FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Band Causes a ‘ruKus’… Again – Festival Celebrates Independence in Music and Arts

Warren, Ohio – March 19, 2008 -- Independence and autonomy are very powerful traits to possess in the music industry. In a time when the industry is vastly changing from week to week, that independence should be held onto, valued, and celebrated. That’s why Warren natives, The Kellys, are producing the second-annual ruKus – the festival, a one-day, independent music an arts festival, being held Sunday, August 24, 2008 at the Warren Community Amphitheatre.

The festival will feature eight bands, including: The Kellys, The Zou, DaBoondox, Trevor Quillan, NJs and The Jeff, Eclyptic and more, beginning at 1:00pm. This year, the artist and vendor area will be increasing greatly in size with the ruKus sideshow, an area that will feature artists, vendors, street-type performers, food vendors, carnival games, a dunk-tank that will feature area musicians in a “Drown the Scene” challenge, and classic video game tournaments (Galaga, PacMan, Tron, etc.). The entire day’s events will be broadcast live on The Kellys’ all-independent internet radio station, ruKus radio (www.rukusradio.net).

ruKus – the sequel is being held as a benefit for The Hattie Larlham Foundation, a non-profit organization in Mantua, Ohio that has been providing educational, residential, and vocational services to nearly 1,400 children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD) for over 45 years. Providing quality services to these individuals has been funded largely by donations and benefits such as this festival. This year’s festival will benefit The Hattie Larlham Creative ARTs program, which provides people with severe disabilities the opportunity to create paintings, write and record music, take photographs, and mold pottery through an advanced system of questioning and the corresponding responses. This system allows the individual to create these pieces of art exactly the way that they want them, even though the person’s physical ability may be severely limited, through facilitation by an experienced and degreed art “tracker.”

In connection with this year’s festival, Hattie Larlham Vocational Specialist and bass player for The Kellys, Moe Angelo, is organizing a music recording program that will bring Youngstown/Warren area musicians involved with the festival to Hattie Larlham’s main campus to work in joint sessions with program participants to assist in taking their musical dreams and turning them into song. The project will culminate in an album release of the recordings that will be available for purchase at the festival.

“The Creative ARTs program is such an amazingly unique experience for the people involved,” Angelo said. “Their true desires are actually being heard and carried out for the first time in most of their lives, and the product is some truly beautiful artwork and music."

ruKus – the festival is a free event, open to the public, however donations are being accepted on behalf of Hattie Larlham.