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Welcome to the official site of the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival! Produced by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, the festival is the successor event to the Johnstown FolkFest.
August 21, 22, 23 -- Johnstown, Pennsylvania
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| | AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival News | Updated August 27, 2009
(Press inquiries should be directed to Shelley Johansson at 814-539-1889 x308. Press releases for all Johnstown Area Heritage Association programs and events, including the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival, are posted in PDF format here.)
Join our online mailing list! -- The Johnstown Area Heritage Association sends occasional e-newsletters as a way to stay in better touch with our supporters and friends. When you sign up, you can indicate which of our festivals, special events and museums are of most interest to you, and we'll keep you informed. (Be assured that we will never share your contact information with anyone, and you will always have the option to opt-out.) Please click here to sign up.
Wow! And thank you! -- The AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival has come and gone, and we thank everyone who made it possible -- our terrific sponsors, loyal volunteers, generous in-kind donors, and everyone who came out, donated, and showed such strong support. It was a tremendous weekend, and we are grateful. Watch this website and our Facebook page for photos, YouTube clips, and a Memories 2009 page -- all coming soon. And again, THANK YOU.
Keep up with us on MySpace and Facebook! -- The AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival's MySpace page is a good place to sample festival music, even if you're not a MySpace member -- if you are, please send us a friend request. In addition, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association now has a Facebook page -- if you're a Facebook user, please become a "fan," and click here to RSVP to the festival on Facebook.
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| YouTube videos start appearing -- Here's what we found so far, in rough chronological order; thanks especially to Tim Roolf, who took many of these. |
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Cernic's Campground now available for the festival-- The festival is pleased to announce that Cernic's Campground, located about a half-mile from the festival grounds, will be open for our event. The cost is $20 per person, per night for primitive camping, and continental breakfast is included. The campground is at 465 Naylor Rd. in Johnstown, about a half-mile north of the city on Route 403; signage will direct you. For details, directions and reservations, e-mail Craig Cernic, or call him at 814-242-8187. |
CamTran to extend bus hours for festival; Inclined Plane will be free -- On Saturday, Aug. 22, CamTran will extend its bus hours until 11:00 pm for the following routes: Richland Town Centre/Route 9; Hystone/Route 12; Moxham/Route 14; Oakhurst/Route 15; and the Downtown Shuttle/Route 18. All of these routes will drop riders at the downtown Transit Center, where they may take the Downtown Trolley for 25 cents; the Trolley circulates from the Incline to Festival Park. What's more, CamTran is encouraging riders to bring a friend for free during the extended hours; for complete details, including fares, route times and more, visit the festival page on the CamTran website. The festival is grateful to CamTran for providing this great service! What's more, the Inclined Plane will be free during the festival thanks to the generosity of sponsor Somerset Trust. Free rides on the Incline during the festival are as follows: Friday, Aug. 21, 5 pm-1 am; Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 am-1 am; Sunday, Aug. 23, 9 am-11 pm.
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Kids' area at festival to include Big Bouncey Bunch of Fun; Paul Marsh, balloon artist; and national art exhibit -- This year, the children's area will be located in Festival Park next to the Conemaugh Stage! We are pleased to welcome back Big Bouncey Bunch of Fun, and new this year is Paul Marsh, a balloon artist. Expressions of Courage, an exhibit of 17 works of art by people with epilepsy ranging in age from six to 68, will also be displayed. The exhibit, which has been touring nationally, has been brought to Johnstown and the festival through the efforts of the John P. Murtha Neuroscience and Pain Institute.
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Southern Comfort to be available at the festival -- In 2009 the festival is proud to welcome Southern Comfort as a new sponsor, and they'll have two booths near festival pubs. These booths will be selling Southern Comfort drinks, including mixes with cola, diet cola, fruit punch and lemonade. |
Festival headliner The Derek Trucks Band appears on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, Aug. 12 -- The Derek Trucks Band was a guest on the national ABC program "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, August 12; a clip of their performance of "Get What You Deserve" has been posted on Facebook, here.
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More wayfinding info now available-- The 2009 performance schedule and festival map are now available in downloadable PDF format -- click on the hotlinks to get yours!
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Press coverage begins for festival -- This list will be continually updated with hotlinks where available! Watch and listen for:- Pursuits Magazine, summer issue-- The festival is featured in an article entitled "Three PA Music Festivals Strike a Hot Note With Fans." The magazine, which is the official tourism magazine of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has a circulation of 200,000.
- August, Johnstown Magazine
-- An article focusing on local performers.
- 1160 WCCL, Indiana, Sun., Aug. 9, and Sun., Aug. 16 -- The Acoustic Hour with Anthony Frazier airs from 9-10 am and features live guests; Aug. 9, Whiskey River Panhandlers (see a clip of them playing "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms," here); Aug. 16, Gerry Stanek (see a clip, here).
- Forever Broadcasting, Tues., Aug. 11-- co-chair Ron Carnevali interviewed on Hot 92, 96 Key, Froggy 95, Rocky 99
- Stories in Our Town Magazine, Aug. 12 -- This issue features interviews with Mike Mattison of The Derek Trucks Band and Scrapomatic, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Ruthie Foster, Seven Nations, Donna the Buffalo, Scott Blasey, Maddie Georgi, and some of the talented local acts on the bill.
- The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Sun., Aug. 16 -- -- Our local paper previews the festival's entertainment, and the food.
- KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh; Thurs., Aug. 20-- Festival co-chairman Ron Carnevali will be a guest on "Pittsburgh Today Live," the morning news-talk show on KDKA, Pittsburgh's CBS affiliate. Singer-songwriter Scott Blasey will play as part of the show.
- The Tribune-Democrat, Thurs, Aug. 20 -- An editorial, "Music festival a local tradition and a real bargain", as well as a special multimedia presentation, a videotaped interview of festival co-chairman Ron Carnevali.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Thurs., Aug 20 -- -- A festival preview about our eclectic lineup, featuring a Derek Trucks interview.
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Thurs., Aug 20 -- A festival preview article, "Derek Trucks backs luck with hard work.".
- City Paper, Pittsburgh, Thurs., Aug. 20 -- The festival makes CP's Short List.
- 91.3fm WYEP, Pittsburgh; Fri., Aug. 21-- For the first time in 2009, this adult alternative public station will broadcast live from festival grounds, from 2-6 pm. Host Rosemary Welsch will interview Grace Potter, among others.
- WJAC Channel 6, Fri., Aug. 21-- Our longtime television sponsor, WJAC, will broadcast their 5:00 pm news live from festival grounds.
- WQED, Sat., Aug. 22 -- A live broadcast from festival grounds from noon-5 pm, with several live intervie
- Downloadable flyer now available -- Help us publicize the festival by clicking on the hotlink, downloading flyers and distributing them! Many thanks.
- Festival seeks non-profit and church groups to earn money for their programs through vending -- The festival's master concessionaire system is opening even more opportunities for churches and non-profit groups to earn money at the festival through vending. In addition to the Community Kitchen, where groups make and serve their own food, this year groups can provide volunteers to work in food booths in exchange for a portion of the booth's proceeds. For details, visit the Community Kitchen and Non-Profit Opportunities page on this site, or contact Shelley Johansson at JAHA, 814-539-1889 x308.
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- WYEP to broadcast live from festival grounds on Friday, August 21
-- The festival is delighted to welcome 93.1fm WYEP, a Pittsburgh public radio station, to the festival on the afternoon of Friday, August 21. WYEP plays a unique mix of pop, rock, indie, blues, world, singer-songwriter, alternative, and roots rock. Many artists who have appeared at the festival in years past and in 2009 are on their playlist. Host Rosemary Welsch will broadcast live from festival grounds from 2:00-6:00 pm. |
WQED to broadcast live from the festival on Saturday, August 22 -- As they have for many years, the classical public radio station WQED, which broadcasts in Pittsburgh and Johnstown, will do a live broadcast from festival grounds. The festival is very pleased to welcome them back on Saturday, August 22 from noon-5 pm. |
- Grace Potter & the Nocturnals to play festival -- Headlining Friday night and also playing late Saturday afternoon, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals is a hot young band from Vermont. Check the 2009 Performers page for more about them.
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- Seven Nations to return
-- Seven Nations, who last played our festival in 2004 (as pictured) returns in 2009! An earlier version of the band, known as Clan Na Gael, played here back in 1996. This explosive Celtic rock band is a huge favorite, and we look forward to welcoming them back on Friday, August 21. |
- Bill Deasy, Scott Blasey join other notables on the acoustic stage -- We're pleased to welcome Bill Deasy back to to the festival, and are looking forward to seeing Scott Blasey (pictured), a member of the Clarks, play for the first time at our event. Additional regional standouts include Joy Ike, Ben Hardt Acoustic, Turpentiners, Bill Toms, Brad Yoder and more.
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- AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival featured in Pursuits magazine
-- The AFCMF appears in the summer issue of Pursuits magazine, the official tourism magazine of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in an article entitled "Three PA Music Festivals Strike a Hot Note With Fans." The magazine has a circulation of 200,000 and is distributed to people who sign up for it on the VisitPA.com website. The article, which also spotlights Musikfest (Bethlehem) and Billtown Blues Fest (Williamsport), features a photo of Rusty Gun Revival playing the festival in 2008.
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Donna the Buffalo joins 2009 lineup -- The AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival is delighted to announce that Donna the Buffalo will be playing the festival's Saturday night, which is August 22. Read more about them on our 2009 Performers page. More lineup announcements expected soon, so check back often!
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JAHA to present the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival -- The Johnstown Area Heritage Association has made some significant changes to its signature special event, the AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest (to read the press release announcing these changes, click here). These include:
- New name and logo -- The name FolkFest came from the festival's origins when JAHA recruited the National Folk Festival to town. Although the name has served us well, "folk" implies that the music is acoustic. The new name evokes the historic 1889 flood, and clearly indicates that it is a music festival. The new logo is a nod to Johnstown's industrial heritage.
- Date change -- The FolkFest was traditionally held over Labor Day weekend, which was a difficult time for college students to attend -- virtually all local and regional universities start classes the Monday before Labor Day. In addition, Labor Day weekend is busy here -- three other festivals are held in or near Johnstown that weekend, and the first high school and college football games of the season are played. By changing the date, JAHA hopes that more college students can attend, and that Johnstown residents will be able to spend more time at all of the great events held in late summer.
- Suggested donation -- The festival is creating a suggested donation of $5 on Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $10 on Sunday. Children under 16 or accompanied by an adult are free, and festival volunteers get in free the day(s) they volunteer. Individual Sponsors at the Gold ($90), Silver ($60) or Bronze ($20) level will have a laminated credential, and will not be asked for a donation at the gate. Visit the Individual Sponsor page on this website for more about individual sponsor benefits.
- Vending changes -- The festival is working with a master concessionaire, Mom's Food Concessions of New Jersey. A wide variety of food will be presented, all with high-quality preparation and consistent pricing. Also, all vending booths will have a uniform appearance. Many favorite festival vendors from the past will invited to participate as subcontractors, and the Community Kitchen will still be part of the event.
Other changes -- The festival is going to a three-stage rather than four-stage format, which will allow us to book even more popular acts.
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- FolkFest 2008 on YouTube -- As in 2007, a variety of performances were captured and posted on YouTube -- many thanks to festival fans who did so, especially Tim Roolf! Check out Arty Hill & the Long Gone Daddys doing "Jackson Shake", "I'm Thinkin' It's Better This Way" (along with his intro by Jason Ringenberg), playing a mean steel guitar, and "Harlan Town"; Jason & the Scorchers doing "Absolutely Sweet Marie", "Good Things Come to Those Who Wait,", "Blanket of Sorrow," a cover of "Great Balls of Fire," "Help There's a Fire, and their encore, "Country Roads"; Stacie Collins with "The Bottle Let Me Down" and "It Ain't Love"; Farmer Jason with Warner Hodges on guitar, playing "Opossum in a Pocket," and with Arty Hill on "Guitar Pickin' Chicken; Webb Wilder & the Beatnecks with "Human Cannonball" ; Jason Ricci & New Blood; the neo-vaudeville of The Born Again Floozies; Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints, Del Castillo, Dallas Wayne (also singing "Big Thinkin'), Deke Dickerson, Red Collar. More will be posted as we find them!
- Thank you for a great event! -- The AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest has come and gone once again -- and it was amazing. The weather cooperated (after a pretty iffy forecast on Friday especially), and the mood was right. The shows were outstanding and very well-attended. The Jason & the Scorchers reunion shows were a real highlight -- we think everyone who was there would agree that something truly special happened there at the Dodge stage those nights. We thank all our performers for giving us such great shows -- and many of them spent a lot of time on festival grounds watching other shows, and even sitting in with other performers. We truly enjoyed getting to spend so much time with them all.
Our heartfelt thanks to all the people who work so hard and give so much to make the FolkFest possible. These include: our wonderful sponsors, whose financial support allows us to throw this party (especially title sponsor AmeriServ and major sponsors Dodge, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Conemaugh Health Systems); the in-kind sponsors, who donate an incredible array of products, services and use of rental items to make the festival go; and most especially the hundreds of volunteers, who come back year after year and offer their time, effort, enthusiasm and hospitality to our performers and guests. FolkFest is a massive community effort on so many levels, and we are thankful! Visit the new 2008 Memories page on this site for more festival photography.
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- 2008 press coverage
-- Local and regional media provided extensive coverage of the AmeriServ FolkFest 2008. In chronological order, a sampling includes:- Our Town Magazine previews FolkFest, Thursday, Aug. 21 -- This free newsweekly featured interviews with several FolkFest artists in its Aug. 21 issue, including Jason Ringenberg of Jason & the Scorchers and also Farmer Jason, Webb Wilder, Jason Kutchma of Red Collar, The Born Again Floozies and Tom Russell.
- Johnstown Magazine -- A short story about the festival, along with photography, appears in the September issue (which began arriving in subscribers' mailboxes August 22).
- The Tribune-Democrat on Sunday, August 24 -- "Music mania: JAHA puts finishing touches on FolkFest," a story previewing the lineup; and "Low-cost marketing pays off for FolkFest,", a story about FolkFest's web marketing initiatives.
- The Acoustic Hour with Anthony Frazier -- This show airs on WCCS in Indiana, Pa., on Sunday mornings from 9-10 a.m. The August 17 show featured a live performance with Tim Dabbs, a featured performer at FolkFest 2008, and Shelley Johansson introduced other artists that are scheduled to play; on August 24, we were back on the air with members of Aran playing live, and previews of more artists. Click here to download recordings of both shows.
- "Roots & Rhythm Mix" on WYEP, on Sunday, August 24, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. -- Festival chair Ron Carnevali sat in with show host Kate Borger to preview FolkFest on "Roots & Rhythm Mix," a radio show on WYEP, Pittsburgh's adult alternative public radio station.
- "The Backyard Rocker" on Altoona radio station WBXQ 94.3, Sunday, August 24 from 8-10 p.m -- Festival chair Ron Carnevali was Professor Jim Price's guest on "The Backyard Rocker" and played music from FolkFest artists.
- "Pittsburgh Today Live" on Monday, August 25 -- Festival chairman Ron Carnevali was a guest on this morning television news program, which runs from 9:00 -10:00 am weekdays on KDKA, the Pittsburgh-area CBS affiliate. Footage from past festivals and photos of the 2008 lineup were shown.
- The stations of Forever Broadcasting on Tuesday, August 26 -- Festival Chairman Ron Carnevali was in the studios for live interviews with Hot 92 at 7:30 a.m., 96 Key at 8:05 a.m., Froggy 95 at 8:15 a.m., Rocky 99 at 8:35 a.m.
- The Pittsburgh-Tribune Review, August 27, 2008 -- "FolkFest opens arms to country-rock pioneers,", a festival preview featuring an interview with Jason Ringenberg of Jason & the Scorchers and Farmer Jason appeared on page 29 of the "Ticket" entertainment section. Key quote: "'I've always profoundly loved playing Johnstown -- I've done it once before,' Jason Ringenberg said. "I think it's one of the coolest festivals in the world."
- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on August 27 -- "Jason and the Scorchers back for Johnstown festival, an article about the JATS reunion at FolkFest, appeared along with the complete festival lineup and a review of "Lucky Spot," the latest CD by featured FolkFest artist Stacie Collins.
- Pittsburgh City Paper, August 27 -- The FolkFest was on the paper's "Short List".
- August 29 FolkFest preview on Sirius Satellite Radio, "Outlaw Country" on Channel 63, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m -- Dallas Wayne, a 2008 featured performer at FolkFest, deejays on "Outlaw Country," and he previewed the FolkFest on his Friday, August 29 show.
- Live WJAC broadcast on Friday, August 29 -- WJAC broadcasted its early evening news program live from Festival Park on August 29, when the festival kicked off.
- Live broadcast on WQED from the FolkFest on Saturday, August 30 --WQED, the Pittsburgh/Johnstown classical public radio station, aired a live broadcast from the festival grounds from noon to 5:00 p.m. with host Jim Sweenie.
- FolkFest on Sirius Satellite Radio, "Deep in the Heart of Texas" on Channel 63, August 30 from 10:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. -- Dallas Wayne, a 2008 featured performer at FolkFest, played FolkFest artists and short interviews on "Deep In the Heart of Texas."
- FolkFest wrap-up on Sirius Satellite Radio, "Outlaw Country" on Channel 63, September 1 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. -- Dallas Wayne shared highlights from the FolkFest on his Monday, September 1 show.
FolkFest 2007 featured in regional media -- FolkFest 2007 was previewed in a variety of regional media. Here's a sampling:
- FolkFest captures the cover of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette entertainment section -- Dwayne Dopsie is featured on the cover of the August 30, 2007 entertainment section, which features three articles about the festival. You can read the article about the festival, including its schedule, here, a profile of Dwayne Dopsie here, and a profile of Druha Trava here.
- FolkFest featured in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -- Bill Kirchen, Slavic Soul Party and The Tossers, along with festival chair Ron Carnevali, were interviewed for an article that appeared in the August 30, 2007 entertainment section -- click here to read it.
- Ron Carnevali interviewed on WQED -- Ron Carnevali was interviewed on WQED, a public radio station with classical music format that airs in Pittsburgh and Johnstown. Portions of the interview will be aired on Jim Cunningham's Morning Show, which airs from 6:00-9:00 a.m. weekdays, in the days leading up to the festival; you can also hear a podcast on WQED's home page.
- A.J. Croce interviewed on Cool 101.7 -- Zak McDowell interviewed A.J. Croce by phone, and this interview aired on Cool 101.7 in Johnstown on Tuesday, August 28 at 3:18 p.m.
- "The Backyard Rocker" with Professor Jim Price -- Festival chair Ron Carnevali was Jim Price's guest on "The Backyard Rocker" and played music from FolkFest artists. The show aired on Sunday, August 26 from 8-10 p.m. on WBXQ 94.3/WBRX 94.7 in Altoona.
- The Acoustic Hour with Anthony Frazier -- This show airs on WCCS in Indiana, Pa., on Sunday mornings from 9-10 a.m. The August 19 show featured a phone-in interview with Bill Deasy, a featured performer at FolkFest 2007, and more -- you can listen by clicking here. Jennifer Drummey and Jackson Monsour were in the studio for the Sunday, August 26 show, and each played a few songs live; you can hear that show by clicking here.
- The Tribune-Democrat previews the AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest -- Click here to read the story in the Johnstown paper, which ran on August 26.
- WYEP's "Rhythm & Roots" show on Sunday, August 19 -- Host Kate Borger talked to festival chair Ron Carnevali on WYEP, Pittsburgh's AAA public radio station, and they played some of the artists featured in our 2007 lineup.
- FolkFest previewed on KDKA's "Pittsburgh Today Live" -- Festival chair Ron Carnevali was a guest on KDKA, Pittsburgh's CBS affiliate, on the Friday, August 17 episode of "Pittsburgh Today Live," which airs from 9-10 a.m. weekdays. Footage from past FolkFests was shown, and the 2007 lineup was previewed.
- The August 16 issue of Our Town Magazine -- This issue featured interviews with FolkFest performers Bill Kirchen, James Talley, The Tossers, A.J. Croce, Gigi Dover & The Big Love, Dwayne Dopsie, and Tres Chicas
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Bill Kirchen on the FolkFest -- "a whole parallel universe of music." Bill Kirchen, former guitarist for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen and the "Titan of the Telecaster," last played at FolkFest in 2004 (see picture). He was recently interviewed in Our Town Magazine; the following is an excerpt from the online version of the article: "If I saw someone do today what we did in 1967, I'm not sure it would work anymore. I think they've closed the door. There aren't as many wide and varied artists coming in. We were a wacky eight-piece playing boogie woogie from the forties and hardcore rockabilly and country," he said. One of the few places Kirchen said those artists still exist is festivals like the AmeriServ Johnstown FolkFest. "That's the great thing about the FolkFest. That is a whole parallel universe of music that has escaped that marketing strictly by the numbers," he said. "That's the heir to what I saw in '64 and '65 in Newport that really ruined me for normal wor
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FolkFest on YouTube -- A FolkFest fan let us know about several short films he took at the 2007 festival, and posted on YouTube -- and with the artists' permission, we're pleased to post them here. Last Train Home; Bill Kirchen, one more of Bill Kirchen, this time on the trombone; and Slavic Soul Party, coming out into the audience to close their show. In addition, here are links to Jennifer Drummey and Jackson Monsour as they played on the August 26, 2007 live radio show, "Acoustic Radio Hour with Anthony Frazier," on WCCS, Indiana, Pa. Enjoy!
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