AKRON, Ohio, August 2019 — Akron, Ohio-based, hand-crafted effects pedal manufacturer EarthQuaker Devices have had an unprecedented 2019 so far. In addition to receiving Exporter of the Year 2019 from the U.S. Small Business Administration in May, sponsoring a tour of Japan featuring the legendary Boris later that month, releasing their first ever artist sponsored collaboration pedal with Sunn O))) in June the company has announced that they will celebrate EarthQuaker Day again this year.

Two parts music festival, three parts customer appreciation day, one-part effects pedal factory open house, one-part guitar show, one-part art installation, and one-part street fair; with a pinch of carnival fun and games, and a side of bazaar EarthQuaker Day brings together a collection of like-minded, enthusiastic, and talented for a celebration of the quirkiness, innovation, and “anything goes” attitude that makes Akron, Ohio, the-heart-of-it-all in The Heart of It All – a wonderful place to live and work.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the event is that EarthQuaker will offer their latest product, the Plumes Small Signal Shredder, for the first time ever at the event.

Also, at 11:30am EST, Dave Hill Page offers a pedal clinic. For the unindoctrinated, he is an American comedian and musician and the host of The Goddamn Dave Hill Show on WFMU radio in Jersey City New Jersey, and of Dave Hill’s Podcasting Incident, which is recorded in Hill’s living room. He has appeared on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Inside Amy Schumer, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and The Jim Gaffigan Show.

Dave Hill Page also wrote the theme song for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which is performed by his band Valley Lodge. He has also performed with Painted Doll, was a member of ’90s alternative rock band Sons of Elvis and has played with Cobra Verde, Diamondsnake, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Faith No More singer Chuck Mosley, and is the creator of semi-fictional Norwegian black metal band Witch Taint.

This year’s EarthQuaker Day, sponsored by Sam Ash, Guitar Center, and PRS Paul Reed Smith Guitars among others, takes place August 3 from 11am to 9pm EST at 350 West Bowery Street in Akron, Ohio. The event is free and open to rockers of all ages. Additionally, EarthQuaker Devices will be sponsoring FREE concerts all weekend.

First, on Friday August 2 at 9:00pm EST Akron’s The Beyonderers join Pleasure Leftists and Mouring [A] BLKstar for an even kick-off show at Musica. The Beyonderers are an instrumental trio from Akron who combine the reverb and twang of ’60s surf rock with the distorted attitude of Link Wray and the arrangement sensibilities of ’80s thrash metal.

By contrast, Cleveland’s Mourning A BLKstar is a multi-generational, gender and genre non-conforming amalgam of Black Culture dedicated to servicing the stories and songs of the apocalyptic diaspora. They offer a force wrought with deep conviction, purpose and weight, as they voice their songs through a lens of chopped up drum grooves, stark, melodies, washed-out synth tones, and historic sample pulls.

Also on the bill are Cleveland’s Pleasure Leftists. These reformed hardcore punks are described as “if Cher joined U2.”

Lisa Bella Donna Quartet performs at BLU Jazz+ from 8 to 11pm EST. Lisa Bella Donna’s quartet consists of longtime veteran Columbus jazz musicians Doug Neel on guitars and trobone, Jim Tussing on bass, Bella Donna on keyboards, and Shane Willis on drums. The quartet will be performing a full evening of original compositions while inflicting deep grooves and improvisation all throughout. 

Bella Donna’s compositions evoke impressions of jazz fusion of the ’70s. A mainstay in her writing is the influence of TV and film scores which allow a great invitation to connect a wide variety of moods and styles together in a single program of music. Extensive and organic use of synthesizers and sequencers are also interpolated throughout the set.

On the evening of August 3, EarthQuaker Devices Owner and President Jamie Stillman will perform a rare reunion set with The Party of Helicopters at Musica. Also on the bill are Niights and Caveman. Between 1995 and 2004, Kent/Akron, Ohio’s The Party of Helicopters existed as an enigmatic tour-de-force who combined Queen-esque arena rock theatrics with shoegaze, indie and metal informed musical acrobatics. Years of relentless relentless touring led to sales of over 3,000 vinyl copy sales of their debut Abracadaver (Donut Friends, 1997). The band also released a pair of records with Troubleman Unlimited — Mt. Forever (2000) and Space And How Sweet It Was (2002).

With the group’s profile rising, they recorded and released their final LP, Please Believe It, via Sony-distributed Velocette Records, which earned positive reviews from Alternative Press, CMJ New Music Monthly, Vice, Pitchfork and others. Members of the band went on to play with New Terror Class, Teeth of the Hydra, Houseguest, Drummer, Beaten Awake, Ultrasphinx, EYE, Fringe Candidate, Relaxer and more.

The full schedule of events is below. See a commercial for the event below.

Friday 8/2
Musica
Doors: 8:00pm / Show: 9:00pm
The Beyonderers / Pleasure Leftists / Mourning [A] BLKstar

8:00pm – 11:00pm
Lisa Bella Donna Quartet @ BLU Jazz+

Saturday 8/3
EarthQuaker Day 2019!
11:00am
Pedal Clinic: Jamie Stillman

11:30am
Pedal Clinic: Dave Hill Page

Noon
Pedal Clinic: Jon Sonnenberg

12:30pm
Pedal Clinic: Cory Juba

1:00pm
I Can’t Go For That (Hall & Oats Tribute)

1:45pm
Tom Breaker and the Pettyhearts

2:30pm
Coup De Grace

3:15pm
Night In

4:00pm
Green Tree Novelty Tea

5:00pm
PRS Guitars Riff Contest Finals

Musica
Doors: 7:30pm / Show: 9:00pm
Niights / Caveman / The Party of Helicopters