Fruition. Three songwriters. Five bandmates. More than 15 years together, building a grassroots audience with a combination of stacked vocal harmonies and collaborative, song-driven Americana. Fruition is proof that there’s strength in numbers. The bandʻs recent releases have showcased a reinvigorated group at the peak of its powers. This is American roots music at its broadest and boldest — a melting pot of rock, soul, folk, and pop. What began as a busking string band has evolved into something more eclectic, rooted not only in the unique delivery of three different singers, but also the cohesion of five friends who prefer their music to be homegrown and honest… mistakes and all. “…there’s a brittle wisdom on this album, a sense of having to piece oneself back together and finding strength in a shared voice,” said Rolling Stone of their 2024 album, How To Make Mistakes. You can expect more music and a new album later this year.

Stay Updated: Follow the festival page on Facebook / Instagram

The second annual Ghost Town Music Festival

Presented by Smilo & The Ghost, Big Rail Brewing Company, and Blue Moon Management

Ghost Town Music Festival takes place August 8th for a full day of music and community.

Gates open at 11:00 AM, with live music starting at 12:00 noon. Enjoy great bands, local vendors, food trucks, and an easy going outdoor atmosphere built around good vibes and connection.

All ages welcome. Rain or shine.

Lineup

Main Stage Acts:

• Smilo & The Ghost
• Jeremy Pinnell
• Paul McDonald & The Mourning Doves
• Magnolia Boulevard
• Bill Taylor

Shack Stage Acts:

• Colton Bowlin
• Joshua Milligan
• Coltt Winter Lepley
• Gracie Yates & Brock Burton
• Charity Nuse

Music All Day

Big Rail’s beer garden gates will open at 11am.… come early so you can get a cozy spot for the day.

The music starts at 12 noon. We’ll have two alternating stages going, so the music will run non-stop until the festival ends at 10pm. The full schedule will be announced prior to the show.

The VIP Experience

The Ghost Town Music Festival VIP experience is limited to just 35 passes and is designed for those who want to settle in early and soak up every part of the day.

VIP guests receive early access to the grounds, first crack at merch lines, and the freedom to choose the perfect spot to post up for the festival. You’ll get a VIP lanyard and an exclusive invitation to sound check with our headliners, including an early tune or two before the day officially begins.

VIP also includes a free 22oz bomber of the first-ever Ghost Town Beer (style to be announced), a commemorative Ghost Town beverage glass, a Ghost Town koozie and sticker, and a concert poster signed by available artists.

Limited. Intimate. Unforgettable.

Traveling for this event?

Have an easy and stress-free time by staying at the Holiday Inn Express, Grove City PA. Receive FREE shuttle service to and from Big Rail Brewing with your stay:

• $159+tax per room (per night). Rates valid Friday 8/7 and Saturday 8/8
• Call 724-748-5514 for the “Ghost Town Music Festival Room Block”
• Online booking link: Ghost Town Music Festival Room Block 
• ** Hotel will contact you directly with shuttle details and times by 7/31** 
• Last day to book reservations: Friday, July 10, 2026

Tickets for this event are non-refundable. Read our FAQs.

The Band will re-create the legendary Graffiti Showcase performance that ultimately became the “Alcohol Abuse Live” record. This launched them into the regional zeitgeist as THE band not to miss, because you never knew what would happen on stage next! The audiences were electric, and that show was absolutely bananas!  

The band is back in that rare form once again and prepared to bring the blistering insanity of 1999 back to the stages of Western PA this summer!

Here is a bio if you want more

About The Buzz Poets:
FACEBOOK | LISTEN

Buzz Poets have been one of Pittsburgh’s most colorful, maniacal and solid bands since 1997 when the flashy and trashy band of rockers first hit the Pittsburgh music scene. Their high energy, alt rock style got people’s attention not only for the stage antics and lyrical content, but for having very well written and memorable songs. The music is all over the map stylistically demonstrating the bands love for everything from the pop punk and ska sounds of 311 and Sublime to Seattle grunge rock, to hip hop and reggae, and of course their love for the Beatles as a songwriting foundation is apparent. Having written some classic radio hits like “Copenhagen Girl”  “Psycho”, and “Parasite” the band played 200+ shows a year for many years, but the most meaningful song the band has ever written is “Angel Eyes” about the tragic loss of a dear friend. These days the band makes rare reunion appearances and consists of Tipper (Vocals, Guitar) Phil MacDowell (vocals, guitar) Tim Gaber (bass, vocals), Justin Sarra (keys, turntables), Ronnie Lavella (drums) and Juan Vasquez (guitar, vocals) The guys continue to bring the energy and the music that the loyal fans have known and loved for decades.

With Special Guest The Hawkeyes

About The Clarks

The four original Clarks members Scott Blasey (vocals, acoustic guitar), Rob James (6 and 12-string electric guitars, vocals), Greg Joseph (bass, vocals) and Dave Minarik (drums, vocals) first met while students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in the late 80’s.

With a highlight reel that includes The Late Show with David Letterman, The Simpsons, and most recently The Pitt amongst others, The Clarks are enjoying their time together as a band now more than ever. Singing and playing new songs and celebrating 40 years together has rekindled a fire in the band’s sometimes broken, sometimes mended hearts.

Visit The Clarks’ Web Site >>

In addition to this concert on August 22nd, The Clarks will play a second concert at Big Rail on Sept 13th! Click Here for those tickets >>

Agenda

4:00pm – Big Rail Tap Room Opens / Early Check-in Begins

Because of the size of this event, **just for today** we’ll be requiring all visiting patrons to have or purchase a ticket to be on-site. Once you’ve checked in and received a wrist band, you can hang out and have a pint in the tap room & back patio area until the beer garden gates open.

5:30 PM – Beer Garden Gates open for ticket holders

If you’ve checked in and received a wrist band you’ll be able to freely enter & exit the beer garden / venue area starting at 5:30pm.

7:00 PM – Let the Show Begin

The Hawkeyes open the show, followed by The Clarks

Please read the FAQ page for more information on Big Rail’s concerts.

Celebrate the arrival of Alyssa Hankey’s anticipated upcomping full-length album, Good Country People, at Big Rail Brewing on September 12th.

Good Country People feels less like a polished narrative and more like a series of lived-in scenes, smoky bars, long highways, motel rooms, pine-covered hillsides, and the quiet moments that sit between love and consequence. Across the record, Hankey writes about blue-collar survival, reckless romance, loyalty, and personal escape, creating characters that are flawed, human, and deeply recognizable.

A traveling troubadour born and raised in the hills of rural western Pennsylvania. Alyssa’s music is unmistakable, with influences that span across many genres. She has released various albums and embarked on several cross-country tours. She also formed Alyssa Hankey & The North Woods, a band that combines folk, country and rock. You can find them playing in and around the Pittsburgh area. Hankey has also shared the stage with artists such as The Clarks, John R Miller, Tommy Prine, Warren Zeiders and Charles Wesley Godwin.

You’ll find her music on Itunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, Google Play, Youtube, etc

With Special Guest Gene The Werewolf

About The Clarks

The four original Clarks members Scott Blasey (vocals, acoustic guitar), Rob James (6 and 12-string electric guitars, vocals), Greg Joseph (bass, vocals) and Dave Minarik (drums, vocals) first met while students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in the late 80’s.

With a highlight reel that includes The Late Show with David Letterman, The Simpsons, and most recently The Pitt amongst others, The Clarks are enjoying their time together as a band now more than ever. Singing and playing new songs and celebrating 40 years together has rekindled a fire in the band’s sometimes broken, sometimes mended hearts.

Visit The Clarks’ Web Site >>

In addition to this concert September 13th, The Clarks are also playing at Big Rail August 22nd! Click Here for those tickets >>

Agenda

2:00pm – Big Rail Tap Room Opens / Early Check-in Begins

Because of the size of this event, **just for today** we’ll be requiring all visiting patrons to have or purchase a ticket to be on-site. Once you’ve checked in and received a wrist band, you can hang out and have a pint in the tap room & back patio area until the beer garden gates open.

3:30 PM – Beer Garden Gates open for ticket holders

If you’ve checked in and received a wrist band you’ll be able to freely enter & exit the beer garden / venue area starting at 3:30pm.

5:00 PM – Let the Show Begin

Gene The Werewolf takes the stage first, followed by The Clarks

Please read the FAQ page for more information on Big Rail’s concerts.

Jim Donovan and The Sun King Warriors are best described as a blend of rhythm heavy roots rock, with a strong dose of big barreling drums. Think bluesy Zeppelin-esqe bombast, Santana style percussion with wild Avett Brothers energy.

At a Sun King show, you can expect to dance, sweat and have the time of your life.

The band’s music has garnered radio airplay throughout the US and Canada, and has appeared on Billboard’s Americana chart multiple times.

The band plays regionally at festivals and clubs throughout the mid-atlantic and have opened for 10,000 Maniacs, Donovan’s former band Rusted Root and many others.

Jim Donovan, the band’s founder and writer brings almost three decades of experience to the Sun King Warriors. As a member of the popular 90’s band Rusted Root, he helped shaped the group’s sound and toured with legendary including The Grateful Dead, members of Led Zeppelin, Carlos Santana and the Allman Brothers.

He also co-authored the band’s biggest hit, “Send Me on My Way,” which has been streamed over 100 million times on Spotify and used as the wakeup music for NASA’s Mars rover.

Press quotes:

“Jim Donovan and Sun King Warriors are one of the most eclectic and exciting bands to come out in some time…” -The Washington Times
“Sun King Warriors channel unabashed enthusiasm into a series of songs that are both rowdy and rejuvenating…” -Relix Magazine