Fourth Annual New Waterford Beer, Wine and Music Festival Sept. 13-14 | News, Sports, Jobs

Opening Friday’s live music at 6 p.m. is Turbo Lovers, From left, Christian Di Santis on drums, B.J. Lisko on vocals and guitar, and Keith Dougherty on bass at the fourth annual New Waterford Beer, Wine and Music Festival held Sept. 13 and 14. (Submitted photo/Gary Leininger)

NEW WATERFORD — Jason Gorby grew up when Ponderosa Park, located on state Route 45 near Salem, was in its heyday. In addition to being a campground, it hosted the country and rock stars. Since closing in June 2010, area residents have been limited on places where they go to enjoy performers.

But next month, local fans will have an opportunity to enjoy a weekend featuring music and some fun.

New Waterford, where Gorby serves as village administrator, is hosting a Fourth Annual New Waterford Beer, Wine and Music Festival on Friday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept 14, at the village park, 3760 Village Park Drive.

New Waterford Mayor Shane Patrone, who also serves on the village’s New Waterford Friends group, explained there is a 4 p.m. start time on Friday and noon start time on Saturday. Admission is free until after 6 p.m. when the music starts.

The event benefits the village park, which this year is focused on building real bathroom facilities instead of just renting a portapotty.

Throughout the day, beer and wine tickets are available for purchase at $5 per cup, and $10 if you are looking for a mixed drink.

New Waterford police officers and perhaps a few sheriff deputies will be patrolling the area’s beer garden, checking IDs and bracelets at all entrances to the event.

Attendees age 21 and older can purchase tickets for $5. A beer or wine costs one ticket, while mixed drinks are available for tickets.

There also will be food offerings available for purchase on site: barbecue, fair food and pizza.

Basket raffles, 50/50, and free parking will be available. There will be no outside food or drinks allowed.

Attendees are encouraged bring lawn chairs or blankets as there is limited available seating at the venue –3,000-plus attendees are expected.

Three musical acts appears on the event’s opening day, including nationally-recognized Saliva, best known for their hits, “Your Disease” and “Always” as well as “Superstar” and “Click Click Boom,” featured on the hit film, The Fast and The Furious.

Members include Bobby Amaru on vocals, Brad Stewart and Sammi Jo Bishop. The band will be appearing in New Waterford hot off the release of their most recent album, Revelation.

A guitar signed by Amaru also will be auctioned off during the event to benefit Friends 4 Autism.

Most of Saliva’s more recent music has more of a contemporary feel; however, overall the band still sticks to its blue collar Tennessee roots and is committed to those fans.

The other two musical acts performing before Saliva are Turbo Lovers from Youngstown and Nashville-based The Goldy Locks Band.

Turbo Lovers take the stage at 6 p.m. with some straight-up rock and roll. Having played live with Ace Frehley, Sebastian Bach, Warrant and many more heavy hitters, the band consists of front man B.J. Lisko on vocals and guitar, Keith Dougherty on bass and Christian Di Santis on drums.

The Goldy Locks Band, which is fronted by TNA (Total Non-stop Action Wrestling) manager and interviewer Goldy, makes up the trio with Johnny Oro and Rod Taylor, playing a fusion of rock, pop, jazz and metal. They are scheduled to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. followed by Saliva at 9 p.m.

In a nod to those country music lovers at Ponderosa Park, country dominates Saturday’s live acts.

First up is local favorite Garrett Owens, who hails from nearby Erie, Pa. A familiar face to the New Waterford crowds, Owens takes inspiration from his roots and now is preparing to write and record his own music.

“I write music based on what I feel, what I believe in, and what I’ve experienced in life,” Owens explained. “For me, it’s a way to speak the truth and make a positive impact in other people’s lives.” He is expected to take the stage at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Another Youngstown area act, The Berrys, takes to the stage at 5 p.m. Defined as a country rock band with a folky flair, the group is fronted by husband and wife singer/songwriters Rob and Adrienne Berry, whose latest album, The Wind, showcases their dreamy harmonies and relatable lyrics as inspired by artists like Chris Stapleton and Fleetwood Mac.

Around 7 p.m., Mark MacKay is set to begin his guitar-driven show that attracts a multi-genre audience to his guitar-driven shows. Having opened for everyone from hard rockers like Ted Nugent and REO Speedwagon to country hit makers like Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton, part of the attraction for his fans is his ability to just throw out the rule book “to craft a sound that was both rock and roadhouse, historic and contemporary,” as he explained on his website.

Closing out the event’s final night at 9 p.m. is CJ Solar, who himself is the perfect blend of both nights’ sound. He has opened for artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special and Hank Williams Jr. and written number singles for acts like Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line, who teamed up for the 2018 hit “Up Down.” Rolling Stone magazine named him a “New Artist You Need To Know.”

Patrone and Gorby are thrilled about this year’s lineup. “The bands are not ones that usually appear in our area,” the mayor explained. “Where else do you go for this quality of performers?”

For updates on the event, visit newwaterford-events.com