Scott Tady: Hopewell's BBQ & Blues Fest takes a fresh approach; and last call on Hartwood shows

There's freshness and zip to this year's Hopewell BBQ and Blues Fest, and not just in the tangy flavor of all that yummy barbecue sauce.

"Every year we try to get new blues bands for our event," Brad Batchelor, recreation director for Hopewell Township, said.

That brings a must-see quality to the festival that returns Sept. 9 to Hopewell Township Community Park, featuring five western Pennsylvania blues bands hand-picked by Hopewell Park board member John Keck − the guy who normally wears the tuxedo and pig hat at Hopewell BBQ and Blues.

Music starts at 1 p.m. with Angel Blue & The Prophets, a Butler County band that's been around for 20 years and opened for famed acts like Charlie Daniels and Blues Traveler. Their energetic sound blends soul, rocking blues and Southern rock in a danceable style.

At 2:30 p.m. the Gordon James Band from Sharon showcases its hard-driving, five-piece roadhouse blues sound that's likewise been a fixture for 20 years.

From 4-5 p.m., River City Blues Band entertains with a style that embraces rocking rhythm & blues, traditional blues, Chicago blues, Texas swing and roots rock. RCBB will have a special guest on stage, Center Township's award-winning bluesman and pro harmonica player Charlie Barath.

At 5:30 p.m. comes The Bail Jumpers, this year's winners of the Blues Challenge of Western Pennsylvania, which earned them a spot in Memphis in 2024 representing the left side of Pennsylvania in the International Blues Challenge.

Closing the night from 7-8 p.m. will be Lori Russo & The Upper Cuts which conjures a fusion of blues, roots, jazz and ethnic music that earned them the 2022 title in the Blues Challenge of Western Pennsylvania.

Blues shares top-billing with barbecue, as six amateur grill teams prepare their favorite chili, chicken or ribs, vying for cash prizes for first, second and third place in each category. Public judging cards, limited to 100, will be sold for $5.

Also selling favorite summertime foods will be commercial vendors including Papa Wood BBQ, R&G Smoke Shack, Jim's Smokin' Que andHabovick's Backyard BBQ, along with Pappy J's providing pizza.

Season ends

Men Without Hats hits the Hartwood Acres stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 3 for a set sure to reach a high point when the New Wave band plays its 1980s worldwide smash "Safety Dance." Original singer Ivan Doroschuk remains at the mic.

Men Without Hats headlines the 23rd annual Allegheny County Music Festival, which also includes a 5:30 p.m. warmup set from B-52s tribute band The Re-52s followed by Pittsburgh vintage alt-rockers The Affordable Floors.

Unlike other Sunday night shows at Hartwood, there's a fee − a $20 per vehicle requested donation − that benefits children and youth services in Allegheny County.

This show brings to a close the end of Allegheny County Parks' Hartwood Sunday night concert series and the related Friday night summer shows at South Park Amphitheater; both gems for live music lovers. The series' two biggest crowds this year showed up for indie-pop band Fitz & The Tantrums and classic rockers War, both at Hartwood, followed by Edwin McCain at South Park.

It's been two weeks, but I still have McCain's "I'll Be" stuck in my head, after the Southern singer-songwriter's chill and enjoyable performance. Hammond organ and sax amped up the soul to McCain's clear and stout singing. He's not one of those singers who partied too heartily back in the day.

McCain's pre-song banter was a hoot, like when he talked about always hearing his 1999 mid-level hit "I Could Not Ask for More" when he's at Home Depot. The last time that happened his kids were with him, and he made sure they quietly listened to the song, adding "Hear that? That's the song that's going to put you all through community college."

Opening for McCain was Bill Deasy, another skillful raconteur and top-notch songwriter, with a buttery smooth voice. Deasy, of Oakmont, has been a Pittsburgh area favorite since his 1990s days leading The Gathering Field.

He's also the special events manager for Allegheny County and the guy who books the South Park and Hartwood shows. Deasy joked about the potential conflict of interest booking himself as an opener, but insisted he was performing for free. An attentive audience of several hundred cheered him on the whole time.

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Midland to Berklee

Five students at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center joined young musicians from more than 70 countries in Aspire, a five-week intensive training program this summer at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Those local students were 11th graders Ella Heasley, Layla Cline, Dannie Holmes and Olivia Huval, and 10th grader Ashley Yankello (Ashley Marina when she performed at the Apollo Theater and on TV's "America's Got Talent.")

While in Boston, the students attended classes, workshops, labs and private instruction by Berklee’s world-class faculty and special guests. The program culminated in a final week of concerts where students showcased their newly gained skills for faculty, friends and family.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to truly immerse themselves in their craft and learn from the best of the best,” Mark Elder, chief operations officer at Lincoln Park, said.

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Blues Attack, David Granati at Beaver Station

Popular and dynamic blues band Blues Attack and local rock royalty David Granati and Joe Grushecky will entertain Sept. 30 in the intimate setting of Beaver Station Community & Events Center.

Led by guitar dazzler Gregg Krupa and harmonica ace Jack Sanso, Blues Attack will perform at the benefit concert for Rebuild Better Together's KARA Program providing resources, hope and life enhancements to people living with paralysis and without a family support system. Guitar virtuoso Granati and blue-collar rocker Grushecky will sit in on a few songs with Blues Attack, and Granati's For Those About to Rock Academy music students will perform between sets.

Tickets are $60 at eventcreate.com/e/rbt2 with desserts and soft drinks provided. Bring your own alcohol if desired.

Learn more about Rebuild Better Together at rebuildbettertogether.org.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Hopewell's Blues & BBQ Fest takes a fresh approach