Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Kellys cause a ruKus... again

Photo by Katie Libecco

The Kellys at the Warren City Amphitheater

WARREN — The Kellys are hosting the second annual ruKus festival Sunday at Warren Community Amphitheater.

“After last year, we decided it was a good time, liked putting the show on, fun to get inventive bands, bands who are trying to get out there — that’s the way it started, that’s the way it’s been,” coordinator Moe Angelo, The Kellys’ bassist, said.

The festival is named for The Kellys’ independent label of the same name.

The one-day independent music and arts festival has eight bands scheduled. Those slated to perform include: The Kellys, The Zou, Winslow, ZR, Jets to Red, Jones for Revival, Ecylptic and Reznik.

“ruKus - the sequel” is free to attend, but donations are being accepted for the non-profit Hattie Larlham Foundation’s Creative ARTs program. According to the program’s Web site, “Hattie Larlham Creative ARTs provides hands to people who have never held a paintbrush before and gives artists, regardless of ability, complete control over their creativity and self-expression.” The program includes painting, photography, poetry, sculpture and music.

A former Hattie Larlham employee, Angelo says of the program, “It gives people an opportunity to be heard for the first time in their life,” noting he thought it was an amazing concept.

According to a press release for the event, a system of questioning and corresponding responses “Allows the individual to create these pieces of art exactly the way that they want them, even though the person’s physical ability may be severely limited, through facilitation by an experienced and degreed art ‘tracker.’ ”

Angelo says the greatest difference people will notice about this year’s festival is the addition of a second, open-mic stage. The stage will be hosted by Brooke Slanina, president of the Oakland Center for the Arts, and will be open for performances from 12:30 to 5 p.m. According to the press release, the stage is open to poets, musicians, magicians and comedians.

Other changes include a performance by The Pickled Brothers Sideshow and Dr. Ray’s Rock Show (a Youngstown State University mineral and precious stone exhibit) and Sideshow of Science. Dr. Ray [Beiersdorfer] is a professor of geological and environmental Sciences at YSU and is the curator of the Clarence R. Smith Mineral Museum on campus.

Angelo says this year’s event is also very family-friendly, as no alcohol will be on site, and Life Skills will have a children’s activity area. He says there will also be more vendors, including the food vendors who are on-hand for Saturday night performances at the amphitheater.

The festival is being presented by Valley24.com, with the support of the Life Skills Center, Panera Bread, Warren Harley Davidson, Hunter-Stevens Land and Title, Century 21, Youngstown Crab Company, Cleary’s Irish Bar, Youngstown State University and Laura Lickwar’s Massage Therapy.