5 cool things about Friday's Downtown Canton Music Fest: Big crowd, terrific Tom Petty act

CANTON − The Downtown Canton Music Fest made a big turnaround on Friday, giving it the boost it needed when organizers consider whether to bring it back next summer.

After a slow start on Thursday at the kickoff to the new event, the second and final day was absolutely rocking.

Highlights included a terrific Tom Petty tribute band, King's Highway, with vocalist Tim Eastgate authentically impersonating the late rock 'n' roll legend to perfection, both vocally and with every mannerism possible.

A mellow Thursday Low turnout but big on sound: Downtown Canton Music Fest kicks off new two-day event

And the energy and good vibes at Centennial Plaza didn't cease as ZYGRT, a Northeast Ohio-based classic rock tribute band, ripped through a blistering set of songs by Led Zeppelin, Yes, Genesis, Rush and Toto. Ravenwood, an Akron-Canton area alternative rock band, also rocked intensely with original music. Earlier Friday, Starlight Band and Out of Eden, an Eagles tribute band, both performed.

Local and regional bands also took the smaller stage on Friday at Market Avenue N and Fourth Street NW, including Jeff Poulos, Bret Kuhnash, Wing It and The Scenic Route

What a rebound from Thursday. So much so that the nonprofit Downtown Canton Partnership, which organized and oversaw the event, will likely consider holding it on Friday and Saturday instead of Thursday and Friday, assuming the music festival returns in 2024.

In the meantime, here's a look at the five coolest things about the Downtown Canton Music Fest's Friday edition.

1. Tom Petty reincarnated

During a recent phone interview, Tim Eastgate of King's Highway said he had a dream in which Tom Petty assured him he could pull off the tribute act.

As Eastgate tells it, the icon touched him in the dream, imparting him with the power of Petty.

Maybe the story sounded crazy at first, but not after watching Eastgate and his band. Fantastic.

Tearing through song after song, Eastgate sounded and acted and dressed like Petty. The walk, singing and vocal inflections − even the way he would adjust his glasses and address the audience. As fine a tribute band as I've ever seen.

While every tune was top-notch, especially memorable were "Runnin' Down a Dream," "Free Fallin'," "Refugee" and "American Girl."

So excellent was Eastgate that while taking photos and recording video on assignment, I found myself unable to resist singing along to this line from "Mary Jane's Last Dance":

There's pigeons down on Market Square. She's standin' in her underwear. Lookin' down from a hotel room. The nightfall will be comin' soon.

And the mood was so festive that I wasn't even embarrassed to blurt out the word underwear.

2. Younger generation keeps the rock torch burning

Doing the roaming reporter thing, a trio of young adults immediately caught my attention during the nighttime shows. The females danced and jammed and played air guitar as if they had stepped out of a time machine.

Meet Jolie Austin, 19, of Lake Township, her sister Rylee Austin, 21, and Chloe Marchok, 21, of Stow.

I was blown away by their rock 'n' roll street cred. All three frequently attend rock shows. Tribute bands are among their favorites in the classic rock genre.

"Since we weren't alive to experience them the first time," Rylee Austin said of the bands, "this is the next best thing."

"When we saw Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, I cried," Jolie Austin said as another member of the group displayed cellphone footage for verification. "It was beautiful."

Electric guitar touches Austin's soul, making her feel as though she's levitating, the college journalism student said.

Placing her hand over her chest, she evangelized: "I think rock is such a dying genre (with younger bands and fans), and it makes me sad because people my age, they don't appreciate it how we do.

"I take it on for me to keep it going. It's my responsibility to keep rock alive."

3. Seville rocks!

While many in the crowd were Stark County residents, others came from outside the area, including Jim Lackey, a 66-year-old rock 'n' roll devotee from Seville.

Lackey stumbled upon the event online and, boom, there he was on Friday night with his wife having a great time.

"I think it's awesome," he said while taking in his surroundings. "I love the hometown feel. We love the local bands and festivals."

"I love the tribute bands," Lackey added. "I grew up in the '70s ... and enjoy the different genres of music. I enjoy anything from Neil Diamond to Led Zeppelin to Tim McGraw to Air Supply to REO Speedwagon."

4. The siren call of Robert Plant

Another wow moment was the vocal performance of ZYGRT's frontman Bart Wigfield.

The dude nailed stratospheric notes with operatic range and precision. Geddy Lee of Rush. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. "Tom Sawyer" by Rush was a smoking rendition. And his voice adapted effortlessly to the subtleties and stylistic dynamics of Genesis, Toto and Yes.

Even as I made a quick walk from Centennial Plaza to The Canton Repository's offices downtown, I could hear him convincingly wail in homage to vintage Plant blocks away at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Loved it!

When I returned to the plaza, the band, which includes seasoned guitarist Chris Wintrip, was blazing through a killer version of the Zeppelin standard, "Rock and Roll." Not to mention their earlier run at "Black Dog," which was so hot I thought the stage might incinerate.

Bonus points also go to Wigfield for strolling out into the crowd and frolicking with fans. ZYGRT is a bona fide tribute tour de force.

And kudos to Christopher Wintrip Jr. on drums. Man, can he hammer and thunder as if he's possessed with percussion. An impressive package of energy, passion and chops. Mesmerizing to watch.

5. The crown jewel of downtown

After only a few years of existence, Centennial Plaza has established itself as a prime outdoor concert venue.

The crown jewel of downtown was on full display on a gloriously warm and pleasant September night. Attendees who returned or visited for the first time raved about the plaza, which also includes a happening and bustling Jerzee's Cafe, where you can drink and chow down while enjoying a clear view of the stage.

The Downtown Canton Music Fest at full tilt demonstrates the continued promise and potential of Centennial Plaza. Robb Hankins, the former head honcho of ArtsinStark, said it best: "Program the heck out of the venue."

Live music is the heartbeat of a vibrant downtown, Hankins said.

"If you're going to build a $12 million (Centennial Plaza), you've got to use it," he said.

He also made another valid point. Take risks. Try something new. Hankins even kept the faith on Thursday night when the scene was dramatically more subdued with glaringly low turnout on the first day of the Downtown Canton Music Fest.

Regardless of how Friday turned out, he noted that the Downtown Canton Partnership should be applauded for rolling the dice with a new event that likely faced budget constraints and other challenges.

"You've got to take chances," he said. "You've got to start things."

Looking around at the sprinkling of people at the music fest on the first night of the two-day event, he didn't waver, candidly pointing out it was a Thursday and school was back in session.

"When you start something new," Hankins said, "it's gusty."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Tom Petty, Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Rush tribute bands rock out in Canton