Scott Tady: Chippewa, New Brighton, Ambridge shows to see

Three Beaver County concerts to consider next weekend:

Highland VFW Music Fest

From modern country to hair metal, and acoustic rock to '90s alt-rock, Highland VFW Music Fest in Chippewa Township has you covered Aug. 13.

Gates open at noon, with musical artists starting at 1 p.m., along with the outdoor food and drink service.

"We will once again encourage everyone to bring a lawn chair and join us for a full day of local music and fellowship," Highland VFW Music Fest spokesman Dave Flenner said. "This is an outdoor event and it will be held rain or shine, however. there will be a large tent with tables for people to enjoy the show and stay shaded from the sun. There will be raffle baskets and 50/50 drawings. The indoor facility will be open and this is an all-ages show and you do not need to be a member to attend."

Admission remains $5, and you may come and go as you please.

Acoustic acts Ben Flint and Brandon Green launch the music at 1 and 2 p.m.

"These two guys have been the anchor of my event as they have played at six of the seven shows," Flenner said.

At 3 p.m. another festival regular, country singer Dawn Savage, takes the stage, followed at 4 p.m. by 14-year-old Kennadi Flenner.

Back from Nashville, one of Beaver County's most electrifying singers, country artist Christian Beck, performs at 5 p.m., followed by '90s alternative rockers Wicked Season, '80s hair band inspired rockers Steel Reserve, and versatile pop-rockers The Project Band at 7.

"I dare anyone to say they can see that caliber of local music for $5," Flenner said.

Highland VFW's GPS/Google maps address is 376 Park Road, Beaver Falls.

Hip Hop 'n Hops at Altered Genius Brewing

Folks in Ambridge come up with clever concert names.

First came word last week of Jambridge, a Sept. 24 daylong music festival on Merchant Street.

Now we've got Hip Hop 'n Hops, a showcase of area hip-hop artists Aug. 12 at Altered Genius Brewing.

The 7 p.m. show features Jalon Taylor of Youngstown and EliasKwola of Beaver.

Tickets are $10.

"The featured artists will perform their original and local hip hop music and Altered Genius will serve up their original and local beer," promoter Jason Kwolek, brother of performer EliasKwola, said. "Take a break from the normal."

Altered Genius is at 411 Merchant St.

Ohio Weather Band will take stage at Wooley Bully's

From the land of Devo, The Black Keys and Chrissie Hynde hails Ohio Weather Band, a rock trio playing Wooley Bully's Juke-joint in New Brighton on Aug. 13.

Straight outta Akron, Ohio Weather Band prides itself on raw, melodic, rootsy songwriting accompanied by energetic performances.

"What happens on stage with us is authentic and passionate −never forced," singer-guitarist Corey King said. "If you were to blend CCR, The White Stripes, and Wilco you’d end up with OWB."

Ohio Weather Band has warmed audiences for Bon Jovi, Sammy Hagar, Justin Townes Earle and The Pretty Reckless, and has a month-old album, "High Noon Glow," featuring Lee Turner of Darius Rucker's band, on organ. I recommend the emotional track "Rubber Town."

The New Brighton show begins at 9 p.m. with no opener or cover charge. Wooley Bully's owner Jay Wooley booked OWB after seeing King perform in a Tom Petty tribute show in Akron.

"Soft, powerful voice, like a John Mayer," Wooley says.

Nightshift does good work

Nightshift, featuring Center Township-bred brothers Dan and Steven Kennelly, recently surpassed 1 million streams for its single "Just Enough Whiskey."

With a song title like that, you might assume it's a country song, but Nightshift puts a catchy indie-pop sheen on "Just Enough Whiskey."

Describing their sound as "electropop," Nightshift is now based in Columbus, Ohio, where the Kennelly siblings have day jobs in the information technology (I.T.) field. Though you know where a big part of their heart lies since their website, nightshiftband412.com, bears the Pittsburgh area code.

You might recall a column I wrote about Dan, a 2009 Center grad, when he got to hop on stage to sing at a Goo Goo Dolls concert in Columbus in 2019. There's YouTube footage of him acoustically strumming and solo singing the hit "Name" as Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik watches from the wings, and 3,000 fans cheer and snap footage.

More:August fun calendar for Beaver County & beyond

Samia and Lucy Dacus impress

Samia reminded me why you get there early for the opening act, even if you've never heard of them.

I went to Stage AE on July 27 to see rising indie-rock/singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus, and forgot to do my homework on who her support act, Samia, was.

As the clock struck 8 p.m. out came an unassuming band followed moments later by a waif-ish singer with a bit of a bare midriff. With her singular name, I braced for a long 40 minutes of bubbly electropop, but lo and behold, Samia and her band rocked out in an indie/alternative way. Her voice was strong and expressive, and her banter was entertaining, as when she apologetically warned the audience to expect a whole lot of sad songs. Maybe the lyrics were sad, but the 25-year-old Los Angeles native's not-too-serious interpretative dance moves were a hoot, punctuating her band's lively sound.

Near the end of her set, Samia enthusiastically thanked the Pittsburgh turnout of about 1,800, sparking a cheer so loud it appeared to make her get misty-eyed. Then she closed with a delightful cover of Fountain of Wayne's "Stacy's Mom."

One of those nights when a band and audience just totally connected.

I looked up Samia when I got home − turns out her mom is actress Kathy Najimy of "Hocus Pocus" fame.

As for the headliner, Dacus? She didn't disappoint, displaying a strong, warm and clear voice that delivered her sharply written songs like "Addictions," "I Don't Want to Be Funny Anymore" and encore pick "Night Shift," which the 27-year-old artist said she's never done so late in a set.

Adding rhythm guitar to her band's drums, bass and keys-driven sound, Dacus kept the vibe positive, even sailing through a much-welcomed cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in The Dark."

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Chippewa, New Brighton, Ambridge shows to see next weekend