The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Fairport Harbor concerts return
2022 Live @ the Lighthouse event will feature performances in July, August
The Live @ The Lighthouse Music Festival Series is returning to Fairport Harbor in 2022, with two outdoor shows featuring bands from throughout the United States.
Reggae in the Harbor is the theme of the inaugural concert on July 9, followed by Jerry Garcia’s Birthday Celebration on Aug. 6.
Fairport Harbor Arts & Culture Alliance, which sponsors Live @ The Lighthouse, has taken steps to enhance the annual event for its second season.
“After the rousing success of our first two festivals in 2021, we are coming back this year bigger and better with more of everything — more bands, more food trucks, more vendors and more fun,” alliance cochairman Chris Pinta said.
One of the organization’s major goals for the 2022 edition of Live @ The Lighthouse was to bring in national headliners, while also including regional and local musicians, said alliance cochairman Justin Levine.
“To be able to accommodate these acts, we invested in foundational improvements that will help provide a better experience for concertgoers, such as a larger, lifted stage, in conjunction with better lighting and sound production quality,” Levine said.
Performances will take place at the Lighthouse Amphitheater, which is located just north of the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse at 129 Second St. Admission is free, and visitors are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to use on the grass between the historic lighthouse and amphitheater stage that serves as a seating area.
The July 9 Reggae in the Harbor festival kicks off at 3 p.m. and spotlights reggae artists coming to Fairport Harbor from coast to coast, Pinta said.
“With three headliner bands scheduled at this one-of-a-kind lakeside concert venue, they will no doubt attract visitors from all across the country,” he said.
The Reggae in the Harbor program, with all times being approximate, consists of:
• 3 p.m. — Local favorite Lake Irie
• 3:45 p.m. — Predator Dub Assassins, from New Jersey
• 5 p.m. — Root Shock, from Syracuse, New York
• 6:45 p.m. — Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band. An alliance news release described Jones as “the ironman of Cleveland reggae.”
• 8:30 p.m. — Arise Roots from Los Angeles
Looking ahead to the Aug. 6 Live @ the Lighthouse festival, Pinta noted that Grateful Dead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia would have turned 80 in 2022.
“So it’s only fitting to acknowledge the milestone with an all-day tribute to the Grateful Dead,” Pinta said.
Here’s the musical lineup for the Jerry Garcia Birthday Celebration:
• 3 p.m. — Papa Bear. In addition, Papa Bear will play between sets throughout the day.
• 3:15 p.m. — Rustbelt Ragtops
• 4 p.m. — Sunshine Daydream
• 7 p.m. — Dupree’s Dead Band
• 8 p.m. — The Stolen Faces, from Nashville.
Along with music, food trucks that are slated to set up at this year’s Live @ the Lighthouse concerts include Wild Spork, Cheesy Dave’s, CLE Chicken and PastaTivo.
Cavalier Distributing also will be on hand to sell alcoholic beverages to spectators of legal age.
Fairport Harbor Arts & Culture Alliance is committed to providing a safe, family-friendly concert experience at Live @ The Lighthouse, Pinta said.
“We’re rolling out the red carpet in Fairport Harbor for music lovers everywhere to enjoy a fun-filled day of sun, surf, sand and live music lakeside,” he said. “Visitors will enjoy first-class music and will soon learn why #lifeisbetterinabeachtown.”