Pavilion to bring variety of music
Shows include country, rock, bluegrass, polka
Visinata will perform ethnic polkas and waltzes Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. Photo courtesy of VISINATA
MEDINA – The Medina County Fair will turn up the volume in the pavilion this year with bands boasting music of many styles. The lineup features bands playing country, rock, bluegrass and polka from musicians all over northeast Ohio.
Visinata: Visinata will perform ethnic polkas and waltzes Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m.
“Visinata is the Romanian word for homemade sour cherry brandy,” accordion and keyboard player, Johnnie Maier, said. “The band was originally started as an ethnic tribute band, but we also play ’50s and ’60s, big band, Latin and more.”
Visinata has been together for five years and has residents from North Canton, Massillon and Akron.
“We truly enjoy playing and watching our audiences have fun and dance,” Maier said.
Visinata band members include Maier on accordion, keyboard and vocals; Mike Hoagland on saxophone, clarinet and vocals; Tim Klemper on guitar, bass, banjo and vocals; Ron Frailly on bass, guitar and vocals and Joey Marino on drums.
Erin Stoll Band: Last year, Erin Stoll sang the National Anthem at the rodeo and rough truck shows. This year, she has her own spot on the entertainment list at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3.
“I love supporting communities and bringing my music to as many people as possible,” Stoll, a Wadsworth native and now resident of Lodi, said. “I feel like festivals and fairs give me more of a chance to do that and the crowds are some of the best.”
Stoll, who has been performing for six years with different bands, said she loves playing the guitar and singing her own original songs.
Stoll strums the lead guitar and sings lead vocals alongside her band made up of: Jason Raffle on drums; Matthew Sweeney on lead guitar; Jason Feathers on Hammond B3 and keys; Dave Nowlin on bass and Braden Doty on rhythm guitar and banjo.
The Sobos: The Sobos will bring tunes from the ’70s and ’80s Thursday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. The Sobos, which is short for “Some of the Best Old Songs,” are first-timers to the Medina County Fair.
The band’s drummer, Stan Berry, said they are looking forward to playing at the fair and prefer the family-friendly environment in community events.
Based out of Wooster, the current band members have been performing together for three years and play hits from artists like Tom Petty, David Bowie, Foreigner, The B-52’s, Journey, ZZ Top and more.
Berry said the lead singer, Jennifer Bee, enjoys doing songs from Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar and Linda Ronstadt.
The rest of the Sobos include Toby Hazlett on bass and vocals; Rick Cicconetti on guitar, keyboard and vocals and Bob Collard on guitar.
The Diamond Project: Neil Diamond tribute band, The Diamond Project, of Brunswick, returns to the stage’s spotlight Friday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m.
“There was a pretty big crowd last year and we got to see a lot of familiar faces,” Tim Richissin, band manager, said. “It’s fun to play for the people you know, families and friends.”
The 10-piece band features Richissin on guitar, banjo and mandolin Gary Gomez as lead singer; Carrie Vieweg on backup vocals; Walt Vieweg on saxophone, flute and harmonica; Al Sponseller on trombone; Bob Leaf on lead guitar; Bill Lubinger on bass; Amy Savpot on keyboards; Greg Spangler on drums; Zack Richards on trumpet, flute and horn; and Becky Grano on backup vocals.
Richissin said the audience loves their veterans tribute and lets them know on social media. At each show, The Diamond Project performs the National Anthem, followed by their rendition of “America.”
The Rebeats: The Rebeats hit the stage Saturday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. The Beatles tribute band has members from all over northeast Ohio and is currently working on their album, “We Should Have Been Part of the British Invasion, But Somehow We Missed the Boat.”
Founding members, Rick Re and Sam Beat, both favored Beatles songs and began playing them after seeing the band on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Rick Re came to the US from West Liverpool, United Kingdom, when he was a child and said the band likes playing fairs and festivals because the crowds are very enthusiastic about the music they perform.
The Rebeats are: Rick Re on vocals and rhythm guitar; Sam Beat on bass and vocals; Jack Beat on vocals, keyboard and acoustic guitar; Rick Beat on drums; Tom Beat on lead guitar and vocals and Heart Beat on vocals.
Canyon Wind: Canyon Wind will bring an eclectic range of music Sunday, Aug. 5 at 5 p.m. with Americana, country, acoustic folk rock, southern rock, rock ‘n roll, bluegrass and Irish folk tunes.
“We like playing at community fairs because of the people that attend,” Keith Parker, band manager, said. “The fair is open to all ages and is family friendly, like our music.”
Canyon Wind plays songs from Willy Nelson, The Eagles, Bluegrass Standard, James Taylor, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more, as well as their own original songs.
The band, who has been together for five years, recently released their third album of original songs and is made up of: Parker on acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica and vocals; Keith Pickering on acoustic and electric guitar, banjo and vocals; Paul Hancheck on bass and vocals and Roger Koachan on drums.
Other performances: Drifting Strangers, a newly-formed bluegrass ensemble, will hit the stage July 31 at 8 p.m. and Cleveland native, Bill March, will serenade the crowd at 4 p.m. Aug. 4.
More than music
In addition to live music, fairgoers will be entertained by local dancers, competing arm wrestlers and cute and cuddly critters.
Ignite Dance: Ignite Dance Studio of Brunswick will feature about 50 students with exerts from their June recital, “Soundtrack,” Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m.
“Ignite has never performed at the Medina County Fair before, but we thought it would be fun since the majority of our families reside in Medina County,” director Krista Juderjahn said.
Ignite Dance offers programs with a variety of styles and ability levels for all age groups, ranging from 2-year-old budding dancers to seasoned adult performers.
Ignite Dance Studio is five years old and just recently located from its original location in Brunswick to a new 6,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Pearl and Foskett roads in Medina.
Medina Squares: Medina County Fair veterans, Medina Squares, will dance their shoes off Friday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. with about 25 performers.
“We dance at these events to attract others to square dancing,” Medina Squares President Judy Nelson said.
Nelson, who has been with the group since 1989, said it originally began in the 1950s as the Medina Bees and that they’ve been at the fair since before the pavilion was built.
The club will offer free dance lessons every Thursday of the month at 7-9 p.m. beginning Sept. 14 at Medina’s Office for Older Adults.
Our Zoo to You: The local traveling exotic petting zoo, Our Zoo to You, returns to the Medina County Fair Saturday, Aug. 5 for two shows at 4:30 and 6 p.m.
“We look forward to seeing people who haven’t gotten to experience our animals yet,” Brian Wise, owner of Our Zoo to You, said.
Guest can touch, hold and feed most of the animals and their blue and gold macaw, Floyd, gives kisses.
Wise said they rotate the stars of the shows. The current Our Zoo to You cast is: Raven the tegu; Ozzy and Mojo, lemur brothers; Coco the coatimundi; Piggie the groundhog; bunnies Luna and Sandy; chinchillas Remi and Fluffy; Elenore, a 50-pound tortoise; Lillian the kinkajou; Merlin the Eurasian eagle owl; desert iguana, Dandelion; Rosie the red tail boa; Batman the guinea pig; Chiquita the yellow tail boa; Brownie the alpaca; corn snakes and other various critters.
Ohio State Arm Wrestling: Anyone ready to show off the biceps can participate in the Ohio State Arm Wrestling competition Sunday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m.
“It gets very competitive and has been very popular every year,” Pam Oberholtzer, chair of the fair’s pavilion committee, said.
Oberholtzer said the attraction always draws in the spectators and husband and wife duos have shown up together to compete.
“A lot of the men and women come from out of state to compete,” Oberholtzer said. “If they win in their weight class, they get to go on to the national competition.”
The contest is free and open to all ages and is sorted into weight classes and anyone interested can register before the event starts.
Other entertainment: Members of the U.S. military will be providing free entertainment and displays Monday, July 31 from noon to 5 p.m.
• Seniors can come and check out various activities beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. The event will conclude at 3 p.m.
• There will be a talent show at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2. For anyone interesting in participating, registration begins at noon or you can pre-register by calling Brent at 330-241-1560.
• On Thursday, Aug. 3, the Elementary Honors Band and Choir will perform at noon, followed by the Junior High Honors Band and Choir at 1 p.m.
Visinata: Visinata will perform ethnic polkas and waltzes Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m.
“Visinata is the Romanian word for homemade sour cherry brandy,” accordion and keyboard player, Johnnie Maier, said. “The band was originally started as an ethnic tribute band, but we also play ’50s and ’60s, big band, Latin and more.”
Visinata has been together for five years and has residents from North Canton, Massillon and Akron.
“We truly enjoy playing and watching our audiences have fun and dance,” Maier said.
Visinata band members include Maier on accordion, keyboard and vocals; Mike Hoagland on saxophone, clarinet and vocals; Tim Klemper on guitar, bass, banjo and vocals; Ron Frailly on bass, guitar and vocals and Joey Marino on drums.
Erin Stoll Band: Last year, Erin Stoll sang the National Anthem at the rodeo and rough truck shows. This year, she has her own spot on the entertainment list at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3.
“I love supporting communities and bringing my music to as many people as possible,” Stoll, a Wadsworth native and now resident of Lodi, said. “I feel like festivals and fairs give me more of a chance to do that and the crowds are some of the best.”
Stoll, who has been performing for six years with different bands, said she loves playing the guitar and singing her own original songs.
Stoll strums the lead guitar and sings lead vocals alongside her band made up of: Jason Raffle on drums; Matthew Sweeney on lead guitar; Jason Feathers on Hammond B3 and keys; Dave Nowlin on bass and Braden Doty on rhythm guitar and banjo.
The Sobos: The Sobos will bring tunes from the ’70s and ’80s Thursday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. The Sobos, which is short for “Some of the Best Old Songs,” are first-timers to the Medina County Fair.
The band’s drummer, Stan Berry, said they are looking forward to playing at the fair and prefer the family-friendly environment in community events.
Based out of Wooster, the current band members have been performing together for three years and play hits from artists like Tom Petty, David Bowie, Foreigner, The B-52’s, Journey, ZZ Top and more.
Berry said the lead singer, Jennifer Bee, enjoys doing songs from Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar and Linda Ronstadt.
The rest of the Sobos include Toby Hazlett on bass and vocals; Rick Cicconetti on guitar, keyboard and vocals and Bob Collard on guitar.
The Diamond Project: Neil Diamond tribute band, The Diamond Project, of Brunswick, returns to the stage’s spotlight Friday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m.
“There was a pretty big crowd last year and we got to see a lot of familiar faces,” Tim Richissin, band manager, said. “It’s fun to play for the people you know, families and friends.”
The 10-piece band features Richissin on guitar, banjo and mandolin Gary Gomez as lead singer; Carrie Vieweg on backup vocals; Walt Vieweg on saxophone, flute and harmonica; Al Sponseller on trombone; Bob Leaf on lead guitar; Bill Lubinger on bass; Amy Savpot on keyboards; Greg Spangler on drums; Zack Richards on trumpet, flute and horn; and Becky Grano on backup vocals.
Richissin said the audience loves their veterans tribute and lets them know on social media. At each show, The Diamond Project performs the National Anthem, followed by their rendition of “America.”
The Rebeats: The Rebeats hit the stage Saturday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. The Beatles tribute band has members from all over northeast Ohio and is currently working on their album, “We Should Have Been Part of the British Invasion, But Somehow We Missed the Boat.”
Founding members, Rick Re and Sam Beat, both favored Beatles songs and began playing them after seeing the band on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Rick Re came to the US from West Liverpool, United Kingdom, when he was a child and said the band likes playing fairs and festivals because the crowds are very enthusiastic about the music they perform.
The Rebeats are: Rick Re on vocals and rhythm guitar; Sam Beat on bass and vocals; Jack Beat on vocals, keyboard and acoustic guitar; Rick Beat on drums; Tom Beat on lead guitar and vocals and Heart Beat on vocals.
Canyon Wind: Canyon Wind will bring an eclectic range of music Sunday, Aug. 5 at 5 p.m. with Americana, country, acoustic folk rock, southern rock, rock ‘n roll, bluegrass and Irish folk tunes.
“We like playing at community fairs because of the people that attend,” Keith Parker, band manager, said. “The fair is open to all ages and is family friendly, like our music.”
Canyon Wind plays songs from Willy Nelson, The Eagles, Bluegrass Standard, James Taylor, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more, as well as their own original songs.
The band, who has been together for five years, recently released their third album of original songs and is made up of: Parker on acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica and vocals; Keith Pickering on acoustic and electric guitar, banjo and vocals; Paul Hancheck on bass and vocals and Roger Koachan on drums.
Other performances: Drifting Strangers, a newly-formed bluegrass ensemble, will hit the stage July 31 at 8 p.m. and Cleveland native, Bill March, will serenade the crowd at 4 p.m. Aug. 4.
More than music
In addition to live music, fairgoers will be entertained by local dancers, competing arm wrestlers and cute and cuddly critters.
Ignite Dance: Ignite Dance Studio of Brunswick will feature about 50 students with exerts from their June recital, “Soundtrack,” Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m.
“Ignite has never performed at the Medina County Fair before, but we thought it would be fun since the majority of our families reside in Medina County,” director Krista Juderjahn said.
Ignite Dance offers programs with a variety of styles and ability levels for all age groups, ranging from 2-year-old budding dancers to seasoned adult performers.
Ignite Dance Studio is five years old and just recently located from its original location in Brunswick to a new 6,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Pearl and Foskett roads in Medina.
Medina Squares: Medina County Fair veterans, Medina Squares, will dance their shoes off Friday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. with about 25 performers.
“We dance at these events to attract others to square dancing,” Medina Squares President Judy Nelson said.
Nelson, who has been with the group since 1989, said it originally began in the 1950s as the Medina Bees and that they’ve been at the fair since before the pavilion was built.
The club will offer free dance lessons every Thursday of the month at 7-9 p.m. beginning Sept. 14 at Medina’s Office for Older Adults.
Our Zoo to You: The local traveling exotic petting zoo, Our Zoo to You, returns to the Medina County Fair Saturday, Aug. 5 for two shows at 4:30 and 6 p.m.
“We look forward to seeing people who haven’t gotten to experience our animals yet,” Brian Wise, owner of Our Zoo to You, said.
Guest can touch, hold and feed most of the animals and their blue and gold macaw, Floyd, gives kisses.
Wise said they rotate the stars of the shows. The current Our Zoo to You cast is: Raven the tegu; Ozzy and Mojo, lemur brothers; Coco the coatimundi; Piggie the groundhog; bunnies Luna and Sandy; chinchillas Remi and Fluffy; Elenore, a 50-pound tortoise; Lillian the kinkajou; Merlin the Eurasian eagle owl; desert iguana, Dandelion; Rosie the red tail boa; Batman the guinea pig; Chiquita the yellow tail boa; Brownie the alpaca; corn snakes and other various critters.
Ohio State Arm Wrestling: Anyone ready to show off the biceps can participate in the Ohio State Arm Wrestling competition Sunday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m.
“It gets very competitive and has been very popular every year,” Pam Oberholtzer, chair of the fair’s pavilion committee, said.
Oberholtzer said the attraction always draws in the spectators and husband and wife duos have shown up together to compete.
“A lot of the men and women come from out of state to compete,” Oberholtzer said. “If they win in their weight class, they get to go on to the national competition.”
The contest is free and open to all ages and is sorted into weight classes and anyone interested can register before the event starts.
Other entertainment: Members of the U.S. military will be providing free entertainment and displays Monday, July 31 from noon to 5 p.m.
• Seniors can come and check out various activities beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. The event will conclude at 3 p.m.
• There will be a talent show at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2. For anyone interesting in participating, registration begins at noon or you can pre-register by calling Brent at 330-241-1560.
• On Thursday, Aug. 3, the Elementary Honors Band and Choir will perform at noon, followed by the Junior High Honors Band and Choir at 1 p.m.