Southern Fried Rock Show set to hit the stage in Freeport

There aren’t that many music events in the area dedicated to promoting local bands that play original music. But thanks to the Southern Fried Rock Show, four area country rock bands playing mostly their own songs will be showcased Saturday night at the Freeport Event Center.

This year marks the 17th edition of the show, which began in 2006 but missed one year, 2020, because of the covid-19 pandemic.

The headliners are Freeport- based Halfway Down, a group of four musicians who have graduated from high school within the past few years.

“They are four very talented young kids, and they play rock spanning 40 to 50 years. It’s pretty impressive. I don’t know where they get it from,” said Utah Burgess, the festival organizer, regional promoter, musician, record label owner and Freeport Event Center manager.

“I think just discovering that musicianship, the bands from the era, the musicianship is just off the hook. That’s the reason this music is still around. I started working with them when they were still in high school.”

Country/blue grass band Strung Over, made up of veteran musicians, will open the evening. They’ll be followed by Burgess’ band, Noble Hops, which has been around for a dozen years and plays everything from acoustic to original rock.

In addition to Burgess, Jenifer Lynn Baker and Zach Rovito share lead vocal duties. Rovito also performs with another band in the lineup, DinnerBell Road, which features country rock.

DinnerBell Road features another big name on the local music scene, Cook McKoy, who also performs with the band Rust Belt Rhythm.

“What we’re doing, primarily, is putting a focus on the local music scene here,” said Burgess, who also hosts the “Grass Roots Show” on 97.7-FM WLER radio in Butler, which plays songs recorded by local musicians.

Burgess said he finds it gratifying to oversee a music festival showcasing original songs by local bands that’s so well supported by fans in the surrounding area.

“It’s not the same bands every year. We’ve had bands that have played it multiple times,” Burgess said. “It speaks volumes I think on the quality of the musicianship of the original music scene here in western Pennsylvania. We believe it’s as strong as anything on the national level.

“Just because these bands maybe haven’t gotten noticed, or haven’t gotten help along the way, doesn’t mean that what they’re doing isn’t on par with anything else anywhere else. People who can spot that and recognize that come out.”

Tickets for the show cost $15 at the door or $10 if purchased in advance by following a link at freeporteventcenter.com.