West Deer man opens home to music for good causes

John Vento has always loved music and helping people.

He has dedicated years of his life and his home on Corbriwood Lane in West Deer to these two passions since 2007. A few times a year, his yard becomes the home of various charity concerts, one being his self-founded music festival, Corbriwoodstock.

The beginning

Vento, 64, discovered his now home in the early 2000s. It was a farmhouse built in the 1820s.

“I instantly fell in love with it,” Vento said. “The property just had a spirit to it.”

The previous owner had moved while the house was on the market, leaving the property unattended for about nine months and victim to the elements and critters looking for shelter.

“I was dead broke. I had a credit score of 400,” Vento said. “I’m not exaggerating.”

The previous owner didn’t want to see the house torn down and wanted to preserve as much of the original structure as possible.

In exchange for the promise he would fix up the property rather than tear it down, Vento entered a handshake, rent-to-buy agreement.

“I promised if we pulled this off and I’m able to do it, I’d open the grounds up to good people and have charity events and garden parties and music events,” Vento said.

Beginning in 2006, Vento said, work took about a year for the home to be rebuilt, keeping some of its original structure.

Corbriwoodstock

Corbriwoodstock was born in October 2007, when Vento’s band, Nied’s Hotel Band, was having a “jam session” and they decided to invite some of their friends and family over for food, drinks and music.

Vento’s friend and Nied’s Hotel guitar player Jim McCullough gave the festival its name, in tribute to the famous Woodstock music festival. Vento’s daughter, Alaina, now 24, was the festival’s first-ever opening act when the then 6-year-old sang a Miley Cyrus song.

As the event evolved, the festival grew to feature a lineup of around eight local bands and a full-size performance stage in Vento’s backyard.

Each year, the event benefits Allegheny Cleanways.

The festival is approaching its 18th anniversary on Aug. 31.

“It grew pretty quickly,” Vento said. “It grew quickly to the point where, in 2017, it grew too much.”

Corbriwoodstock was originally a two-day affair. Vento said that in 2017, around 500 people showed up.

“That was overwhelming and it took a whole vibe away from what we’re trying to do,” Vento said.

Now, 200 tickets are sold online for the festival.

The night before the festival, Vento hosts a $10 Acoustic Night with his second group Acoustic Union. The show is held at Steamworks Creative in Hampton, a 50-seat listening room that Vento helps maintain with a group of musicians.

Tickets for the main Corbriwoodstock held at his home are sold for $20.

Tickets for both days can be purchased at corbriwoodstock.com.

Music for a cause

In addition to Corbriwoodstock, Vento lends his home to other charity concerts, including Music for MS, an annual concert hosted by Michael “Mitch” Arnold, 61, of Hampton benefiting the Pennsylvania Keystone Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year’s concert was on Saturday, Aug. 9.

“We have a dear friend with MS,” Vento said. “My wife (Michele) has MD, muscular dystrophy, so it’s near and dear to our heart.”

He also hosts a fundraiser concert for the Remember Me Rose Garden, a nonprofit and living tribute for the heroes on 9/11. Vento is a board member for the nonprofit.

He also keeps a rose garden of Julie Andrews roses, a flower type heavily featured at the memorial and named after the actress and singer.

During each of the events, musicians donate their performances. The rest is funded through donations.

Vento estimated Corbriwoodstock costs around $10,000 to host.

Jason Wiegand, a West Deer supervisor, has attended Corbriwoodstock before.

“I think it’s good,” Wiegand said. “It brings people together. It creates awareness and supports great causes.”

Wiegand said Vento has hosted fundraisers throughout the community to benefit various causes including the West Deer fire departments.

According to Assistant Township Manager and Zoning Officer Joseph Shook, Vento’s events inspired the supervisors to establish a permit process so more events like his can be hosted. Originally, Vento applied for a variance to be able to use his backyard as a concert venue.

“It kind of was a light bulb moment for the township because, in our ordinance, there really wasn’t a way to allow this kind of thing,” Shook said.

He said officials were able to establish a permit or approval process in July to allow more events.

“We certainly don’t want to limit this kind of thing or restrict somebody that does this for a great cause,” Shook said.

Shook called Vento’s work in the community “fantastic” and said township officials greatly appreciate it.

Years of experience

Vento said one of his biggest inspirations to continue his charity work is musician Harry Chapin.

“My inspiration is how he used music for charitable causes,” Vento said

Vento said the events get better each year. He said hosting Corbriwoodstock has helped him learn how to relax and roll with the punches.

“I realized the blessings,” Vento said.

He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2017. That changed his perspective on life.

“You go through stuff like that, you just treasure every day and you appreciate the people you love,” Vento said. “You appreciate sharing what you have. … It was multiple miracles that allowed me to do this.

“You need to have great people and a great team to do things like this,” Vento said.