available exclusively through the WNCX website - http://www.wncx.com/ccfair
- Advance GA Grandstand Seating - $9.98 ($13 day of show)
- Advance GA VIP Track Seating - $17.98 ($20 day of show if not sold out)
Online ordering ends 8/7/11 & tickets then available at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Office during show hours.
WYWH tickets do not include the $6 admission to the Fair.
WISH YOU WERE HERE has gained international recognition (in The Rough Guide To Pink Floyd) for it’s detailed recreations of Pink Floyd’s greatest albums and tours, performing the 1973 Dark Side Of The Moon show on the very same stage at Blossom Music Center in 2006, and the 1977 Animals tour show at the Nautica Pavilion in Cleveland in July 2005. In 2008 the band staged the most elaborate production of The Wall ever performed by an American Pink Floyd tribute act, at TimeWarner Cable Amphitheater. Formed in 1987 under the moniker of “The Harvest Pink Floyd Revue”, and continuing in 1995 as WISH YOU WERE HERE, the band is one of the longest continually-performing Pink Floyd tribute acts in the world.
LINKS:
For ticketing info go to http://www.wncx.com/ccfair
For WISH YOU WERE HERE info go to http://www.floydtribute.com/
Register for the WYWH Message Forum at http://floydtribute.proboards.com
"Like" WYWH on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wywhfloydtribute
When: Thursday at 8:30PM
Presented by: WGAR
Web: randymontana.com
Where: Grandstand
Tickets: FREE with $6 paid fair gate admission
Singer-songwriter Randy Montana’s self-titled debut album clings to the rough edges of country’s musical highway with its compelling storytelling and vivid imagery combined with a raw but rocking guitar-driven sound.
He makes a powerful statement with his debut project, and critics have quickly taken notice. Southern Living named Montana as one of five “Best New Artists” in its Best of the South issue, stating, “The raspy-voiced Montana, a standout among his ‘I’m more country than you peers,’ breaks the genre’s mold but respects its heritage.” USA Today’s Brian Mansfield called Montana’s “1,000 Faces” his first favorite song of 2011, while People calls him “a must-hear artist.”
Roughstock.com says “1,000 Faces” is “an ethereal experience of epic proportions,” adding, “…Montana has a song that is a once-in-a-career kind of song, the kind of obvious, star-making or career-defining hit that every singer is looking for (and many never find.)” Music Row calls “1,000 Faces” “a sonic masterpiece” and says, “…this ultra-melodic outing is the kind of single that makes a star.”
He spent much of 2010 on the road, touring the nation with artists such as Sugarland and Little Big Town. “It was quite a learning experience, being a part of something where they put 12,000 – 14,000 people in seats a night,” he says of touring with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. “Kristian said one of the coolest things at the end of the tour. He said, ‘Thanks for keeping the musical integrity of this tour.’ That meant a lot coming from a guy like that.”
It was on this tour that Montana saw firsthand the strong and immediate connection people have to “1,000 Faces,” and this was months before it was played on country radio. “It’s incredible to play that song live,” says Montana, who wrote it with Tom Douglas. “People come up and say, ‘1,000 Faces’ was my favorite song of the night.’ It’s fun to play it live because you get this whole burst of energy yourself.”
Montana’s boundary-free music captures the yearning of restless young men who are in a hurry to take life as far as they can, men who are sometimes too caught up in the moments of passion to have thoughts of regret. His gravelly voice, which sounds older than his years, tells of temptation and consequences while painting musical portraits of wheels turning, fires burning and women scribbling phone numbers on matchbooks.
“With a debut record, you’ve got to come out and be like, ‘Man, this is me. Here are the things that I want to say through a song that hopefully will let others get to know me as a person, where I stand on things and experiences I have gone through,’” he says. “There are heartache songs, those love-lost songs, but there are some that are just good-feeling songs that just feel right. With this album I would like to give people a little glimpse into my life.”
Montana is a songwriter’s son who has found his own voice and quickly earned respect as a tunesmith on Music Row. He co-wrote nine songs on his eponymous album, and Montgomery Gentry recorded the Montana-penned “Can’t Feel the Pain.” Emmylou Harris was so impressed by Montana’s talent that she harmonizes with him on “Last Horse.”
His father is Billy Montana, whose hits include Garth Brooks’ “More Than a Memory,” Sara Evans’ “Suds in the Bucket” and the Grammy-nominated Jo Dee Messina hit “Bring on the Rain.” “Growing up around it, it took me awhile to come into my own,” he says. “I never worried about being in a shadow or anything like that. But I also wanted to achieve that same kind of songwriting level that my dad achieved.”
Montana was born in Albany, N.Y., and moved with his family to Nashville in 1988 when Billy signed a record deal with Warner Bros. He started playing guitar at age 10, writing songs at age 16 and performed his first song publicly at one of his father’s writers’ nights at age 17. “I always grew up around music, watching him do it,” says Montana, who listened to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Jackson Browne on family road trips. “I kind of grew up next to a stage. Anytime the family got together, the guitars came out.”
He was an award-winning high school quarterback, earning All-State honors for leading the state in passing yards and touchdowns his junior and senior years. He now applies that same dedication and discipline to the music industry. “On the football field, all 11 of us on offense have to work together at the same time to make a play work,” he says. “It’s just like that with the music industry, between your band, your label, management and booking agency. But knowing that at the end of the day, it is my career and I’m in control, I take a lot from my football experience because I grew up in that position on teams. I was always the quarterback; it was all in my hands.”
But he declined several football scholarships and instead opted to play college soccer at Nashville’s Trevecca Nazarene University before transferring to Middle Tennessee State University for two years, until music beckoned. During college he played in a band called Homestead that was frequently booked at fraternity parties and Middle Tennessee bars. “That was a great way to just get your chops up and understand how a crowd works and how to keep them entertained,” he says.
He worked odd jobs, including roofing houses, waiting tables and bartending, while writing songs in hopes of landing a publishing deal. Inspired by the music of Steve Earle, Chris Knight, Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, The Wallflowers and Counting Crows, he eventually came into his own with a sound that’s a little left of country’s center.
He signed with Sony Music Publishing in 2008 and began writing with its team of established writers. His burgeoning catalog caught the attention of Universal Music Group Nashville’s Joe Fisher, and he soon signed with Universal’s Mercury Nashville and began creating his debut album.
In addition to “1,000 Faces” and the debut single, “Ain’t Much Left Of Lovin’ You,” the Jay Joyce-produced album’s stand-outs include “Goodbye Rain,” in which he takes a one-way fast train out of town in search of a second chance and relief from his rear-view heartache, and “Like a Cowboy,” which describes a modern-day cowboy who has leaving in his DNA and constant disappointment in his wake. “Girl, I will love you the best that I can, but you need to know I am what I am,” he sings. “I’m not a bad guy, but I’m not a good guy at heart.”
“Last Horse,” which he wrote with his father, is about a man clinging to a dying relationship. “I don’t want to be the last horse left in this one-horse town,” Randy sings with Emmylou Harris. “When you hear a legendary voice like that singing along with your own voice, it’s a little surreal,” he says. “At the time, it’s kind of tough to realize the magnitude of what just went down. But then once it does sink in, it’s like, ‘This is going to be a tough thing to top.’”
“Assembly Line” depicts the daily existence of a manufacturing employee whose life is marked by numbers – production steps, unused vacation days, hourly rates and punched timecards. “It’s a job for the diligent heart and I’m just one of a thousand parts,” he sings. “You might think I’ve got it rough, but I don’t mind working on the assembly line.”
He co-wrote “Back of My Heart” and the high-energy “Reckless” with his father and Brian Maher. “Sonically, there’s definitely a theme,” he says. “We’re using 12-string all over the record, which is kind of Tom Petty-ish. It’s also B-3 heavy and has a very roomy drum sound, kind of like the Wallflowers.”
Randy’s goal is to have enough success that he can keep doing this. “I just love this,” he says. “I wouldn’t have it any other way – performing live, songwriting, being in the studio. I truly love it all.”
“Like they always say, ‘Find something that you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ So far, I feel that way. There’s nothing I would rather do. I want to take it as far as it can go.”
When: Thursday at 7:00PM
Presented by: WGAR
Web: kipmoore.net
Where: Grandstand
Tickets: FREE with $6 paid fair gate admission
Singer-songwriter Kip Moore combines a raw and rustic voice with compelling lyrics of honesty to create a unique sound that’s simultaneously hypnotic and edgy. His voice is weathered by life’s detours and disappointments and strengthened by his dreams and determination. His music is infused with relentless intensity, both of passion and frustration.
The boy who grew up daydreaming about life outside of the small town of Tifton, Ga., became a man who has been continually inspired by Bruce Springsteen and Kris Kristofferson to paint vivid portraits with his lyrics.
“I am not drawn to the fairytale kind of love,” says Kip, who had a hand in writing every song on his debut album. “I am drawn to the real-life experiences between a woman and a man. I try to sing about the way it is, but yet at the same time, what you can hope for between a couple. I don’t intend to paint of picture of what it’s really not.”
His music powerfully captures some of the contradictions that he grapples with personally. Although he’s from a large family and enjoys musical collaborations and performing onstage, he’s an introvert who is often more comfortable being alone. “There’s a combativeness to the music too, a fight within,” he says. “With ‘Faith When I Fall,’ I know how bad I need that spiritual realm, but yet I find myself on this other end a lot of times.”
Despite its edge, his music remains desperately optimistic. “I am hoping for what I have yet to become,” he says. “I feel like it’s hopeful for what I’ve yet reached, how I look forward to feeling, but I haven’t gotten there yet.
“I have truly lived my music to a sense, even the milestones I haven’t reached yet,” he says. “I have been in those moments. I’ve been at those crossroads with a girl: ‘Are we going to take that next step?’ I look forward to taking that next step, but I haven’t wanted to yet. I look forward to being ready for that.”
He was born in Tifton, near the Florida line, and was one of six children, the youngest boy who had three younger sisters. “You had to make your own fun, for sure,” he says of Tifton. “I had a lot of time for daydreaming. It was a great town, but I dreamed about getting out. I do enjoy going back now.”
His father was a golf pro and his mother was a painter who used anything handy for a canvas, whether it was cake plates or baby crates. She also taught piano and played the church organ. “I can remember sleeping in the pews,” he recalls. “She would bring us blankets and give us a coloring book and we’d sit there while she played.”
Weekends were often spent driving to the beach with his father for fishing expeditions. “He would play a lot of Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen,” he says. “As early as I can remember, I always gravitated toward lyrics. Even when I hadn’t lived enough to understand then, they still shaped me. “
During high school, he secretly began playing his brother’s guitar because he was intimidated by the talent of his mother and older brother. “I would play when nobody was around, just figuring out stuff, watching his hands and trying to do the same thing.”
He played point guard for Wallace State’s basketball team and also played on its golf team in Hanceville, Ala., for two years and then transferred to Valdolsta State University on a golf scholarship. He wrote songs daily and joined a band that performed throughout the South, providing him with all of his income. “I was one of those kinds who didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” he says. “I didn’t know music was an option. Maybe it was one of those things where I didn’t quite believe in myself enough.”
Although he devoted every free moment to music during college, his parents still didn’t know about his musical activities. “They were all shocked when they found out about it because they didn’t know I could sing or play,” he says.
After graduation and a short stint as a bartender on St. Simon’s Island, he moved to Hawaii on a whim with just a backpack, a surfboard and a friend. They slept on an airport bench the first night and then lucked into a hut that was $50 a month. They would walk or hitchhike the mile to the beach daily. After six months of this tropical paradise, Kip thought he had found his permanent home until his friend encouraged him to pursue songwriting as a living.
“I didn’t know a whole lot about the world of songwriting,” he says. “I just did it for my own enjoyment. We talked about Nashville and I ended up saying, ‘I’m going to give it a shot.’ I flew back home and told my folks. They thought I was crazy. Now they’ll say different, that they knew all along.”
He drove to Nashville on Jan. 1, 2004 in an old black Nissan truck that contained one bag and his guitar. He immersed himself in the songwriting community, observing songwriters’ rounds for two years and honing his craft before gaining the confidence to join in. After four years of performing locally, he caught the attention of Creative Artist Agency’s Mark Dennis, who called Universal Music Group Nashville’s Joe Fisher. Not only did Joe’s encounter lead to his record deal with MCA Nashville, but it also brought about his introduction to songwriter Brett James, who produced Kip’s debut album.
“Brett gave me the freedom to find who I was as an artist, the freedom for writing a different kind of thing, a different kind of melody and lyric,” he says. “He gave me room to grow.”
He also found important relationships with songwriters Dan Couch, Scott Steppakoff, Westin Davis and Kiefer Thompson, two of whom didn’t have publishing deals when he began writing with them. “There was definitely a special thing when we got in the room together,” Kip says. “I got offers to write with a lot of the bigger guns in town, but I enjoyed what I was doing with them. They were open to my ideas of being different.”
And different his debut project is, as evidenced by the album’s first single, “Mary Was the Marrying Kind,” the story of the one who got away. The dreamy and spell-binding song is the true story of one of Kip’s friends, who returned to his hometown after about six years and saw the once tall, lanky girl who had since come into her own and become a model.
“It’s the story of what every man in this world goes through at some point,” he says. “It’s the story of the one that got away that you should have paid attention to. Every town, every city, everybody knows one. Every girl believes they are Mary.”
The anthemic “Drive Me Crazy” is the story of two troubled teens who find a safe harbor in each other, if only for a few fleeting moments. “They are the getaway car for each other from everyday life,” he says. “When they’re together, what they live in is in the rear-view mirror and it’s just one big infatuation love story that lasts for a very short time.
With its irresistible bass line and drums, “Up All Night” is about continuing to live life to its fullest. “’Up All Night’ is the story of not wanting to give into your age and how life is supposed to be lived once you reach a certain age,” he says.
When Kip plays shows, he’s often asked for advice by aspiring songwriters. “Everybody’s experience is different, but I do believe it has to be the only thing,” he says. “I don’t think it can be a gray line. Either you want it and there’s nothing else or it’s not going to happen.”
For instance, Kip was offered a sales position with an enticing salary, but it required working six days a week, leaving no time for creating music. “You come to the crossroads: do you really want this? Are you willing to sacrifice everything, including relationships? I can’t tell you how many relationships have been doomed from the get-go because of this.
“It only took me a few minutes to decline it. It’s such a risk and it’s an alone feeling – you feel like you’re on an island by yourself – but it’s worth every single minute. Had I taken that job, I wouldn’t be sitting here today.”
When: Friday at 8:00pm
Presented by: 98.5 WNCX
Web: time-traveller-band.com
Where: Grandstand
Tickets
Presale through 98.5 WNCX:
General Admission: $7.00 (Ticket good for double bill of both Time Traveller and Cinema Show. Does not include $6 Fair admission). Click here to order online
Time Traveller is North Americas Number ONE Ranked Moody Blues Tribute. Their shows have been simulcast on radio and television, including a recent broadcast in Europe. They have performed at Fairs, Festivals, Corporate Events, Theaters and Concert Venues.
As an opener for national acts, Time Traveller has appeared with ASIA, STARSHIP, POCO, RARE EARTH, ESTEBAN, PURE PRAIRIE LEAUGE, THE GUESS WHO, LITTLE RIVER BAND, THE BELLAMY BROTHERS, also with members from ALICE COOPER, IRON BUTTERFLY, SUGARLOAF and CANABAL and the HEAD HUNTERS.
Time Traveller has been featured in Higher & Higher, the official Moody Blues fan magazine and is one of the artists on the 2005 European copulation CD of the same name, Higher & Higher, a Tribute to the Moody Blues, Mellow Records-Italy.
In addition to their rock show, Time Traveller also offers a show performing the music of the Moody Blues with a 35 piece to a full 110 piece Symphony Orchestra. The show reproduces the 'Red Rocks' concert, that played to sell out audiences throughout the United States and Europe.
When: Friday at 9:50pm
Presented by: 98.5 WNCX
Where: Grandstand
Tickets
Presale through 98.5 WNCX:
General Admission: $7.00 (ticket good for double bill of both Time Traveller and Cinema Show. Does not include $6 Fair admission.) Click here to order online.
Have old Genesis favorites like Fox Trot, A Trick of the Tail, and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway gotten a little dusty in your stacks? How about Peter Gabriel favorites, like Car, Scratch, Melt, Live & Birdy? Well, it's time to brush them off, and Turn it On Again.
Cinema Show are Gary Simmons (Bass, Synthesizer and Vocals), Steve Musichuk (Keyboards and Synthesizers), Andrew Prayner (Lead Vocals, Percussion, Theatrics), John Kastelic (Guitar, Vocals), and Marty Zlocki (Drums and Percussion).
Gary is a renowned Cleveland bassist who has recorded, toured and performed with Time Traveller (the Moody Blues Tribute) and Fayrewether. Steve is a classically trained pianist and has worked with Fayrewether for 20+ years. Andrew is a lifelong Genesis fan and a Cleveland area vocalist/keyboardist for 20+ years. John is a degreed classical guitarist, winner of the James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition and has performed with Envision (Yes Tribute) and Fayrewether. Marty is a well known Cleveland progressive rock drummer who has recorded and toured with Envision (Yes Tribute) and Fayrewether.
Of the five, all but Andrew Prayner were a part of seminal band, Fayrewether, who while also recording originals, were widely considered the best Genesis tribute act in the midwest. Picking up where Fayrewhether left off, Cinema Show brings to life the music and rich theatrics of Peter Gabriel and early Genesis. They'll be selling Cleveland by the Pound, Friday, August 12th, at 8:00PM in the grandstand.
When: Sunday at 8:00PM
Web: savannahjack.com
From playing honky-tonks on lower Broadway in Nashville, to opening arena dates for John Fogerty, Vince Gill, and the legendary Kenny Rogers, Savannah Jack has honed their skills as outstanding live entertainers who captivate audiences from the very first note. The trio’s extraordinary three-part vocal harmonies, superior musicianship, and fresh, new sound is poised to take country music by storm.
Hard work, determination and sacrifice have paved the way for Savannah Jack’s launch. The trio, comprised of Don Gatlin, Mike Ulvila, and Jay Darby, formed in 2004 and has toured both nationally and abroad ever since. Each member of Savannah Jack fronted other bands in Pennsylvania, Montana and Florida, respectively, prior to casting aside individual aspirations and hitting the road hard as Savannah Jack.
Exceptional songwriters as well as versatile musicians, all three members infuse their individual style to collectively create Savannah Jack’s unique sound. Easily taking the lead on vocals in their live shows, each comes from a musical family and has been singing and playing their individual instruments from a very young age. Their musical influences range from Ronnie Milsap, The Gatlin Brothers, Kenny Rogers, and Restless Heart to The Beatles, Tom Petty, and The Eagles.
“It’s kind of funny how each of us have all come from different areas to arrive at the same place at the same time,” said Ulvila. “We all get along really well, and we’re like brothers.” A native of Kalispell, Montana, Ulvila is an extremely talented and diverse musician, who is proficient on a myriad of instruments including drums, saxophone, fiddle, bango, mandolin, guitar, and keyboards. Ulvila co-wrote four songs on the new album.
“Being on the road with these guys is really a blast,” mentioned Darby, who plays both bass and acoustic guitar. “Don is like a light switch that’s always on – there’s never a dull moment.” Born and raised in Florida, Darby started out playing the drums at age ten, while his brother played the guitar. He sold his drum set to buy his first guitar but continued playing percussion in the high-school band.
“We truly are like family…we have a lot of fun on the road and you never know what we’ll do next,” said Gatlin, also a gifted songwriter. Gatlin grew up in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he started singing for his neighbors for twenty-five cents or a piece of bubble gum. His mother was a talented singer who had the opportunity to open for her heroes – Kitty Wells and Wilma Lee Cooper. Gatlin co-wrote nine of the album’s twelve tracks.
Savannah Jack’s self-titled debut album was recorded at the famed Blackbird Studio in Nashville with such-world class musicians as Steve Ferrone, John Jorgensen, David Santos, Paul Franklin and Steve Nathan. For several of these musicians, this album was the first Nashville project they have been associated with. An incredible line up of songwriters contributed to the debut disc including Billy Montana, Tim Johnson, Will Robison, Rhean Boyer, Steve Dean, and Rob Crosby.
The first single from the record, “I Know,” is one of its crowning glories. Co-written by band member, Don Gatlin, with hit writers Billy Montana and Rob Crosby, the song says what every man wants to say, and what every woman wants to hear. “The first time we played “I Know” live and exploded into the first chorus, we knew this song was special,” commented Gatlin.
Recently signed to Nashville-based McMurry Records, Savannah Jack possesses the tightest harmony of any group to come along in recent memory. It is obvious that the band loves making music and is having a blast, whether they are performing in a small venue in Nashville or playing in front of thousands of people in sold out amphitheaters across the country.
If you haven’t heard them yet, better get on board and get ready for a ride. If you don’t, you don’t know “Jack” . . . SAVANNAH JACK.
When: Wednesday at 4:30PM
Web: facebook.com
Cam, Max, Mike and Nick met at the Jam Session School in Kent, Ohio. They clicked because they all can't get enough REAL rock and roll. Nick and Mike are skilled guitarists, whil Max and Cam make up the rhythm section. Cam stays behind the drum set, but his voice takes center stage. NoMoJo succeeded Stimulus and has been together in different forms since 1008. Mike and Nick joined the band and immediately saw success as NoMoJo earned its way to the Final Exam of the Tri-C high School Rockoff at the Cleveland House of Blues! They currently feature covers of Aerosmith, ,Led Seppelin, Queen, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cream, The Who, and more plus their own killer original tunes.
In the past year, NoMoJo has played large festivals and auditoriums, small clubs, outdoor events, fundraisers, weddings, private parties and Lock 3 Park in downtonw Akron!
When: Tuesday at 8:30PM
Web: myspace.com/zivus
Ziv (the person/group founder) was born in Israel and moved to LA when he was 5. He has been writing songs his whole life. He sings, plays piano and plays guitar. As a former solo artist, Ziv worked mostly alone to write, produce and record 2 studio albums and 1 acoustic album startingt with the release of Fearless (2005). He has sold nearly 15,000 CD's independently. In the midst of that workload, he would find time to set up his battery powered PA and perform solo acoustic sets all around LA>
After a 2 year recovery from severely overused vocal cords, Ziv slowly trained his voice back to health and released his second studio album Paper and Sound (2008). Not long after, Ziv started looking for a steady group of musicians that would stay with him instead of the hired guns he had been working with up till then. A tough task in the notoriously jaded LA music scene. After juggling spots for a bit, a group of talented, dedicated and mostly sane musicians fell into place. Josh, from SOuthern Califormia, plays bass an dinsgs backgruond, and Mark a recent transplant to LA from Croswell, MI, plays drums. Together they form the alternative rock band that resides in Los Angeles when not on tour.
ZIV is now working on their third and highly anticipated album being released June 1, 2011 and is soon to be heading off on a four month tour across the central US.
When: Friday at 8:00PM
Web: brightersideband.com
The Brighter Side Band consists of four young, multi talented musicians. They play beyond their years and like to start off each show by letting the audience know “We’re No Boy Band…”. The quality of music they produce is exceptional given the limited time they have been playing together. The band has been playing venues throughout NE Ohio since June 2010. Members range in age from 14 to 18. The youngest is an 8th grade middleschooler; the oldest a freshman in college. Fuad Farah at age 14 is the second youngest of the group but only by three months; he plays lead guitar and saxophone. Fuad is followed by Jake Friel, also 14, who handles the vocals and plays harmonica. Noah Simionides, bass player, age 15 also plays upright bass, cello and piano. The oldest musician of the group, Keith Wilson II, age 18 plays piano and drums. All of them attend different schools in the Stark County area. The group met in 2010while participating in a music education program sponsored by the Canton Chamber of Commerce of Ohio, “Blues in Schools”.
The band came together because each of them shares a mutual love of the blues. To the band, the blues has a tone and a style like no other form of music. They remain true to the blues genre while putting their own stamp on each and every song they perform. The Brighter Side version of “Room to Move,” by John Mayhall, has numerous other blues classics buried in it. The band has composed an original, “The 755.” It is a slow blues grind with hot guitar and a train-like harmonica riff.
Jake’s harmonica skills and soulful vocals are unexpected in someone so young. When he starts to sing it is difficult to remember he is only 14 years old. His deep feel for the blues is apparent in his harmonica playing and gruff vocals as well as his knowledge of the artist and history of the tunes. He puts his personality into the music with harp riffs and solos in unexpected places. The vocals alternate with hard blasts of harmonica over the steadily chugging guitar, bass and drums. Fuad has only been playing guitar for two years, but it sounds more like twenty. He freely admits that playing guitar “is the most fun I can possibly have”. Fuad is featured on almost every song and he goes into “the zone” every time. Noah is a skilled musician in classical and jazz bands and loves taking everything he knows from the piano, cello, upright bass and packing it into the bass guitar. At 18 years, Keith is the oldest band member and the only member with a driver’s license! Keith is an accomplished drummer and has been awarded a percussion scholarship at the University of Mount Union. He keeps the boys in line with a steady hand and smooth beat. Keith says “ I love driving the bus and watching these kids go crazy!” These four entertainers have formed a very deep fun-loving friendship. It is obvious that they like each other and enjoy playing together. Their attitude is contagious to the audience.
The Brighter Side has many influences, soulful blues, boogie blues and rock-n-roll. Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, J.J. Cale and the Blues Brothers are some of the artists that the band admires. The Brighter Side has played professionally throughout NE Ohio months during the past year. They back to the community by playing for veteran’s groups and charity events. They have been an opening band for several local blues bands as well.
Vocalist and Harmonica Player - Jake James Friel age 14
Lead Guitar Fuad Farah, age 14
Keyboard & Drums - Keith Wilson Jr., age 18
Bass - Noah Simionides age 15
When: Saturday at 7:30PM
Web: mattstillwell.net
Matt Stillwell has managed, in this age of American Idol and viral videos, to build his following the old-fashioned way--one city, one club, one crowd at a time. Now, with the release of his new CD, Shine, fans nationwide can experience the magic that Matt brings to bear every time he steps in front of a microphone.
Shine showcases the qualities that have brought him to the threshold of national attention--the songwriter's knack for finding the truth in any situation, the vocal chops to do justice to the joy and passion in each song, and the ability to take an audience on a roller-coaster of emotion and leave them better for the ride.
Matt, best known as a performer with a rowdy sense of fun, opens his sophomore album with the title-track "Shine," an anthem to the joys of the Mason jar and the moonshine produced in places like Matt's beloved western North Carolina. It's a song in a league with some of modern country's best sing-along anthems, and it is the perfect starting point. There is also "Whiskey Well," about the process of turning heartache into a party, and "Dirt Road Dancing," celebrating the outlook that says the music should be loud, the drinks cold and the men and women single and rowdy.
Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll find Matt's keen eye for the nuances of love and loss, and the twists and turns of a good story. There is "Somewhere Between Me And You," with its unblinking look at a relationship gone wrong, "Go Away," dealing with the aftermath of lost love, and "Moment Of Weakness," a harrowing look at temptation and the decisions that change everything. Matt, who wrote five of the album’s ten cuts, also demonstrates his ability to make a song his own, as he captures all the longing in Ryan Adams' "Oh My Sweet Carolina."
Shine showcases a performer who can be rowdy and side-splittingly funny as well as passionately engaging, and for whom music is simply an extension of his personality.
His lifestyle at first was a Spartan one--just him, his car, his guitar, and the couches of friends in towns across the southeast. Soon word spread, the crowds got bigger, and he began opening for acts like Luke Bryan, Lee Brice, Chris Knight, Zac Brown and Corey Smith, and working festivals with the likes of Trent Tomlinson and Jake Owen.
Matt’s recent affiliation, however, is not with an artist but with Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine. The marriage has given Matt the opportunity to headline “field parties” that help him and his fans live out his rowdier material. "I want to do the big field parties and the intimate little clubs,” says Matt.
“I want to do the me-and-a-guitar thing and I want to work more with a full band.” His big dream brings it all full circle. “Someday I'd like to sell out the Ryman for a gig that was just me and my acoustic guitar,” he says. “I think that would be the ultimate gig ever."
Gig-to-gig and night-after-night, Matt continues to attract followers with his charming good looks and earnest passion for entertaining. Without a doubt, Matt is as simple, smooth and pure as the moonshine he sings about. So sit back, take a seat or take a sip, and get ready to watch Matt Stillwell truly shine.
When: Sunday at 4:30PM
Web: spectra-entertainment.com
Introducing "OLD SKOOL" Motown Sound Explosion!
Five entertaining men from Dayton, Ohio. The same city that gave the music world Ohio Players, Heatwave, Shirley Murdock, Lakeside and Roger Troutman.
TOUCH is Dayton, Ohio and the Midwest's number one "Old Skool" and "Motown Sound" vocal group, NO ONE DOES IT BETTER!
TOUCH has been entertaining and delighting audiences all over the country
for over a decade. Their energetic dance performances and engaging personalities have brought many an audience to their feet. TOUCH has shared center stage with Al Green, The Spinners, Percy Sledge, the Isley Brothers, Dennis Edwards' Temptations Revue and the legendary Ray Charles.
With TOUCH singing smash hits from artists such as: The Four Tops, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Marvin Gaye, The O' Jays, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, The Temptations, Luther Vandross, The Commodores, and much more!
The "Old Skool" Motown Sound Explosion featuring TOUCH!
When: Wednesday at 3:00PM
Web: singingangels.org
The Singing Angels, founded in 1964, is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to youth development through the highest level of artistic achievement in the performing arts. Proudly rooted in Cleveland, Ohio, and run by a committed Board of Directors, the group has traveled the world, visiting 31 countries on three continents. Thousands of young people have become youth ambassadors, star performers and stronger citizens as a result of their Angels training.
When: Sunday at 2:00PM
Web: voicesofohio.com
THE VOICES OF OHIO performs a wide variety of traditional, and contemporary choral music. Our repertoire includes music that celebrates the American heritage and spirit. With a variety of spiritual hymns, Broadway show tunes, pop, rock, blues, traditional and patriotic music are all included in THE VOICES OF OHIO songbook.
During the past four decades, members of THE VOICES OF OHIO have entertained millions of people. They have delighted audiences throughout the world, be it the Grand Concert Halls of Europe, the White House Rose Garden, “The Great White Way” in New York City, or in the prestigious “Tournament of Roses Parade”.
Recently, The Voices of Ohio were featured performers on the "Kenny Rogers Christmas and Hits Tour", the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival, Barnesville Heritage Celebration, Willard, Ohio Summer Concert Series, Dynamite National Showcase, Ohio Department of Natural Resources at The Ohio State Fair and for Governor and Mrs. Ted Strickland at the Governor's Residence.
Our talented choir members represent several generations and come from all walks of life. As diverse as the music they sing and perform, their love of music, friendship and dedication have brought them together again for your entertainment pleasure.
It is due to our common history that we say:
“Come Hear Us Again, For the First Time!”
When: All Week on the Midway
Web: jeffpanmusic.com
One-time organist for the Cleveland Indians and professional musician since 1970, Jeff Cavello had already had a distinguished muscial career when in 1987, he brought his first steel drum back with him from Grenada. The rest is history. A fan favorite at the fair, Jeff has become a steel drum virtuoso. In his trademark Hawaiian shirt, he injects the fair atmosphere with a Caribbean flavor which reminds everyone that it's summertime. And in Cleveland, where the weather all too rarely suits his clothes, that means it's time for some fun in the sun. Jeff also plays the electric keyboard, and has added some new instruments to the mix, namely the Hammond B-3 organ (the Jazz standard, with the Korg CX-3 keyboard). He also added the digital marimba and vibes sound of the MalletKat—a 3-octave keyboard sized percussion unit.
Jeff recently recorded and released a CD of Steel Pan favorites. CLICK HERE for CD and ordering information.
About the Steel Drum
The steel drum originates from the island of Trinidad, in the Caribbean (off the coast of South America) in the 30's and 40's. The first large drums were created from used oil drums, which had been left over from WWII, when the United States had a Naval base in Trinidad. The islanders had been using dented biscuit cans that someone discovered could produce simple tones and melodies by striking different parts of the indentations. Through experimentation and use of better materials, it was found if the metal was stretched and heated with fire (tempering the steel), the notes could be tuned. A Lead Pan (Soprano/One Pan) can have over two octaves (26 notes) and is used for playing the melody and some harmony. The next range are The Double-Seconds (Altos/Two Pans), and the notes are larger in size which produce a lower tone for melody and harmonies. Next come The Cellos (Tenors/Four Pans), and are used for harmonies. At the lowest end of the tone range are The Basses (Bass/Six to Eight Full-Size Drums). Because of the size required to produce bass notes, each drum has only three notes each.
When: Tues.-Fri. at 6:30PM
Web: brianbrenner.com
Elvis Presley is more popular today than at any time in history. In the world of entertainment, Brian Brenner stands alone as the most authentic and exciting Elvis stylist in the business.
For over 15 years, Brian has thrilled audiences nationwide with his electrifying salute to the King of Rock & Roll. Brian is careful to portray Elvis in a manner that is dignified, respectful and historically accurate, paying strict attention to every detail. The result is as amazing as the image and illusion of Elvis comes alive in the most genuine creation ever staged!
Brian is an accomplished performer who has performed at venues across the country. From showrooms, corporate events, fairs, festivals, car shows and private events, Brian brings audiences a newfound sense of appreciation of Elvis' music. His carefully crafted tribute reminds us of why Elvis is America's best-loved icon.
When: Monday at 7PM
Web: newcenturybeatniks.com
The New Century Beatniks started out as a 3-piece band in 2000, playing many local venues and also traveling as far as Willoughby, Twinsburg and southern Ohio. Having periodic guest musicians throughout the years, they’ve recently expanded to a 5-piece band and continue to play as both the 3-piece and 5-piece bands for many various occasions. All of the members originally hail from Berea or surrounding cities and several of the members still call Berea home.
Most of the members have been in rock bands since the 70’s, including Stairway, Unknown Stranger, The Millionaires, The Cleveland Boys, and Love Affair, who had a regional hit with Mama Sez. The multi-talented musicians switch instruments throughout the evening, and all of the members sing lead and back-up vocals, and many songs are done with 4- and 5-part harmonies.
Most of their unique song selection is from the 60’s, but also includes music from the 70’s to today. Many of the songs make you sit back and say, “ahh, I remember that time in my life when that song was out”.
When: Saturday at 3PM and 6:30PM
Web: geaugafair.com
The Great Geauga County Fair Band is Ohio's oldest and only all-volunteer band. Formed in l938, the band performs everyday at the fair and throughout the summer at select venues.
The Band has a collection of trophies housed at the fairgrounds in Burton, OH, and still boasts two of its original charter members as active members. They are: Barbara Ricca of Newbury - 67 years - Trumpet and Betty Palmer of Aurora - 66 years - Trombone.
The Band was first organized by Cliff Rossiter after the 1936 Fair, under the direction of Azro Cheney, with high school band members and other musicians from around the county. The forerunner and inspiration was an All-County high school band, under the direction of Raymond Dehnbostle, which played during the 1930s until 1936.
The Band became known as the official Geauga County Fair Band and played at the Geauga County Fair in 1938 and has played at every fair since that time.
The band has had members from seven counties in northeast Ohio: Geauga, Lake, Portage, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Cuyahoga, Lorain, plus several other Ohio counties and states and has played in many area communities.
Over the years, more than one hundred members have participated in the band, including many members of area families, and in many ways the Fair Band has become like one large extended family. Today, the Band has about forty to fifty active members.
The band director is Greg Hillis, a member of the French horn section for ten years. Greg has music degrees including a Masters in Music from Kent State University and has taught band in public schools.
Other musical acts will include:
- Catholic School's Orchestra (Thursday at 2:30-PM)
- Voice Variations
