From staff reports
The third annual Franklin Blues and Barbecue Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 17, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 18, in Bandstand and Fountain parks in Franklin.
Attendees will be able to enjoy various barbecue vendors and music and wander through displays of outdoor, watercraft, home and sporting goods, according to organizers.
Ten barbecue vendors have signed on for the event.
Proceeds from the festival benefit the development and appreciation of music, especially the blues, in Venango County schools.
The Nighthawks will be Saturday’s headliner.
Since 1972, the Washington, D.C.,-based band has been entertaining audiences across the country.
Current members of The Nighthawks are Mark Wenner on vocals and harmonica, Johnny Castle on vocals and bass, Paul Bell on guitar and Mark Stutso on drums and vocals.
The band released “Last Train to Bluesville” in 2009, which won Acoustic Album of the Year at the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards in Memphis in 2011.
Together, the group has recorded nearly 30 albums and in 2011, The Nighthawks signed with Severn Records based in Annapolis, Maryland.
Miss Freddye will be Sunday’s headlineer.
Singing the Chicago-style blues since 1996, Miss Freddye has become known as “Pittsburgh’s Lady of the Blues.” Her influences are Delta and Chicago-style blues.
Miss Freddye started singing with BMW or Blues Music Works. In 2002, she formed her own band, Blue Faze.
Over the next several years the name changed to Miss Freddye’s Blues Band. In addition to her five-piece electric band, she started Miss Freddye’s Homecookin Trio in 2010, playing an acoustic side of blues.
The festival will also feature The Max Schang Band featuring John Burgh and Charlie Barath.
Schang is the musical coordinator for the Franklin Blues and Barbecue Festival.
A devout student of the guitar at the age 8, Schang learned music notation as well as ear playing.
His musical path has taken him through many transformations including classical guitar, jazz, funk, gypsy-jazz as well as various styles of American blues.
Schang continues to teach guitar as well as compose music for new recordings. He has more than 40 years experience with studying, teaching and performing music.
Other musical acts will include The Zydeco Kings, Mitch Littler, Jimmy Adler Blues Band, Eugene and the Nightcrawlers featuring Eugene Morgan, Rebels Of Rhythm, Rodger Montgomery, Nelson Porter and the Franklin High School Jazz Band.
More information can be found on the Franklin Blues and Barbecue Festival’s Facebook page and at www.franklinbluesandbbq.org.
Saturday, June 17
Noon to 1:15 p.m. – Rodger Montgomery
1:30 to 2 p.m. – Franklin High School Jazz Band
2:15 to 3:30 p.m. – Eugene Morgan and the Nightcrawlers
3:45 to 5:15 p.m. – The Zydeco Kings
5:30 to 6:45 p.m. – The Max Schang Band featuring John Burgh and Charlie Barath
7:15 to 9 p.m. – The Nighthawks
Sunday, June 18
Noon to 12:30 p.m. – Nelson Porter
12:45 to 1 p.m. – Rebels Of Rhythm
1 to 1:30 p.m. – Mitch Littler
1:45 to 3 p.m. – Jimmy Adler Blues Band
3:15 to 5 p.m. – Miss Freddye Blues Band
