Ready Or Not, Here Comes Summer

puhimec

What some thought would never happen is coming to pass. COVID-19 effectively canceled nearly every single event in the summer of 2020. This year? Not so much. Pennsylvania's restrictions have officially been lifted as of Memorial Day (Monday, May 31), and masks are no longer required for vaccinated individuals. That'll change on June 28, when the mask mandate is fully lifted, or possibly before if 70 percent of adults become vaccinated, but we all know that stands a snowball's chance in ... well, June 28.

"We have made great strides throughout the commonwealth to stop the spread of COVID-19," said Gov. Tom Wolf. "As we lift mitigation orders, it is important for eligible Pennsylvanians to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated is our best defense against this virus and ensuring individuals and their loved ones remain safe as we reopen Pennsylvania."

Throughout the month of May, Erie County has averaged more than 30 cases per day. That's a lot. Currently, 44.2 percent of county residents over 10 years old have been fully vaccinated, with another 8.9 percent partially covered, tipping the vaccinated into the majority. The CDC cites the national average at 59.8 percent of all those over 12 being partially vaccinated, so maybe that's not as impressive. But even so.

TLDR: Summer is happening. Get ready.

Or more importantly, don't. If you don't feel safe, staying home is still an option. Focusing on outdoor activities in small bubbles wasn't all that bad in retrospect.

But good lord, do I miss concerts.

What I wouldn't have given to see even the most banal blues band or esoteric EDM set last year. In 2021, you just might get to see your favorite band if you buy tickets fast enough.

Live events are the lifeblood of summer. And possibly to break kayfabe, they're the lifeblood of alt-weeklies like the one you're reading now. In March of 2020, we had four-and-a-half pages of events in our print edition, with that amount doubled the previous summer.

As with seemingly all aspects of life, that kind of coverage is returning to normal again as well.

Some events are not happening, like Celebrate Erie, while some are still tentative, like Erie's Blues & Jazz Fest. Some community festivals like Cherry Fest and Greek Fest are operating on a drive-thru-only basis, while others are at full capacity. The Great Blue Heron chose to separate one large festival into several weekends over the summer to spread the love throughout the season and keep crowds down.

This is another year where adaptability shines.

Note: This is not a complete listing, and many returning events are still being planned. Go to our online calendar at ErieReader.com and pick up future issues for more things to do.

Live Music & Special Events 

Altered State Distillery

1535 W 8th St. // Fridays, and Saturdays 7 to 10 p.m., Sundays at 1 p.m., Altered State Improv Jam Night every Thursday at 7 p.m. // alteredstatedistillery.com/events/ 

June 4 - Adwela and the Uprising

June 5 - Tim Vitullo Band

June 6 - Ron Yarosz and the Vehicle Unplugged

June 11 - First to Eleven

June 12 - Sunday at the Station

June 13 - The Doug Phillips Quartet feat. Eric Brewer, Adam McKillip, and Jim Dowds

June 18 - Eric Brewer & Friends

June 19 - Optimus Riff

June 20 - Phunkademic Unplugged

June 25 - Smilo and the Ghost

June 26 - Division Street Machine

June 27 - Eric Brewer & Friends

July 2 - RM Delta feat. Rodger Montgomery and Mark Dolak

July 3 - Jeff Fetterman Band

July 9 - Phunkademic

July 10 - Blue Sky

July 11- Stephen Trohoske's Unplugged Frequency

July 16 - The Sweet Life

July 17 - Big Logic and the Truth Serum

July 23- Riff Riders

July 25 - Rodger Montgomery Blues Band

July 30 - The Mighty Good Times

July 31 - The Probables 

Aug. 7 - Stephen Trohoske's Basses Loaded

Aug. 8 - Jeff Fetterman Band

Aug. 13 - Waiting on Mongo

Aug. 15 - Stephen Trohoske's Unplugged Frequency

Aug. 20 - Higher Education

Aug. 21 - Vibe Supply

Aug. 22 - Phunkademic

Aug. 27 - Peak

Aug. 29 - Eric Brewer & Friends

Sept. 3 - Darksider

Sept. 4 - Small Town Rollers 

Sept. 10 - John Welton & the Awakening

Sept. 11 - Derek Woods Band

Sept. 12 - Derek Woods Acoustic

Sept. 17 - Cosmic Rhythm

Sept. 18 - Jeff Fetterman Band

Sept. 19 - Abigail

Sept. 24 - Phunkademic

Sept. 25 - Blue Sky

Sept. 26 - Touch of Grey

Oct. 1 - Yurt Alert

Oct. 2 - Big Logic and the Truth Serum

Oct. 8 - Tim Vitullo Band

Coconut Joe's: 15th and Final Season

28 North Park Row // Fridays, Saturdays, plus a few extras, bands 6 to 10 p.m., DJs 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. // facebook.com/coconutjoeserie  

June 4 - Black Widow

June 5 - The Breeze Band

June 11 - Refuge

June 12 - Geek Army

June 18 - The Groove

June 19 - 100 Proof

June 25 - Flight

June 26 - Porcelain Bus Drivers

July 2 - Phoenix Rising

July 3 - Geek Army

July 9 - The Groove

July 10 - The Earthquakers

July 16 - Small Town Revolution

July 17 - Flight

July 23 - Refuge 

July 24 - The Groove

July 30 - Black Widow

July 31 - Small Town Revolution

Aug. 6 - The Earthquakers

Aug. 7 - 100 Proof

Aug. 13 - Geek Army

Aug. 14 - Flight 

Aug. 20 - Small Town Revolution

Aug. 21 - Country Redford

Aug. 27 - Black Widow

Aug. 28 - The Pop Rockets

Sept. 3 - New Wave Nation

Sept. 4 - The Groove

Sept. 10 - Geek Army

Sept. 11 - Small Town Revolution

Doc Holliday's Country Bar and Grill

7425 Schultz Rd. // Acoustics on the patio Fridays 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Karaoke every Wednesday and Friday 9 to 12 p.m. // dochollidayserie.com

June 4 - Brown Dog
June 11 - Geek Army
June 18 -  South of 90
June 25 - Dan Baney

Erie Bank 8 Great Tuesdays

Highmark Amphitheater & Liberty Park, 828 W Bayfront Pkwy. // Tuesdays 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. // porterie.org/8-great-tuesdays/ 

July 6 - The Pop Rockets, I-90s

July 13 - Chris Higbee, Refuge

July 21 - The Purple Madness (Prince tribute), The Breeze Band

July 28 - The Earthquakers, Phunkademic

Aug. 3 - Vanessa Collier, Mambo

Aug. 10 - Cracker, Matty B and the Pickles

Aug. 17 - The Vindys, Aria and the Voiceless

Aug. 24 - Erie All Stars, CEE Brown

Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing: Sunday Sesh returns

8398 W. Main Rd. (Rt. 20), Westfield, N.Y. // Sundays 1 to 4 p.m. // https://fiveand20.com/events/ 

June 2 - Jay Baumgardner

June 13 - Fred Oakman ft. Sarah Peters

June 20 - Doug Phillips

June 27 - 50 Miles to Empty

July 4 – Jordan (and Jon) Maillet

July 11 – Paolello and Gone

July 18 – The Buttermilk Falls Gang

July 25 – The Rooftop Project Band

Aug. 1 – Adam McKillip

Aug. 8 – Chris Ehrich and Tony Kellogg

Aug. 15 – Division Street Machine

Goodell Gardens: Summer Music Series - Socially Distanced 

221 Waterford St., Edinboro, PA // Fridays (and one Saturday) 7 to 9 p.m. facebook.com/GoodellGardensandHomestead 

June 11 - Jess Royer

June 25- Rodger Montgomery Blues Band

July 2 - Seann Clark & Friends

July 16 - Salmon Frank

July 24 - Mambo Jazz

July 30 - Patchouli & Terra Guitarra

Aug. 6 - Tiger Maple String Band

Aug. 13 - Slim & Red

Aug. 20 - Tiny Paper Boats 

French Creek Concert Series

Voodoo Brewery Production Facility, 834 Bessemer St., Meadville, PA // Facebook @Justin Moyar Events

June 19 - Stormalong Scoundrels, Deep Fried and Dipped in Honey, Michael McFarland, The Band Hannah

July 17 - Cold Lazarus, LUCiD, Elektra Kings, Mike Sopko Duo

Aug. 21 - Clever Norman, Rodger Montgomery Band, Gary Prisby, House of Rhythm

Sept. 25 - Tail Light Rebellion, Fred Oakman and the Flood, Oak Compass, Samantha Sears

The Heron Summer Series

2361 Wait Corners Rd, Sherman, NY // theheron.org/the-heron-summer-series

June 5 - Orange Corner and Wave Trails

June 11 - Ryan Montbleau, The Bones of J.R. Jones, and more

June 19 - PA Line and Mark Mincarelli

June 26 - Slyboots Circus

July 2 and 3 - Little Blue Heron: The Probables, Sim Redmond Band, The Jakobs Ferry Stragglers, Richie & rose, Rose and the Bros, Tiger Maple String Band, Cats on Holiday, Oak Hill Drifters

July 9 - Bluegrass Zydeco Folkfaces, Black Rock Zydeco, Blind Owl Band, The Honey Smugglers, Dirty Blanket

July 16 and 17 - DY Jonny Cobra

July 18 - An Evening with Keller Williams, Dr. Bacon

July 23 and 24 - Americana Folk, Driftwood, The Arcadian Wild, Danielle Ponder, Joe and Sans, Mikaela Davis

July 31 - Rebecca McIlvain, Someday Maybe Band, Josh Fox, Tyler Wescott

Aug. 13 and 14 - Dave McDonald Heron 5K, Steve Davis Group, DJ Jim Bloomquist

Aug. 20 and 21 - Leroy Townes Band, Uncle Ben's Remedy

Aug. 27-29 - Caribbean Vibe, Carlos Jones & the PLUS Band, Mosaic Foundation, Sim Redmond Band, Orquesta l Muralla, Vibe Supply

Sept. 3 and 4 - Funky Soul, Smackdab, Plastic Nebraska, Funktional Flow, Cold Lazarus

Sept. 17 and 18 - Lights Out: Wild Adriatic, Lazlo Hollyfield, Sonny Baker Band, BEu, TVMTN, Bearhunter, Fever Hawk, Tines, Hot at Bats, Trip the Deuce, Handsome Jack

Hill District Artisan Fleas: Erie Hill District Collaborative Sidewalk Sundays

Peach St., 26th St. to 24th St. // 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. // shopsonthehill.org 

June 27 - TBA

July 25 - TBA

Aug 29 - TBA

Sept 26 - TBA

PACA: [LiVE!] Concert Series

1505 State St. // paca1505.org

June 7 - Jumper Jamboree 

June 13 - Erica Snowden-Rodríguez

Jun 20 - Drippy Clouds

June 21 - Fujiwara • Halvorson • Bynum Trio Tour

June 27 - Hard Luck Story

July 4 - JC Nickles

July 11- Mala Sangre

July 18 - Jeff Fetterman Band

July 25 - Liss Victory

Peek'n Peak: Music at Bistro 210 

1405 Old Rd, Clymer, NY // Fridays (mostly) 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. // pknpk.com/events 

June 25 - The Highlife

July 2 - The Acoustic Jukebox

July 9 - Erika & Jesse

July 17 - Tui Osborne

July 23 - Ron Yarman

Picnic in the Park - North East

2 Gibson Street, North East, PA // Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. // northeastarts.org

June 17 - Erie Heights Ensemble

June 24 - The Bubble Gum Machine

July 1 - Mad Man of Magic

July 8 - Juggler Howard

July 15 - Jungle Terry

July 22 - Hoola Hoop Kinetic Energy

July 29 - Harry's Wizardry Guide

Aug. 5 - Ventriloquist Kevin

Aug. 12 - Krazy Kitchen Kemistry

Aug. 19 - Elvis Impersonator Mark Carr

Presque Isle Downs: Churchill's Bourbon and Brew

8199 Perry Highway // Fridays 5 to 7 p.m. // presqueisledowns.com/entertainment

June 4 - Doug Phillips 

June 11 - Justin Moyar

June 18 - TVM Unplugged

June 25 - SASS Acoustics 

Riverside Brewing Company: 

1 Fountain Street, Cambridge Springs, PA // Thursdays through Sunday // riversidebrewing.co/entertainment 

June 3 - Kevin Wilson, 6 to 8 p.m.

June 4 - Jay Bird and Haley B, 5 to 8 p.m.

June 5 - SASS Acoustics, 6 to 9 p.m.

June 6 - Matt Crays, 3 to 6 p.m.

June 10 - Amy Shallenberger, 6 to 8 p.m.

June 11 - Elias Khouri, 5 to 8 p.m.

June 12 - Bartlow Brothers, 6 to 9 p.m.

June 13 - Jenn and Scott Acoustics - 3 to 6 p.m.

June 17 - Rodger Montgomery, 6 to 8 p.m.

Skunk & Goat Tavern: Music every Wednesday

17 West Main St., North East, PA // Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. // skunkandgoattavern.com

June 2 - Ron Yarman

June 9 - ABIGAIL

June 16 - Jesse Smith

July 21 - ABIGAIL

July 28 -  Erika & Jesse

Aug. 4 -  ABIGAIL

Aug. 18 -  Hamilton

Aug. 25 -  Erika & Jesse

Sept. 1 - Ron Yarman

Venango General Store

21747 Cussewago St, Venango, PA // Thursdays 6 to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 6:30 to 9 p.m., Sundays 12 to 2 p.m. // see venangogeneralstore.com/events for full schedule

June 4 - Acoustic Duo 

June 5 - Rodger Montgomery 

June 6 - Mark Morris

June 10 - Open mic

June 11 - Touch of Grey

June 12 - JR Miller Blues, Ripper Acoustics 

June 13 - Tony Kellogg, Breakfast with Jesus, United Methodist Church

June 18 - Fred Oakman

June 19 - Rick McGee and the Roadhouse Rockers, Jesse James Weston

June 20 - Father's Day Meatfest with Justin Moyar

June 25 - Jeff Glover

June 26 - Salmon Frank

June 27 - Breakfast with Jesus

Aug. 10 - Tony Kellogg, Kevin Wilson

Aug. 11 - Jesse James Weston, Breakfast with Jesus

Aug. 18 - Breakfast with Jesus

Aug. 23 - Wildwood Express

Aug. 24 - Touch of Grey

Voodoo Brewery Erie: Continuing from early May

101 Boston Store Pl. // Every Friday on the Patio from 5 to 8 p.m. // facebook.com/voodooerie 

June 4 - Matt Crays

June 11 - Mike Edgerly

June 18 - The Jeebies

June 25 - Paper Matches

July 2 - Michael McFarland

July 9 - Bigg Wash Presents

July 16 - Mike Sopko Duo

July 23 - Slim and Red

July 30 - Justin Moyar

WQLN Sounds Around Town

8425 Peach St. // Fridays 7:30 to 9 p.m. // wqln.org/Watch/Sounds-Around-Town 

July 9 - Erie Philharmonic Brass Ensemble

July 16 - The Riff Riders

July 23 - Tiny Paper Boats

July 30 - Smilo & The Ghost

Festivals

Riverside Music Festival

June 25 - 27

1 Fountain Street, Cambridge Springs, PA // riversidebrewing.co

Friday: Rick Magge and the Roadhouse Rockers, The Band Hannah, The Vics

Saturday: Mayflower Hill, Fred Oakman & the Flood, Cold Lazarus, Shoefly Soul, Lamb Lion, Me and the Boy, Lore, Oak Compass

Sunday: Mike Sopko w/ Joe Tomino, Josh Travis Band, Chuck Wimer, Chelcie Gette

Erie Food Truck Festival

July 12, 3 to 8 p.m.

Former G.E. fields in Lawrence Park, 800 Water St. // eriefoodtruckfestival.com 

French Creek Music Fest

July 16-18

Venango General Store, 21747 Cussewago St, Venango, PA // 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1807048789447383/ 

Waterford Heritage Days

July 16 - 18 

Fort LeBoeuf Heritage Center, 108 High St., Waterford, PA //waterforddays.com

Discover Presque Isle 

July 21 - 25 

Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Dr. // discoverpi.com

The Gathering at Chaffee's

July 23 and 24

8296 Mill St., Girard, PA // thegatheringatchaffees.com

With: Mungion, əkoostik hookah, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, Doctor Lo Faber, Eric Brewer & Friends, The LEC, Phunkademic, Matty & the Pickles, Stephen Trohoske & the Art Groupies, Yurt Alert, Cosmic Rhythm, Paper Matches, Aria & the Voiceless, Shoefly Soul, The Jeebies, Dom & Colette, Chris Ehrich, Jess Royer, Fresco, with MC Matt "Broke" Boland

Dan Rice Days

Aug. 5 -7

34 Main St W, Girard, PA // danricedays.com/schedule

North East Firemen's Cherry Festival

July 13 - 17 (Drive-thru only)

31 N Lake St, North East, PA // facebook.com/necherryfestival

St. Paul's Italian Festival

Aug. 6 - 8 

1617 Walnut St. // https://erieitalianfest.com/ 

Zabawa Polish Festival

Aug. 27 - 29

Holy Trinity Parish, 2220 Reed St. // holytrinityrc.org/zabawa.html 

Erie's Wild Rib Cookoff & Music Festival: Aka Ribfest

Sept. 15 - 18

Perry Square, Downtown Erie //  erieribfest.com

Resonance Music and Arts Festival

Sept. 16 - 18

Cooper's Lake Event Venue and Campground, 205 Currie Rd, Slippery Rock, PA // /resonancemusicfest.com/lineup

With: Tipper, Lettuce, Emancipator, Keller Williams, and more

North East Wine Festival

Sept.  24-26 (Gibson Park only)

2 Gibson Street, North East, PA // nechamber.org

Panegyri Greek Festival

Oct. 24 (Drive-thru only)

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 4376 West Lake Rd. // www.erieorthodox.org

County Fairs 

Cochranton Fair

Aug 2-9

Cochranton, PA // cochrantonfair.org

Warren County Fair

Aug. 10 - 14

Pittsfield, PA //warrencountyfair.net

Crawford County Fair

Aug 21-28

Meadville, PA //crawfordcountyfairpa.com

Erie County Fair

Aug. 29 - Sept. 4 

Wattsburg, PA // wattsburgfair.com/index.php  

Spartansburg Community Fair

Sept. 5 - 11

Spartansburg, PA // facebook.com/SpartaFairPA

Waterford Community Fair 

Sept. 6 - 11 

Waterford, PA // waterfordfair.org

Albion Area Fair

Sept. 14 - 18

Albion, PA // albionfair.com

This list is subject to change. This is not a complete list. Items have been added since the print edition.  If you would like to be added to this list, email nick@eriereader.com.