Mitch Littler performs Wednesday

The Oil City Arts Council will end its summer music series Wednesday with a performance by local talent Mitch Littler at the Pipeline Alley concert venue.  This lunch-time performance is from noon to 1 p.m. next to the National Transit Building in the garden by the Oil Creek.  Admission is free and the area is wheelchair-accessible.  This performance will conclude the two free music series sponsored by the arts council and managed by Daniel Feroz.  A little known fact about Littler is that he created watercolor and ink paintings and made furniture long before he began playing the blues publicly, according to the council.  He started playing the guitar at age 13 taught by his father.  As a musician, he credits his mother for encouraging him to do his personal best.  Between high school and then working in the oil fields, he taught himself the slide-guitar, mandolin, harmonica and drums.  Littler’s first public performance was at the Howlin’ Dog Cafe, operated by relocated artist Charles Whipple, which featured local musicians at a time when Oil City had no place for open mics.  Last year, Littler decided to become a full-time professional musician.  Littler has participated in the world’s fourth largest blues festival at Juke Joint in Mississippi.  He regularly performs locally at all festivals and concerts that highlight his style of music.  His most recent performances include the Peach Jam Fest in Barkeyville and Music at the Marina at Sandy Lake.  With his younger brother Truman, he often busks in city areas in addition to engagements.  Truman plays the bass, guitar, and is a drum major at Oil City High School.  Together with his brother and father, they are the SouthSide String Kings.  Like many budding musicians, Littler is involved with cafe-music culture.  The Oil City Library holds open mics on Tuesdays twice a month for emerging musicians and singers.  Littler was instrumental in starting this venture after the Mosaic Cafe closed.  He also volunteers for the Open Door Cafe on the South Side.  Littler said his passion and drive in life is just plain music, blues in particular.  He said he feels spiritually connected to the blues that leads him to concentrate on music alone and that ambition will carry him to the next stage of life.  In September, the arts council will begin its ticketed concerts at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday at the month the National Transit Building.  Every other month on the second Friday, the Graffiti Gallery located near the concert venue opens its new art shows before the music starts.  A full calendar of events is available at the Transit Fine Arts Gallery and the Arts Council page at www.oilcity.org.