Burning blues: Kristine Jackson
Photo by Dee Dee

From July 24 to 25, more than two dozen artists will perform at this year's Burning River Festival. The impressive lineup of local musicians will add to the lively vibe throughout the weekend, as revelers drink and dine to raise money for the Burning River Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that provides resources for the sustainable future of the region's waterways. Here are four don't-miss acts. Get your pre-sale tickets by clicking here.

Saturday, July 24

Kristine Jackson

If "rivers are ribbons that tie us to the spirit of the land" then it should come as no surprise that blues songstress and Elyria native, Kristine Jackson, captures the essence of our region's spirit. Making the most of every note, not wasting her breath, one can truly feel the pain and desperation in Jackson's powerful crooning. It's as if the listener can see into to her soul, her voice opening a window into Cleveland's heart, illuminating vulnerability while resonating with a unique vibrancy. In addition to original material, she admirably performs unassuming covers, including a Johnny Cash song that's far from making the cut on his greatest hits collection - "God's Gonna Cut You Down". It's a stirring rendition, and you'd think that song was born of her blood, sweat and tears. If you are in the mood for some soothing melodies, given our town's recent heartburn, her voice is like antacid for your soul. If you are unable to catch Kristine at Burning River Fest, be sure to find her in the near future tearing it up at Fat Fish Blue, Flannery's, Brothers Lounge, The Harp and Kelley's Island. 

Smokin Fez Monkeys

The artists specialize in what they call "cartoons for yours ears" - think "I Wanna Be Like You" from the Disney's The Jungle Book covered by Squirrel Nut Zippers. While Smokin Fez Monkeys may not seem to take themselves too seriously, they are some seriously talented musicians. The Akron five-piece will be sure to capture the crowd's nostalgic attention, as their sound has elements of gypsy jazz a la Django Reinhardt, though they could almost be the house band for Prairie Home Companion. It's raw, not propped up by the wizardry of studio production, and that's much of the appeal. Making music to accompany you for an afternoon of riverboat gambling or a family trip to the zoo, Smokin Fez Monkeys are keeping the sound of jug band relevant in the 21st Century. Their mission is to "do to music what the Wienermobile did to the auto," while being "more fun than a barrel full of monkeys" - quirky expectations you should experience for yourself.

LISTEN: Smokin Fez Monkeys - "Codfish Ball"

Sunday, July 25

Ryan Humbert Band

Twenty-seven-year-old, Akron-based singer songwriter, Ryan Humbert, is a self-professed "old soul in a new pair of shoes".  Based on all of his influences, it's difficult to say what kind of shoes they might be - perhaps a pair of blue suede shoes, given musical cues from the earliest days of rock; or they might just be a pair of cowboy boots complete with spurs, fitting his slight drawl that's a little bit country; perhaps he'd simply wear a pair of Chuck Taylors, suited to his laid-back attitude and youthfulness. The way Humbert strums his guitar and the swagger of his vocal delivery hearkens back to the origins of rock and roll, with a southern influence and gospel undertones. His diverse range can be measured from the songs he chooses to cover - from Nick Cave and the Bad Seed's "There She Goes, My Beautiful World", to the spiritual slave song, "Oh Mary Don't You Weep," to Elton John's "Take Me to the Pilot". He and his band can be best appreciated in a live setting, on stage and in person. An outdoor stage at Burning River Fest will undoubtedly make their appearance an especially memorable one.

LISTEN: Ryan Humbert Band - "Keeps Me Coming Back for More"

The Lords of the Highway

These guitar licks are sure to make plenty of hips from young to old get into the fold. The Lords of the Highway have a transcendent style that is steeped in rockabilly but also equally influenced by surf, swing, pyschobilly and even some cow punk thrown in for good measure. I'm really not one to want to cut a rug, but their tunes make even the rhythmically challenged want to dance. This blazing music provides the perfect soundtrack for watching fire breathers, burlesque dancers, drag racers and other hellions do their thing. They have been voted best rockabilly act in town multiple times, in addition to being recognized as the very best live act in town. Having shared the stages with many other like-minded rockers, such as Dick Dale, Rev Horton Heat, Hank Williams III and even El Vez, The Lords of the Highway have literally been bringing the rock to people of Cleveland and beyond for almost two decades - and that really says something. So get ready to cool down with this band and a tasty Great Lakes brew on this evening, because it is sure to be a hot time in the city.

You can get pre-sale tickets for the 2010 Burning River Festival here.