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![]() ![]() Evans Amphitheatre ![]() 10:30-11:00PM
![]() 9:00-10:30 Cleveland’s “Old School” legendary Reggae band. Live in person: Dave Smeltz and the legendary I-Tal set the musical Reggae bar for First Light and Carlos Jones to follow in their footsteps. (to be joined by musicians from festival for finale encore jam). Click here to view a video interview between I-Tal member Carlos Jones, and one of the Big Cool Cats festival organizers, Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready.
![]() 7:00-8:30 Mifune Taking the artistic passion of eight individuals and making something that’s cohesive and without pretension can be a tall order. Mifune knows this. The diversity of elements that make up this group is akin to spinning around and around in a record store stopping and pointing at random sections. The amalgamation of styles is nothing new in American music, and Mifune hails from the true America, the gritty, post-industrial gem of a town, Cleveland, Ohio. This reality is fuel for the funky poly-rhythms, tight harmonies, soulful vocals and the blazing horns that create the irresistible pulse that marks the group’s compositions. Live, the group inspires an atmosphere as diverse as their components. Sure, the deep rooted grooves will make you dance, but it’s also all at once a joyful, thought-provoking, and passionate affair. Call it Afro Electronique, combining funky poly-rhythms, soulful vocals and blazing horns. Definetly one of Cleveland’s most unique and happening musical ensembles. http://mifunemusic.com, http://myspace.com/mifunesound
![]() 5:00-6:30 Magpies They call it IndieFolkRockRevivalism. But Scene calls them the “Best Americana Band” and vocalist/songwriter Roger Hoover the “Best Singer/Songwriter, according to their annual awards. Reflecting their collaborative spirit and the solidification of their 4-piece lineup (Doug and Dave McKean from Boys From the County Hell, Justin Gorski from Whiskey Island Ramblers and Roger Hoover), the band has evolved from calling itself Roger Hoover and the Whiskeyhounds to The Magpies over the course of 4 acclaimed album releases. Eastern Standard Time, their latest release, offers roots anthems with a contagious fervor that lifts American rock and roll ghosts from the floorboards, shaking out melodies with the charisma of a hexed snakehandler. http://www.myspace.com/magpiesrock http://www.MagpiesMusic.com
![]() 3:15-4:30 Mo' Mojo Layin down that Hot Bayou Beat! Playing a mix of Zydeco, Blues and Cajun in the New Orleans Mardi Gras style. They take the best of Zydeco and mix it with the hottest of the Jam Band spirit to create live shows that unite the audience and the band with something vital and alive. Featuring a pumping accordion, wild fiddle, blazing guitar, grooving bass, driving drums and soaring vocals, all topped off with the rhythm of the rubboard. http://www.myspace.com/momojomusic
![]() 1:30-2:45 Cats On Holiday Purveyors of Roots, Country andAmericana music. The Cat’s create a sound as if on a journey up the Mississippi River, to the Ohio River and resting on the shores of Lake Erie. Cats On Holiday will be presenting a special performance with the Mifune horn section for Big Cool Cats festival. http://www.CatsOnHoliday.com
![]() 12:00-1:00 70 Lewis Alternative/Progressive Pop Band. Amplified or acoustic, 70 Lewis exhibits an exuberance and energy rare in our cynical age. Highlighting instrumentation that includes piano, violin, trumpet, melodica, bells and lap steel, 70 Lewis have forged a unique sound that ranges from arch ballads to tuneful pop gems. “Soulful vocals ala Freddy Mercury on top of the pop sensibilities of Ben Folds. MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/70lewis. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/70LewisVideos. Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/70lewis.
![]() Colonnade Acoustic Stage ![]() 8:30-9:00 Jesse Barnes The music and life of Jesse Barnes reads like a comic strip. A Cleveland kid of Mexican and Irish descent, he grew up shining shoes and playing blues guitar in his father's barbershop. After attending college in New Orleans, Jesse spent years working odd jobs during the day while taking any gigs he could get, ranging from playing jazz standards to backing soul singers, dj’s, and mc’s. Barnes longed for an urban sophistication where text message torpedoes burst with street corner poetry. Avoiding the reactionary sounds streaming from the airwaves, he set on a musical trajectory that ripped him through the Rust Belt to Rio, New Orleans to New York. Armed with a classical guitar and mellow voice, Jesse began exploring ways to reconcile his musical affinity for hip-hop with his passion for bossa nova. This Backbeat-Romantic has recently been spotted hosting sold-out living rooms, cafes and subway cars, sporting a cast of funky drummers and custom mpc’s. Jesse is also an artist-educator with the International House of Blues Foundation and Roots of American Music where he continues to work with under-served kids. He is inspired by: Joao Gilberto, Bill Frisell, and the albums Blowout Comb and Aquemini. http://www.myspace.com/jbarnez
![]() 4:30-5:00 Jack DiAlesandro Jack DiAlesandro performs solo playing ragtime and blues guitar. He can be found performing the first Thursday of every month at the Barking Spider Tavern with Kevin Richards and Raymond Deforrest. He has been featured at the KSU Folk Festival (Main Stage and workshops), Cuyahoga Valley Folk Festival with Johnny Gimble , Kenny Baker , Josh Graves and many other artists in the Country-bluegrass-Blues Genre. He performs at the Cleveland Zoo with the Riverbottom Bushwhackers ( as part of the Australian exhibit). He has played libraries, craft fairs, festivals, and bookstores since 1972. At the Big Cool Cats Music Festival, Jack DiAlesandro will be performing with Kevin Richards, who will also perform a solo set from 1:00 - 1:30PM http://rootsofamericanmusic.org/staff-richards.htm.
![]() 2:45-3:15 Jon Mosey Jon Mosey is a compelling performer who presents a truly unique blend of original music - innovative yet familiar. He is equally at home playing pre-war Blues styles, Ragtime, Western Swing, Old-time string band music, Cajun or a variety of other traditional American musics. Jon’s songwriting is firmly grounded in those traditions, yet distinctly contemporary. Widely acknowledged for his stunning, intricate guitar work, he has received international recognition for his mastery of the instrument as well as for his songwriting. He has released five critically acclaimed albums of his own as well as performing on a number of recordings with other artists. Described as “one of the great musical treasures of Northeast Ohio”, Jon’s warm voice, extraordinary guitar skills, distinctive songwriting, and powerful performances have earned him a reputation as a “must see”. Jon Mosey is a fresh, rootsy original.
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