2024 Artist Lineup
Tullycavy (2018)
November Blue
Heavily influenced by classic harmony-based rock outfits of the 60s and 70s, November Blue’s unique sound perfectly marries country and roots rock. They blend rich five-part harmony with Class-A musicianship. The six-piece band consists of three guitarists (John Wilcox, Tom Currey, and Dylan Bradley), bassist Brodie Holifield, drummer Dean Maddox, and pedal steel guitarist Alex Barcic. Together they deliver a dynamic live experience that combines modern sounds with nostalgic feel. Their combined talents as individual musicians is currently driving their live shows to ever bigger and better venues, captivating audiences both young and old.
Originally from Pennsylvania, the band self-produced three full-length albums that are well-loved and oft-memorized by their Pittsburgh fans. The band has now called Nashville, TN their new home since 2019 and are writing and dialing in their original sound with Grammy Award-winning producer, Michael Omartian (Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Peter Ceitira). Their plans for the future are to continue to write, record, and travel the country bringing their unique sound to the masses.
Cue Ball
Cue Ball was formed in 2004 with the intent to cover a mix of Blues/ Blues Rock music with Irish and Celtic Rock music. The result is a collision of the Mighty Mississippi with the River Shannon. All of the music explored is rooted in the folk tradition and the band has therefore ventured in the Folk Rock genre and Country Rock genres as well. It's the continuing conversation between East Belfast's Van Morrison and the late John Lee Hooker from the Mississippi Delta.
The band has expanded to a sextet and includes the following musicians:
Mike (Mitch) Arnold - Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Joe (JJ) Johns - Bass, Vocals
Evan (Big Daddy E) Rowles - Drums
Tim (Irish Stew) Stewart - Vocals, Keyboard, Accordion
John (Fast Hands) Wilcox - Guitars, Vocals
Mark (Sky Dog) Wilcox - Guitars
Declan (Dectricity) Jameson - Guitars
Tullycavy
Tullycavy was formed in 2014 and consists of Madeline Monahan, Michael Monahan, Mitch Arnold and Declan Jameson. The group focuses on folk, alternative country and celtic music while adding in originals. The name is derived from the town in Northern Ireland of the same name. The Allison Park - Hampton area was settled in the mid 1880's by immigrants from this area of Ireland (thus the street names Talley Cavey that are in the area).
Tullycavy has been the "house band" for Music for MS since the beginning and always look forward to performing at the annual event.
Vento, Ziggy, Hawk, & McCarthy
An acoustic blend of original & popular music…
Vento, Ziggy, Hawk & McCarthy is a Pittsburgh based acoustic group consisting of John Vento, Bob Zigerelli, Cherylann Hawk and Kevin McCarthy. Their 4-part harmonies float over acoustic guitars and percussion, crafting fresh yet familiar renditions of their own creations along with songs that you know and love. The VZHM song catalogue is a mix of originals from John’s albums “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage” and “Brick by Brick,” a handful of Cherylann’s originals from various projects, and acoustic versions of popular favorites from artists such as CSNY, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Tracy Chapman and more.
John Vento, vocals and percussion, brought the band together. John is best known in Pittsburgh as the front man for the high energy, rhythm and blues group, The Nied’s Hotel Band. Along with Ron Esser of Moondog’s, he co-founded Band Together Pittsburgh, an organization that creates music programs for people on the autism spectrum. He also created Steamworks Creative, an intimate listening room in Gibsonia, Pa., which is where VZHM began to develop their sound. John began performing more acoustic music, during the recording of his 2018, “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage,” with Cherylann Hawk as a key contributor. John’s latest album, “Brick by Brick” was released in the spring of 2023.
Bob Zigerelli, vocals and guitar, began playing guitar at the age of 8, appeared in his first band at 10, and by 14, was ripping Jeff Beck solos like a pro! Bob had the pleasure of performing on Pittsburgh’s "Come Alive" television show. After a stint at Berklee College of Music, he moved to California. He later returned to the tri-state area and spent the next 10 years as a hired gun for bands such as; “Timepiece”, “The Group Therapy Band”, “Blue Dawn”, to name a few. Bob started making music with John and Cherylann in November of 2020 when he began to co-write and record on John’s album “Brick by Brick.”
Cherylann Hawk, vocals, percussion and guitar, has been singing since age 5, and started playing guitar at 12, when she began to write country music and perform around Wheeling, WV and beyond. In 1996, a couple of years after she moved to Pittsburgh, she formed what became Cherylann Hawk & The Clay Band, playing familiar classics and songs by Lilith Fair artists who were touring at the time, as well as originals from her 3 albums. Cherylann has been performing and recording with John Vento since the beginning stages of “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage” in September of 2017. Cherylann is one of the most respected and talented artists in Pittsburgh.
Kevin McCarthy, vocals and guitar, has been a part of the western PA music scene for almost 40 years. He has been a performer, teacher, recording artist, music store owner, and has performed throughout PA, MD, OH, VA, WV, and the DC. In 2019 he was recognized by the BSWPA as one of the top guitarists in the area. He has played a wide variety of music, including blues, pop, jazz, rock, country, and urban contemporary, and plays a variety of guitars, but favors the 2004 Epiphone Joe Pass that was a gift from his loving wife, Darla. He is also a Scar Guitars endorsed artist. Kevin began performing with John and Cherylann in early 2023.
