bands

Stonehenge

Dead Flowerz

Stonehenge comes to the Labor Day stage celebrating the band’s 40th birthday! Playing true classic rock from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the band brings the talents of Pat Leone on drums, Phil Reeder on bass, and Wally Grier and Steve Linn on guitars. Playing only and handful of dates a year, including local benefits, Stonehenge still brings the energy and showmanship they have always been known for. Make sure to get to the Regatta this Labor Day Monday to see Stonehenge live from 5 to 7 p.m.

Dead Flowers out of Jersey Shore features Bob Marshall on guitar, Danny Hively on guitar, Bob Yoas on bass and Rich Orner on drums. The band plays classic rock, Tom Petty, Beatles, Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton.

Mason Dixon

Kevin VanAmburg - Guitar, Vocals, Keyboard
Gary Lynn - Guitar, Vocals
Tim Aikey - Drums, Vocals
Lee Baird - Bass, Vocals
Playing Classic 70's and 80's Rock

Started in 1998 as a Southern Rock Tribute band, evolved into a more mainstream classic rock band. Years of playing together has resulted in very tight and polished versions of some of the best classic rock songs of the 70's and 80's. Trying to stay away from the "same old, same old" bar band songs, we have come up with a set list that is full of songs that you don't automatically expect to hear when you think of classic rock bands. While we still go back to our roots for a few Skynyrd and Molly Hatchett songs, the bulk of our set consists artists like Journey, Styx, AC/DC, Foghat, REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith and April Wine, we have even been known to throw a Prince tune in now and then.

Ros Wilting

Nowadays, it can be difficult to distinguish one band’s sound from another. Ros Wilting defies that stigma with a unique sound that is definitely their own. Driven by distorted, melodic guitars over pounding drums and bass, with pure yet provocative vocals, their songs are fresh, hooky and radio friendly. They love to perform and their live shows are energetic and fun with a goal of entertainment for the audience - and themselves! The band is working hard and doing everything they can to get their music and name out there. Ros Wilting features Kathi Kowski on guitar/voice, Ringo Mortis on drums, and Lynne Ruchlewicz on bass. Kathi and Ringo have been writing and performing together since their first project, Baltimore band Mommi I’m Scared. MIS was a successful true-indie band and garnered attention up and down the East Coast based on the unique songs of Kathi and Ringo and exciting live shows. They received local and regional press coverage and airplay on many college stations leading to top ten charting on the CMJ. Maintaining their indie spirit, Ros Wilting produced, engineered and recorded their debut CD in their very own Sound Shed Studios. Released in June 2008, “Ros Wilting” is currently available on CDBaby, itunes,
Amazon, and many other digital download sites. One of the CD’s songs, Lost In Poland, won Honorable Mention in the prestigious Mid-Atlantic Song Contest in 2008. They have recorded quite a few new songs, a few of which have already received airplay and attention by indie radio stations and websites. In 2011, Ros Wilting will continue to record new material and book shows wherever they can. So, check out their music and get out to see a Ros Wilting show - they will not disappoint!

Hard Drive

Hard Drive is a rockin’ band, based out of Altoona. The band consists of Ryan Clark on guitar and vocals, Dan Simpson on guitar and vocals, Paul Merkle on drums and vocals, and Quinton Flick on bass guitar and vocals. Hard Drive is Ryan Clark’s new electric band project that took flight after the dissolution of Rock & Rye. Ryan and Dan Simpson sing and play guitars and Paul Merkle plays drums. All of the band’s music is “get off your ass and dance rock,” with its playlist including AC/DC, Journey, Seether, Nirvana, Creed, Offspring, U2, Def Leppard, Green Day, Velvet Revolver, Kid Rock, Fuel, CCR, Collective Soul, Van Halen, Big and Rich, Bush, John Cougar Melloncamp, Wild Cherry, Tom Petty, Bob Seger, Neil Young, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Puddle of Mudd, Stevie Ray Vaughn and much, much more Sunday, sponsored by Bear Country, McElhattan

Doug and Melvin Irvin

This father/daughter duo delighted audiences at the Bear Bash the past couple of years, and are excited to be back this year. Doug is a singer/songwriter from Bellefonte. Megan has starred in several plays in the area, and sang the National Anthem for a State College Spikes ballgame this summer. They have been performing together for a few years and enjoy sharing their songs and harmonization when they get the chance. When they’re not singing, you can find them reading, picking raspberries and playing video games.

Richard Morris

Richard Morris got his first guitar at age 11, cutting his musical teeth on the Ventures and the Shadows instruments. Then came Bob Dylan, Lightning Hopkins and Jimmy Reed. The first guitar was laid aside for the big, blonde acoustic/electric, and then the Martin Simga, as Richard developed the funky, finger-picking style he plays today. Add raw, edgy and passionate vocals and enjoy a range of tunes from English folk songs, ‘60s classics and timeless blues.

Rural Route

Rural Route is an acoustic duo consisting of Ryan Collins on vocals and guitar and Rich Kline on guitar, harmonica and backing vocals, paying tribute to the best of Alt-Country Americana music (the other country music), singers who sing, writers who write and players who play. Strongly influenced by Kentucky-based Chris Knight (their name is taken from a track off his “Enough is Enough” recording, their goal is to spread the music of some of the best singer/songwriters around.

Mike Lewis

The former news anchor from WNEP, channel 16 in Scranton, is now a Nashville recording artist, and will be sharing his talents with us during his first appearance at the Bear Bash. Mike has now recorded three full-length CDs and writes much of his own material. A six-song CD of Mike’s original songs raised over $80,000 for the Boys and Girls Club in 2003. His latest released is titled, “Do Watcha Gotta Do.” Find out more about Mike at mikelewismusic.com.

Brian Molnar

Brian Molnar has the presence of a performer who’s always been around. He plays great honest music - music that is at the same time both unique and familiar. The moment you hear him you are sure you’ve heard him before - and
maybe you have. Molnar has performed both solo and with his band The Naked Hearts all over the country, at festivals and venues of the highest and lowest kind. He has shared the stage and/or recorded with such names as Ralph Stanley, Chris Hillman, Bernie Worrell, Garth Hudson, Neal Cassal, among many others. His last two albums with the Naked Hearts: “Temperance and The Devil” (2009) and Miss You (2010), both on Avenue A Records, have received rave reviews and have also reached high positions on the Americana Radio Chart – numbers 27 and 24 respectively - alongside some of the biggest names in music history. Brian and the band find themselves based out of Manhattan's East Village, where bars and clubs like Banjo Jim’s provide a home to the sound that is becoming increasingly popular amongst artists and fans alike around the world. There, along with co-conspirator Joe Cassady, Molnar brings some of the best roots influenced acts from NYC and all over the U.S. and the world to their co-hosted Avenue A Records showcase night, further broadening and developing the roots country scene in the East Village, a scene which has been led in no small part by Avenue A Records.

Shot in the Dark 357

Shot In The Dark 357 is Chris Schenck on guitar and lead vocals, John Hagyard on bass and vocals and Brandon McCloskey on drums and vocals. Shot In The Dark 357 began in November 2007 when Chris Schenk and drummer Dennis Green decided to put a group together to perform at Dennis’ company’s Christmas party. Chris invited a friend, singer Fran Askey, to help with vocals. Dennis mentioned he needed a bass player for the band to several of his co-workers. The plant manager told Dennis John Hagyard, an employee visiting the plant from the Altoona office, was a bass player and often filled in with various bands. Dennis asked John to sit in with the band for their first show. SITD357 performed their first show at Dennis’ party in December 2007 after only four rehearsals. The show was a success and SITD357 was born. In August 2008, Dennis left the band to pursue other interests. A young man from Clarence, Brandon McCloskey, stepped in to replace Dennis. With his first performance with the band less than a week away, Brandon learned the entire playlist in a matter of days. Chris and John were amazed with Brandon’s talent and they knew they had found their new drummer. In August 2009, Fran decided to leave SITD367 to spend more time with her family. Fran’s final performance with the band was New Years Eve, 2009. In January 2010, Andrea “AJ” Jones joined SITD357. AJ, a former drummer and vocalist with various bands, took over the female lead
vocal role and also provides backup vocals.

Ridin’ Shotgun

Ridin’ Shotgun is a four-piece country/classic rock band, playing contemporary country music, a dash of rock, and a pinch of southern rock and a smidge of rock, in and around western PA. The band formed about five years ago. Loud is great as long as it's clean. Places they have played are: Kelly's Place in Brockway,The Camouflage Inn in Stump Creek, The Rayne Drop Inn in Marion Center, Classic Bar and Grill in DuBois, the Needmore Firemans Parade in Needmore, the Jefferson County Fair, the Medix Inn in Weedville, St. Joes Polish Club in Delancey, Over the Mountain in Rockton, Behind The Moon in Falls Creek, the Curwensville Moose, the Gateway Café and the Walston Club.

Monday’s entertainment, sponsored by Schlesinger Communications, 92.1 WSQV and AM 1230 WBPZ, Lock Haven