Art. Check. Beer. Check. Music. Check.

Thursday, March 2

March is upon us and with the Arts and Drafts Festival starting on the 2nd, this month is bound to come roaring in like the proverbial lion. For music, art, and beer lovers, this will certainly be a positive thing. The spring edition of this well-loved and thoroughly dynamic event will descend upon the Brewerie at Union Station for three days of all things local and artsy.

Those familiar with this event will be pleased to hear – and see – the work of a "rotating cast of characters," explains music director, Justin Tapper, but he adds that there are many new musicians performing at this edition. Newcomers include Spooky Minus Spooky, a one-man band, who is "old school jazz meets new wave"; Brooke Ashley Surgener, who combines songwriting and musicianship into cosplay; Dara Appling, a "singer-songwriter with an operatic feel at times" and, Tapper concludes, "Pine Diary with Jess Royer who is pure soul in my eyes."

The sonically illuminating spring edition of Arts and Drafts tends to be a little more subdued in amplitude. Artists play inside the establishment as opposed to taking the stage outside for the fall festival. Acoustic music will mostly be the name of the game, Tapper explains, but this spring he has decided to incorporate some electric-based instrumentation as well. On the quieter side, of course. "It's a new format," he says, but be assured that all music is original: "The artists all play original stuff. That's what people are here to see. We don't have anyone playing covers." This is a showcase of the Erie music scene's best and brightest, and Tapper is adamant that there is nothing like this festival in the city. It unites the uniqueness and vibrancy of many creative individuals, and allows non-performers to experience this tight-knit, diverse community. "This is all about local talent and bringing the best of the Erie music and art scene to the table in one place," Tapper says. And this place isn't just any run-of-the-mill event space. The Brewerie at Union Station was the first local craft beer bar in the city, and the owners picked a glorious historic building to call home. "The owner of Brewerie and Drew Kaufmann got together and thought this spot was a really good place to house art and music events," Tapper explains. "The fact that the festival has blossomed into something that's bursting at the seams, and that we can tie in a local establishment and their love of beer and art, is amazing."

For those who are more visually inclined, the art on display will be exciting and representative of Erie's fascinating artists. "There's such an eclectic group of artists in Erie that do so many different styles of art, using so many different kinds of media," Tapper says. "It's amazing to see everything on display and to hear all these musicians all in one place in this great atmosphere, with great food, and great beers." – Miriam Lamey

6:30 p.m on March 2 & 3; 5:45 p.m on March 4 // The Brewerie at Union Station, 123 W. 14th St. // 454.2200