27 bands scheduled to play annual Band Blast at New Kensington's Memorial Park

More than two dozen bands are scheduled to perform for the annual Band Blast at Memorial Park in New Kensington this year.

The lineup consists of 11 bands performing on the main stage and 16 acoustic acts on the second stage.

“This is the biggest lineup we’ve ever had for any of our shows,” said Lou Downard, a member of New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park, which has sponsored the event as a fundraiser for the preservation and revitalization of the park since 2011.

Band Blast will be held Sunday, Sept. 11. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Bands will perform from noon to 8 p.m.

Admission is, as it always has been, $5 per person. Downard said they decided against raising it.

“Money is tight for people,” he said. “I’d rather have more people there.”

There will food vendors and raffles. Those attending are able to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

The 11 bands performing on the main stage volunteer their time to play half-hour sets. Music genres include contemporary Christian, classic rock, alternative, country rock, hard rock and blues.

“We get way more requests for people to come and play than we have slots,” Downard said. “It’s a good problem for us to have.”

Among the new performers this year is “Jimmy Mac and The Attack,” this year’s closing act. The four-member group plays rock and blues, said Jim McCullough of Bellevue, who founded it in 2018 and plays guitar and sings.

“They contacted me and asked if I was interested,” McCullough said. “I like doing charity events here and there whenever I can. We happened to be open that day and decided to do it.”

McCullough said they’ll play original songs and covers. The band released a record of original songs, “One for the Blues,” a year ago.

McCullough, whose day job is working as a client relations manager for a Cadillac dealer, said he’s looking forward to playing at Band Blast.

“We all like playing music. We do it for fun,” he said. “I’ve very rarely gotten the chance to do a gig and not enjoyed it. It’s part of what I do.”

Last year’s Band Blast raised almost $4,000, Downard said. The group still has that money, as no decisions were made on what to do with it.

Downard said they hope to combine last year’s proceeds with this year’s and work with a foundation to make a major improvement in the park. He said they will meet with city officials to discuss what could be done.

Mayor Tom Guzzo said they look forward to meeting with Downard and the board after this year’s event.

Proceeds from past Band Blasts have helped pay for remodeling the park’s band shell and pavilions, building a new floor in front of the shell and buying benches, Guzzo said.

“It has been a great help to the city, and we appreciate it,” he said.

Guzzo has delivered opening remarks at every Band Blast.

“This event is really meaningful. It was started by a group of people I went to high school with who always enjoyed Memorial Park and looked at ways of maintaining and improving it,” he said. “The Blast is such a popular event, and the board books more bands every year. People come from all over to enjoy the day.”

Band Blast lineup

Main stage

• Noon: A New Day Sunrise

• 12:45 p.m.: We’re Almost Home

• 1:30 p.m.: Johnson’s Crossing

• 2:15 p.m.: The Rust Project

• 3 p.m.: Low Life Drifters

• 3:45 p.m.: Heidi and The Hellcats

• 4:30 p.m.: Chip & Charge Ups

• 5:15 p.m.: Curtis & The Shakerz

• 6 p.m.: Cosmic Attack

• 6:45 p.m.: Big House Pete

• 7:30 p.m.: Jimmy Mac & The Attack

Second stage — half-hour sets beginning from noon to 7:30 p.m.

Jeff Hartz, Kay-Lynn, Kirk Thoma, Pete Rugh, Donna O, Nicole & JP, Bob & Barb w/JP on guitar, Noble Hops, Bruce Guay, Maria & Jason from TKO, Wendy Koulouris, Eliana Koulouris, Kari Streib, John Barnes, Dos Acoustics, Jimbo Jackson