Blues Festival at Hartwood:
A “Fan”tastic Way to Feed the Hungry

By Rosemary Garrity

Most of us enjoy attending events when we have the opportunity to support worthwhile causes. The Pittsburgh Blues Festival, Making Music for the Hungry, is one of the most entertaining ways to do this. This year’s festival takes place July 20, 21 and 22 at Hartwood Acres. The musical line-up includes different varieties of blues styles, from Pittsburgh’s Billy Price Band to multi-Grammy winner, Delbert Mc Clinton. Once again, this year the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and Allegheny County have partnered. Allegheny County Chief Executive, Dan Onorato said, “The Pittsburgh Blues Festival is a perfect example of what sets us apart as a great place to live, work and play. Allegheny County is proud to be a partner in an event that has raised nearly $700,000 for the greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. Ron “Moondog” Esser, owner of Moondog’s blues bar and chairman of the Food Bank’s Blues Festival committee, announced that First Commonwealth is the new title sponsor. All of the featured acts are certain to draw crowds. What a pleasurable way to support the Food Bank!

“Last year more than eight tons of food was collected to help feed the hungry families in Allegheny County,” says Iris Valanti, Public Relations Coordinator for the Food Bank. This major feat was accomplished because food is collected on Free Friday, when fans receive free admission to Friday’s concert with a donation of a bag of groceries. Valanti adds, “We hope our blues fans will try to top that.”

It is sometimes hard to imagine that so many people in the Pittsburgh region go to bed hungry at night. For many, it is simply a reality. People who once held jobs find themselves unemployed, and yet have bills to pay and mouths to feed. An example of why the Food Bank is so important can be seen in this request. “I have one child and I can’t even afford to buy food let alone buy him Christmas or birthday gifts. Please tell me what I have to do to get some help.” Another person’s plight is similar. “I am embarrassed to ask for assistance, but I am finding it harder and harder to provide food for myself.” Having information like this makes it so easy to support this festival.

For blues aficionados the following will be performing: Billy Price Band, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, Walter Trout & the Radicals, Peter Karp & the Roadshow Band, Eric Lindell, Bernard Allison, Guy Davis, Larry McCray band and Delbert McClinton.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $22 (each day) in advance and $25 at the gate or $40 (advance only) for a weekend pass. More information can be found at www.pghblues.com or 412- 460-BLUE

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