Gahanna’s Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival notes teen prodigy headliner; local brews on tap
The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival is expected to return June 17-19 with some of the most noted blues and jazz musicians to be featured on three stages at 117 Mill St. in Gahanna. Presented by the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau, also known as Visit Gahanna, tickets are on sale via the festival’s website at creeksidebluesandjazz.com or may be purchased at the gate. Cost is £15 per adult ticket each day, or £30 for a weekend adult pass.
Lori Kappes, bureau director, said a big ticket discount would be available on International Jazz Day, April 30. She said children ages 10 and younger will be admitted for free with a paid adult, and admission will be buy-one, get-one free June 19. Artists of note, Kappes said, are Selwyn Birchwood, headliner of the Blues Stage at 7:45 p.m.
June 18; Shayna Steele, headliner of the Jazz Stage at 9:30 p.m. June 18; and Veronica Lewis, headliner of the Blues Stage at 3:30 p.m. June 19.
Birchwood’s gritty, unvarnished vocals draw audiences deep inside his unforgettable tales of love, passion, pain and pleasure, according to his website at selwynbirchwood.com/bio. “The rising guitar and lap steel player calls his original music ‘electric swamp funkin’ blues,’ defined by raw and soulful musicianship played with fire-and-brimstone fervor.” After spending eight years as a Broadway ensemble member in such shows as “Rent” and “Hairspray” and six years in the background, supporting artists like Bette Midler, Rihanna and Kelly Clarkson, Steele stepped out on her own with the release of her third studio album, “Watch Me Fly,” following the success of her “Rise” album (Ropeadope Records) in 2015, which reached No.
3 on the U.S. iTunes jazz charts, according to her website at shaynasteele.com. Steele has appeared as a soloist and guest artist with more than 40 symphony orchestras throughout North America, and her fourth studio album is set for release this fall. Kappes said Lewis is an 18-year-old prodigy.
With the release of her debut album, “You Ain’t Unlucky,” Lewis is poised to bring new generations back under that big old revival tent that is blues and roots rock ‘n’ roll, according to her website at veronicalewis.com that adds, “A mesmerizing live performer with serious piano chops, soaring vocals and trailblazing original songs, Veronica gives her audience ‘every last drop, every single time.'” In addition to the music, Kappes said, the CVB is working with Gahanna’s Edison Brewing Co., Nostalgia Brewing Co. and Heart State Brewing for the first time to offer local beers at the festival. “Each has a unique style to contribute to the offerings,” she said.
“Enjoying a beer outdoors is our thing at Edison Brewing Co. and joining this Gahanna event has us super excited,” said Wil Schulze, owner. “Our European styles of refreshing beers are made for music filled summer events like this.” Edison is to offer Hilda Hefeweizen, James Helles Lager, Patent Pils, Willy Goat Bock and All Mina English Pale Ale. Nostalgia Brewing owner Shawn White said he’s still working on the list of drafts for the festival.
“We are working with Edison and Heart State to complement the offerings,” he said. “It’s very exciting to have a local beer presence at the festival this year, and we definitely want to thank the Visit Gahanna team for being open to the idea.” For a schedule of artist with dates and times, go to creeksidebluesandjazz.com. [email protected]
@ThisWeekMarla
