Pink Out Music Fest in Austintown to Feature The Vindys

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Members of The Vindys will give a special acoustic performance at this year’s Pink Out Mahoning Valley Breast Cancer Awareness musical festival.

The event, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Austintown Township Park. Admission is free.

The music festival was founded last year by local breast cancer survivor Sheila Kroll-Dickinson.

“There’s so much doom and gloom with cancer, and a cancer diagnosis is a very serious thing,” Kroll-Dickinson said. “But it’s also important that we continue to support each other, to live our lives to the fullest as much and as long as we can. I wanted to encourage myself and others to celebrate life, to celebrate each other, and to remember to be grateful for the life and the time we have together.” 

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets, snacks and refreshments. Coolers are permitted. Along with live music, the event will include vendors, food trucks, giveaways and recognition of survivors. Those lost to cancer will be remembered.

Having just completed a 21-city tour opening for Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, The Vindys’ Jackie Popovec, John Anthony and Rick Deak will take the stage at the park’s band shell at 6:30 p.m. for a 45-minute performance. 

Also taking center stage will be David and Hermie Granati, who have been wowing audiences together as part of the Pittsburgh-based Granati Brothers or individually with their solo careers.  The Granati Brothers signed a management deal with A&M Records in 1977 and received airplay on many rock stations.

During a seven-month national tour in 1979, the G’s performed for 250,000 fans, appearing with Van Halen, Heart, Peter Frampton, Boston, J Geils, Ian Hunter, the Doobie Brothers and others. Their highlight of the tour was an appearance before 62,000 fans at the Superdome in New Orleans.

In 1981, the Granati Brothers, also known as G-Force, toured with Van Halen and performed for over 500,000 fans in 39 cities in the United States and Canada. 

Along with the Youngstown-based Vindys and the Granatis, this year’s music lineup includes theater performer Julie Benner, singer/songwriter/recording artist Solo Sixstring, female trio Untamed Band, acoustic duo, singer/songwriters Terry and Diane McCabe and Diane Drapcho, known as The Queen of Bossa Nova of NEOhio. 

Jenah Shank and David Olsavsky, who form the duo Meet Virginia, will emcee and help host the event, along with Kroll-Dickinson and Brenda Rider, also a breast cancer survivor.

Here is the schedule:

• 3 to 3:20 p.m.: Welcome, with Meet Virginia
• 3:30 to 3:50 p.m.: Julie Rae Barbiaux Benner, whose performance will include the National Anthem.
• 4 to 4:20 p.m.: David Granati and Hermie Granati.
• 4:30 to 5 p.m.: Terry and Diane McCabe.
• 5:10 to 5:40 p.m.: Solo Sixstring.
• 5:50 to 6:20 p.m.: Untamed.
• 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.: The Vindys.
• 7:20 to 7:50 p.m.: Diane Drapcho.
• 8 p.m.: Meet Virginia.

Pictured at top: The Vindys will perform an acoustic concert at the Mahoning Valley Breast Cancer Awareness music festival in Austintown Park.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.