One World Tribe's 30th Anniversary and More at 2024 Celebrate Erie

Contributed

Erie's own One World Tribe celebrates their 30th anniversary on the biggest stage Erie has to offer, Celebrate Erie's main stage. The group's longevity, both in their own tenure and the loyalty of their audience lies in their diversity which makes them relatable to a large, multi-faceted audience.

The City of Erie may only be a little over 19 square miles, but within that small amount of space is what really makes us a community — the diversity that runs through our streets influences the way we eat, the way we speak to each other, and the way we see the world. On the third weekend of August (Friday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 18), Celebrate Erie, our annual celebration of all that makes us a community, will take place in the heart of the city, showcasing some of the area's finest food, art, and music.

Mike Russo, Celebrate Erie's production manager, spoke on the importance of Celebrate Erie to the community: "Events like Celebrate Erie offer a chance for every type of person in our city to see beautiful art, hear incredible music, play games, sample food, and just marvel at what a cool place we get to share as our home, and do it with our surrounding neighbors. The more we meet together, the more we realize just what we all have in common, which is so much. We don't just live in the city, we are the city, and here we get to see all these amazing talents that our neighbors have."

Russo went on to discuss the importance of this festival to the artists involved, "Finding our voices, and eventually presenting them on the biggest stage our city has to offer — we see all of our peers, and we can learn from and share so much with each other." With the event lasting for three days, attendees will have plenty of time to fully take in all that we have as a community to share with each other.

What You'll Find

One of the best ways to understand what makes us all Erieites is at the Celebrate Erie Multicultural Marketplace, which will feature local merchants that represent the diverse cultures in our city and bring goods from around the world to Downtown Erie. Along with the Marketplace (sponsored by Erie Insurance), there will be plenty of international food vendors, unique to our city. Organizers for this year's event will have a two-block span between South Park Row and Eighth Street which will feature a diverse group of nearly 40 hometown vendors, artists, and businesses showcasing their wares. The west side of Perry Square will feature some of Erie's favorite local eats, and for those looking to wet their whistle while taking in the sights and sounds, locally-made wine and craft beers will be available for purchase in the Beer Garden. There will also be food trucks, as well as all the brick-and-mortar bars and restaurants that line State Street.

While several city blocks along State from Fourth to Ninth will be closed, one thing is for sure; every block will be filled with eye-catching art. The ever popular Chalk Walk returns to display colorful, locally-created street murals between Eighth and Ninth streets. There will be 27 murals and the general public is encouraged to vote on their favorite, with the winner being announced at 5 p.m. Saturday night and receiving a grand prize. Attendees are also invited to explore a hometown gallery dedicated to local art and artists, or purchase art made by any of the myriad of artist vendors.

 Local music is plentiful during Celebrate Erie – with acts taking multiple stages throughout Downtown Erie, like the Perry Square Stage pictured here with violinist Dave Tamulonis and drummer Brent Knight of local original band This American Song. Photo: Erin Phillips

The Music

The biggest draw for most Celebrate Erie attendees are the free musical performances happening throughout the weekend. Alongside a few national touring acts, most of the music on the smaller stages is totally local. This year's headliners will be local legends One World Tribe kicking things off on Friday night. Saturday evening features early 2000s indie rock from Wheatus, known for their hit song "Teenage Dirtbag" and Jimmy Eat World, who are best known for their anthem "The Middle" and have sold over a million records worldwide, while releasing 10 studio albums over the years. Wrapping up the event Sunday night will be country music singer and American Idol finalist Gabby Barrett.

Mike Russo, who is responsible for booking the artists, mentions that each year the lineup will vary, "Some years it may be more hip-hop, some years more rock, some years more country. But that's part of the fun — because if it was the same thing all the time it would get stale really quickly."

He also spoke about Friday evening's performers, One World Tribe, who are celebrating three decades of playing uplifting music, "We are going to start the Main Stage off with The Breeze Band, following with Ivan Montero and his phenomenal, high-energy Latin band. Then we close with One World Tribe, who I personally think may be the most 'important' Erie band ever." This performance will mark the group's 30th anniversary and they will have members joining them on stage from every era and iteration of the group. It will, essentially, be one non-stop dance party.

Aside from the main stage, there is plenty of local music to enjoy all three days of Celebrate Erie.

Russo states, "As cool as the mainstage national acts are, I really think that Celebrate Erie shines the brightest when it showcases the incredible breadth of talent that our city has to offer. There really is something for everyone, and at nearly any point in the day you can stop by any stage and see something inspired, entertaining, and energizing."

Some of the local highlights featured on the mainstage will be Matty B & The Dirty Pickles celebrating their 20th anniversary with their final show in this formation, while Sunday's local mainstage acts will feature Brooke Surgener and Smilo & The Ghost. Music can also be found on the Perry Square stage.

Russo continues, "You get everything from the indie rock of This American Song to a '60s sci-fi groove with Stephen Trohoske's X-Ray Audio. Our 814 Concert Series artists will all be represented, and you even get the full Gem City Jazz Ensemble on Sunday morning." The smaller Living Room Stage will feature acts with a wide range from the hip-hop of AyoDaDa, acoustic bluegrass of the Buttermilk Falls Gang, psych-rock of Kactai, and many other genres represented.

Photo: Contributed

One World Tribe Reunites for 30th Anniversary

One World Tribe has been making music together for 30 years, decades longer than most bands. They are no strangers to the Celebrate Erie stage, playing on it four times already — most recently in 2018. The group has been playing locally for so long that they played at the annual celebration back when it was called "We Love Erie Days."

The band started out with the moniker The Naked Truth for only one show before changing their name to One World Tribe.

Formed by vocalist Preach Freedom and keyboardist Kennedy Thompson, they have long shared the stage with a "who's who" of Erie musicians.

Along with Preach and Kennedy this current ensemble features Mike Chin, Brad Amidon, Ceco Selinas, Rusty Jackson, Hansel Deschapelles, Assane Baye, Allen Zurcher, and Dan Nano. Thompson explains what we can expect at this 30th anniversary show: "Significant past members will be returning to get down with us. We've got Kennedy Lorya aka Dynamq, Frank Singer, Lauren Freeman, and Barbara Barrett. Dynamq has become an international figure in East African music as well as the Reggae Sound Clash scene. He recently signed with Sony Africa."

There has to be some kind of magic for a band to continue to want to play music and for fans to want to hear it for 30 years. Thompson told us what he enjoys about playing in One World Tribe: "The thing I enjoy the most is that when One World Tribe is standing on the stage together: it's a statement. You have all these individuals from different backgrounds on the stage together playing music that speaks to our common humanity. You have African American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Senegalese, Sudanese, Jamaican, and Caucasian. Lynn Johnson of the Amerimasala Festival says that it may be the most diverse group in the country. The One World Tribe audience represents that same diversity."

Kennedy also spoke about the future of the band, "The future plans are to finish an album we've been working on for three years. It should get released in 2025. As far as live shows we're going to have to see — there are some band members battling health challenges at this time. We're going to have to wait and see how those play out."

The family stage at Celebrate Erie is fun for everyone, featuring magic shows, dance and martial arts performances, wellness activities, and music. Make sure the kids visit the Erie Philharmonic instrument petting zoo which might spark a budding musical future.

Photo: Erin Phillips

Family Fun

Along with all the music, art, and food there will still be plenty of engaging family fun activities located in east Perry Square on the Family District Stage (sponsored by VNET Fiber). The Family District will have hands-on activities including music, dance, and wellness activities for children of all ages. There will also be an interactive family experience that will feature crafting, STEM, music, and arts for the whole family to participate in.

Adrienne Nannen, the city's events manager, mentions, "The Erie Philharmonic will have an instrumental petting zoo, where kids can play and learn about different instruments. Taradoodles will offer exciting Erie-themed face painting. The Brown Clowns will provide a full carnival experience with games and prizes. There is something for everyone!"

Russo continues, "There will be so many varieties of dance and song — with In Purpose Studios, Aine Celtic Academy School of Irish Dance, and many others. There will also be Elvis Lives with Kurt Nova, magic shows and children's storytimes, and some visiting bunnies from E.A.R.S. There will be Tae Kwon Do demonstrations and the rock and pop stars of tomorrow with Attention Switch, and Emmet & Olivia as well."

There is also an opportunity to see some of Erie's hometown businesses and the people behind them at the Small Business retail setups, which are tailored to showcase and feature unique products sold in Erie, while the Interactive Showcase will display the products and services from Erie's business communities and include hands-on demonstrations and activities.

Nannen mentions that her favorite part of the annual event is "seeing Erie residents and visitors come together to enjoy an evening of music on the mainstage to close out each day of activities, with a beautiful backdrop of Erie's bayfront and sunset." Meanwhile, Russo enjoys that "everyone attending is having their own personal version of the festival. There's always something new to experience. Different food, vendors, music, entertainment and settings. If you give yourself a little time, you are guaranteed to see and hear something new and exciting."

So, give yourself some time to take in all that Erie has to offer in culture and creativity and Celebrate Erie with our community.

Consider a gift to Cultures, Arts, Festivals and Events of Erie (CAFE) which helps support local festivals like Celebrate Erie at eriegives.org

You can find Larry Wheaton at Celebrate Erie all weekend — assisting at the Chalk Walk for his fifth year running, or playing on multiple stages with his bands This American Song, X-Ray Audio, and Steely Mac. He can be reached at wheaton1138@gmail.com