Arts groups show power with study

The Power of the Arts committee this week unveiled its long-awaited study on the financial impact of arts and cultural events in the Mahoning Valley.

Arts groups like to attach a dollar amount to their endeavors to help lawmakers and the public comprehend their worth, and the findings of the POA study backed up their claims. The arts pump $25.6 million per year into the local economy, the study found, through expenditures by the organizations and also by their patrons. Entertainment creates a lot of related spending — restaurants, drinks, parking, gifts, clothes, lodging — that ripples through the economy, accounting for about half of that $25.6 million figure.

Perhaps the most important take-away from the study is that the arts are not something that communities have to support. Rather, arts and culture is an industry that boosts the economy, creates jobs (930 in the Valley), generates government revenue in taxes and fees ($2.5 million), and also helps lure new businesses to the area.

RWB on national TV

Reminder: Red Wanting Blue will make its national television debut Wednesday when it performs on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” The appearance marks the arrival of the Columbus-based rock band, which signed with Fanatic Records in 2010. Youngstown always has been a stronghold for the band, which has spent the past decade touring the Midwest and beyond.

JAZZMAN in hometown show

Jazz star Sean Jones, a Warren native, will perform with area big band the Top Notes tonight at the Warren Community Amphitheatre in a free concert that begins at 7 p.m.

Jones has spent more than five years as the lead trumpeter for Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He released his sixth CD, “No Need For Words,” last year.

Jones, who tours the world as a guest soloist with a variety of jazz groups, is on the faculty at Duquesne University and Oberlin College and serves as the artistic director for the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.

A VEGAS SPECTACULAR?

The iHeartRadio Music Festival is one of the biggest of the year, but its superstar-laden lineup is an illogical mess.

It includes Taylor Swift, Aerosmith, Rihanna, Usher, Bon Jovi, Lil Wayne, Green Day, Swedish House Mafia, No Doubt, Brad Paisley, Pitbull, Deadmau5, Miranda Lambert, Enrique Iglesias, Linkin Park, Jason Aldean, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Calvin Harris and Shakira.

Obviously, the iHeartRadio folks’ goal is to draw top acts from all genres of music for this radio-friendly event Sept. 21-22 in Las Vegas.

But as a music festival, it has no theme, no continuity and no like-mindedness — all integral parts.

These artists (and their fanbases) have little in common. They vary so wildly that it might be difficult to find anybody who could tolerate all of the artists on this list, much less like them all.

Dog Days in Volant village

Beginning Saturday (and continuing on the second Saturday of each month), the picturesque village of Volant, Pa., will host Yappy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Pet owners can bring their favorite pooch and relax in the Meeting House gardens. There will be pet treats, a wading pool and water stations, plus refreshments and music for the owners.

Many of the village’s 20 specialty shops also will welcome pets and their owners for shopping throughout the day. The day also will feature horse-drawn covered-wagon rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., live folk music and fresh Amish-made donuts and other products. Go to volantshops.com.