Article Photos

Fact Box

If you go

What: AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival

When: 5:30 to midnight p.m. Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday

Where: Johnstown Festival Park, downtown Johnstown

Admission: $5 Friday and $10 Saturday and Sunday. Children younger than 16 or accompanied by an adult will be admitted free.

Schedule of events

The AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival will have three stages - the First Commonwealth Stage, which is the main stage, and two secondary stages, the Conemaugh Stage and the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Stage.

The main stage schedule follows. For a complete schedule of performers, visit www. floodcitymusic.com.

First Commonwealth Stage

Friday

7 to 8:30 p.m. - Seven Nations

10 p.m. to midnight - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Saturday

1 to 2:30 p.m. - Endless Mike & the Beagle Club

4 to 5:30 p.m. - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

7 to 8:30 p.m. - The Clumsy Lovers

10 p.m. to midnight - Donna the Buffalo

Sunday

2 to 3:30 p.m. - Ben Hardt Acoustic

5 to 6:30 p.m. - Ruthie Foster

8 to 10 p.m. - The Derek Trucks Band

The Derek Trucks Band toured central Pennsylvania when its band leader and namesake, guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks, was just a teenager.

When the band comes back through this weekend, as part of the new AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival, they'll be the headliner.

Trucks and his group will close the festival, which runs from Friday through Sunday at the Johnstown Festival Park in downtown Johnstown, at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Trucks talked to the Mirror by phone last week from Richmond, Va., a day after playing an outdoor concert at Lincoln Center in New York City.

In 2007, Rolling Stone named the 30-year-old Trucks from Jacksonville, Fla., one of the music world's "New Guitar Gods," with John Mayer and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The Derek Trucks Band is touring in support of its latest album, "Already Free," which was released in January. It's the group's sixth disc, but the first that feels how they want it, Trucks said.

"This is the most time we've ever had to really write and record," he said. "Most of the records, we'd been on the road gigging and playing, and we'd take a break and go in and record. This time, we built a home studio and wrote and really captured it right then. It feels very fresh that way."

According to his official bio, Trucks first picked up a guitar at age 9. A few years later, he was jamming with his uncle, Allman Brothers Band founding member Butch Trucks and his professional musician friends - he started touring with the Allman Brothers when he was 14.

He formed The Derek Trucks Band - which features members in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s - when he was 15.

At 19, he officially joined the Allman Brothers, which was a turning point in his career, he said.

"They were a huge influence on me," Trucks said in his slow drawl. "To get to play that music early on was a big thrill, a big lift."

But his young age was never a negative, even if it might've been perceived as a disadvantage.

"I think I was always lucky that I didn't care that much how I was perceived at that point in time," Trucks said. "You have to lay low and pick your spots. You have to stay humble."

He has performed with Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Joe Walsh and Eric Clapton, with whom he toured as a band member.

"I think, luckily, I'm naturally relaxed around (music legends)," Trucks said.

One of the music greats he performed with was Les Paul, the legendary guitarist and inventor that died last week at 94.

"I was fortunate to get some hang time with him over the years," Trucks said. "He was a fascinating guy, for sure."

As for what fans should expect if they see the band, not even Trucks knows yet.

"We try to keep the setlist fresh," he said. "We'll switch it up, so who knows (what will be on it) between now and then. We usually write a set list about an hour before we head on stage."

Mirror Staff Writer Keith Frederick is at 946-7466.

Event name changes

Johnstown has hosted a folk music festival in its downtown area since 1989.

It was known as the National Folk Festival until 1992, then the Johnstown FolkFest, sponsored by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association, through last year.

This year, organizers decided to change the festival's name to match its more varied lineup, according to Shelley Johansson, director of marketing and communications for JAHA.

The AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival will be held Friday through Sunday at the Johnstown Festival Park in the city's downtown area.

"This is basically the successor to the Johnstown FolkFest," Johansson said. "We made the name change because if you heard the name 'folk fest,' you expected all acoustic music. But it's a lot more eclectic than that and always has been."

The headlining acts include the bluesy rock of The Derek Trucks Band and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, the zydeco, folk rock and reggae of Donna the Buffalo, the bluegrass of The Clumsy Lovers and the folk music of Ruthie Foster.

"(There's) everything from real folk to Celtic rock ... there's a punk band on the bill ... there's pretty much anything you could possibly want at this event," Johansson said.

The diverse lineup is one of the drawing points for the festival, she said, noting that the interest is good, considering the festival is no longer free.

"This is the first year we are really selling tickets," Johansson said. "We've gotten a lot of response, a lot of interest from the immediate region and from farther away.

"One of the things that we've tried to do is to bring in acts that will grow the event's appeal and bring in even more people from outside the area. We have a reputation for having really good music, but I think we've stepped that up a notch."

- Keith Frederick