Jones for Revival plans extended set at festival

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By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

Those who go to Jonesfest on Saturday will get an extra-large helping of Jones for Revival.

The jam band will close its annual music festival with a four-hour set — including an hour of the Grateful Dead — beginning at 7 p.m. In past years, the Youngstown-based quartet, whose following extends beyond the region, played for only two hours.

Jones For Revival’s annual grand gathering at Nelson Ledges — the high point of JFR’s summer-festival calendar — is now in its fourth year. There were originally three other acts on the bill, but scheduling difficulties have reduced it to one: John Welton of Waterband, who will provide an acoustic set.

If anyone can pull off a four-hour set, its the prolific Jones For Revival. The band has mountains of material and prides itself on keeping every show unique.

“Dave Lynn [bass, vocals] and I have been writing three or four songs a month since January,” said Jim DeCapua, guitarist for the improv-leaning band.

JFR is in it for the long haul, and DeCapua said he and Lynn, who are the chief songwriters, pick up their instruments every day. “[Lynn] will call and say, ‘You have to check this out,’ and I’ll drive an hour to his house [in Pennsylvania] to hear what he came up with,” said DeCapua, who is also the guitarist for Cleveland’s Waterband.

Drummer Gino West and keyboardist Ryan Mitiska round out the band. Saxophonist Fredo Burazer’s stint with the band has ended because of his work obligations, although he still sits in whenever possible.

Summertime is Jones For Revival time, and the band is booked in 10 festivals in the region. It will return to Nelson Ledges the last weekend of July and again Aug. 20. Go to the band’s new website, JFRBand.com, for details.

Jonesfest has been drawing a little more than 1,000 people to Nelson Ledges, and expects to equal that this year. Admission is $20 and includes swimming and overnight camping, which makes it the most inexpensive show of the season at the park.

After the festival, JFR will hit the studio to record its newest songs, with a mid- to late- summer release on iTunes anticipated.