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Music festivals in downtown Youngstown VexFest features area’s best
Here’s the lineup:
EAST STAGE
12:30-1 p.m.: SGW
1:45-2:30 p.m.: Two Days Until Tomorrow
3:15-4 p.m.: White Cadillac
4:45-5:30 p.m.: Kitchen Knife Conspiracy
6:15-7 p.m.: Hoss and the Juggernauts
7:45-8:30 p.m.: Gary Markasky project
9:30-11 p.m.: Zach Deputy
WEST STAGE
Noon-12:30 p.m.: Drop the act
1-1:45 p.m.: Alteras
2:30-3:15 p.m.: Ryan Ross and The Y-town Syndicate
4-4:45 p.m.: Impending Lies
5:30-6:15 p.m.: Asleep
7-7:45 p.m.: 5 Elements
8:30-9:30 p.m.: Tropidelic
WAREHOUSE 50
Noon-12:45 p.m.: Mississippi Gun Club
1-1:45 p.m.: Remains of jade
2-2:45 p.m.: Younger Still
3-3:45 p.m.: Idle Shades
4:-4:45 p.m.: John Dante and the Inferno
5-5:45 p.m.: Demos Papadimas
6-6:45 p.m.: The Bees Trees
7-7:45 p.m.: The Youngstonians
8-8:45 p.m.: Northern Whale
9-9:45 p.m.: Turbo Lovers
10-10:45 p.m.: Orwellian
11-11:45 p.m.: Grey Dealer
Midnight-12:45 a.m.: The Vindys
1-2 a.m.: Woodside Manor
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
After taking a year off, VexFest returns this Sunday.
Now in its 10th iteration, the all-day free rock festival will begin at noon on East Federal Street, downtown, with national touring act Zach Deputy as the headliner and a host of the area’s top bands.
“I’m really excited about the lineup this year,” said Ryan Rexroad, the festival production team, which also includes Dan Crump, John Jones, Fred Rafidi, Hoss Jarman and Jason Tibolla. “It has a little bit of everything from hard rock to folk music and everything in between. There are some legendary VexFest acts like Kitchen Knife Conspiracy, Asleep, 5 Elements and Grey Dealer along with first-time bands on the bill.”
Rexroad said 285 bands from all over the world applied to play VexFest, but only 28 were selected, mainly from the Youngstown area.
“We wanted to highlight the local talent and diversity that the Youngstown music scene has to offer, and I think we nailed it,” said Rexroad. “We are fortunate to live in an area that has so many bands that are willing to come together and play a free festival for the community.”
Rexroad – who plays best in local country-rocker the Robbie Jay Band, which is now on hiatus – has seen VexFest from all sides: as a fan, a performer, and an organizer.
“I can remember coming to the festival while I was in high school,” he said. “Being a musician, I always wanted to play VexFest. I had that opportunity when I played bass in the Robbie Jay Band at Vex 8 and that was a dream come true. I got into the production side of VexFest back in 2013 with Vex 9.”
VexFest will be set up the same as it was two years ago, with an outdoor stage at either end of the block, and an indoor stage in adjacent Warehouse 50.
Veteran VexFest-goers, however, will notice some changes.
Rexroad said there will be a food-truck caravan to give more food options, and an improvement in beer selection, with Great Lakes Brewing Co. products available.