PHOTO PROVIDED Chris LaRose and the Hex Highway Band will hit the Main Street Stage this Saturday at 3 p.m. as part of the Fifth Annual LH JAMS Festival.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Blues rock band Slow Hands will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. Saturday as the second musical act for the Fifth Annual LH JAMS Festival.

LOCK HAVEN — Although many events both indoor and outdoor have been canceled this year one staple of summer is continuing this Saturday.

The 5th Annual LH JAMS music event will take place Aug. 15 beginning at 3 p.m. on Main Street. There will be quite a few changes but one thing will remain the same — good music.

“The Clinton County Arts Council has been committed to bringing exceptional live music and art to Lock Haven every summer during the LH JAMS festival. The 5th annual version will be no different,” Steve Getz, LH JAMS director and CCAC board member, said.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some changes to follow social distancing protocol, Getz said he and CCAC members felt it was important to still hold the event.

“We felt the festival should happen, recognizing the psychological cost in a summer that most events have been canceled,” he said.

Two bands will take the Main Street stage Saturday starting at 3 p.m.

“Even though LH JAMS will be very different, we are excited to announce two extremely talented bands. Slow Hands Band — an Eric Clapton Tribute — and The Hex Highway Blues Band will be playing during the afternoon and evening. In total there will be nearly five hours of exceptional entertainment,” Getz said.

The Hex Highway Blues Band will take the stage first at 3 followed by Slow Hands Band at 5:30 p.m.

“Both bands are simply world class and perform the quality of music that is synonymous with the LH JAMS festival,” Getz said.

HEX HIGHWAY BAND

Chris LaRose & Hex Highway Band is a driving, foot stomping, four-piece Blues band that specializes in rocking golden era Blues from musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Freddy King.

The show swings into the 1950s-60s with rock and roll from Buddy Holly, Elvis, Dion and Chuck Berry and really gets cruising with Woodstock hits by masters like Joplin, Hendrix, Cocker, CCR and the Allman Brothers — all with a thrilling mix of red hot originals.

Chris LaRose’s style was uniquely impacted by growing up in garages and restoring vintage motorcycles with his family and friends in Lock Haven.

His concerts range from driving blues and upbeat 50s rockabilly, to traditional folk, ballads and soulful originals. LaRose recently returned from his latest tour through Germany performing a series of Pennsylvania Dutch oriented shows.

LaRose credits his father John H. LaRose Jr. for his love of music.

“My father was a musician for over thirty years before I was even an idea. He rescued and performed many songs during the folk music boom in the 1970s,” LaRose said. “He used to drive hours and hours away into small mountain towns to meet an old lumberman, or a minor, and have them sing him old work songs so they would be preserved just a little while longer. My goal is to pick up where he left off: Learning, performing, and protecting music and stories on the verge of being lost.”

For more information about LaRose and his band visit www.chrislarosemusic.com.

SLOW HANDS

In March 2018, the Ramblin Dawgs — an original blues rock band — added two members and created Slow Hands: The Music of Eric Clapton.

The goal was to create a band that captures the energy and passion of the music of Clapton, the only person inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three separate times. This goal was reached and the band performs Clapton songs from Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos and his entire solo career.

Based out of New Jersey, Slow Hands is recognized as the premier Clapton tribute band in the northeast. Their powerful renditions of “White Room & Layla” to soft tones of “Wonderful Tonight and Tears In Heaven” will keep you on an emotional roller coaster during the entire performance.

There are no gimmicks, no dress-ups, no makeup … Slow Hands performances are all about the music. The band has performed at many of the top venue halls in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

For more information about Slow Hands visit www.slowhandsband.com.

No seating will be provided this year. Getz said anyone coming to LH JAMS should bring their own chair and practice social distancing guidelines.

Seating will also be available during the day and evening at local restaurants and pubs throughout the city for those interested in having a meal while enjoy good music.

Food and craft vendors will not be in attendance but Getz encourages those who come hungry to enjoy a meal at one of downtowns local restaurants.

“Enjoy food and drinks outside while listening to the gritty sounds of the Hex Highway Blues Band from 3 to 5 p.m. then the north east’s premier Eric Clapton tribute band, Slow Hands, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.,” he said.

Getz said the CCAC is encouraging anyone who attends the event practice CDC and state COVID-19 guidelines such as wearing a mask and social distancing during the event.

“There will be plenty of room for social distancing and fresh air,” he said.

“In a year that most events have been canceled, the CCAC is excited to offer this smaller yet exciting version of LH JAMS while doing so in a safe and responsible manner,” he continued.

The scheduled jazz performances for the Art & All that Jazz reception held at the Durrwachter Center have been moved to August of 2021 due.

Although things are different this year, Getz encourages everyone to come out an enjoy some good music.

“Please come and support downtown businesses and the arts on August 15. We encourage you to wear a mask and social distance for a fun and safe afternoon and evening,” he said. “This is going to be a fantastic event if we all work together!”