Raise Your Voice Music Festival today

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

The eighth annual Raise Your Voice Music Festival kicks off today at noon at Monessen City Park.

The event is free and features six musical acts from different genres.

The entertainment will begin with Shane Turner, who will play an acoustic set. The lead singer of Fret Buzz and the Shane Turner Trio, Turner plays anything from the 1970s to some of today’s rock and pop music.

Soulios, a Ska band from Pittsburgh, will start at 1 p.m. Soulios features Stephen Shriane on guitar/vocals, Nick Linder on bass, David Kiss on trumpet, Tommy Turcovsky on sax, Shane Urbine on trombone and Zack Ethridge on drums, according to the band’s Facebook page.

“We’re excited and bringing the party with us,” the band said on its Facebook page. “Our set starts at 1 p.m. and make sure you stick around for the kickball tournament later in the day!” 

Moe Taters and The Gravy Train will start their set at 2 p.m., playing classic country and western swing. 

The band is brand new and will feature Charlie Barath on vocals and harmonica, Pete Freeman on pedal steel, Donnie Bell on guitar, Michael “Taco” Evans on bass and Bert Lerini on drums. 

At 2:45 p.m., there will be a Monessen Communities That Care presentation to commemorate the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary. CTC focuses on youth delinquency prevention while utilizing research-based methods.

At 3 p.m., the Christian Center Worship Team will perform.

Johnny Mase, a Monessen-based rapper, will take the stage at 4 p.m. performing singles from his latest album, “Never Been Normal 2.” 

Mase has seen a lot of success with his Never Been Normal brand, named for his previous album. His Instagram account tracks the number of fans who have gotten the logo tattooed on themselves. As of Thursday, he was up to 83 people having gotten “Never Been Normal” tattooed on their bodies.

Johnny Mase’s music can be found on YouTube and on his Facebook page.   

The headliners are Another Cheetah, a self-described “loud, punk-influenced rock band,” from Pittsburgh. They will hit the stage at 5 p.m. 

There will also be a petting zoo, free food and refreshments, games and activities. 

When the music ends around 6 p.m., stick around for a community kickball game that will begin directly afterward at the ball field.

All are welcome to the day-long event at City Park, and it’s free to register, participate and watch.