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Federal Frenzy to stay online

WonderStruck plots its debut for 2021

Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment:

• Music fans will have to settle for a virtual Federal Frenzy for the second straight year.

Presented by Youngstown State University’s Penguin Productions, Federal Frenzy featured free performances by local, regional and national acts and brought thousands to downtown Youngstown in April for indoor and outdoor shows.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the live event last year, and organizers again are going the online route for 2021.

This year’s Frenzy will be a one-hour video special on April 24 produced with Forty Two Event Production and Jambar-TV. It will include new performances by Red Wanting Blue, Labra Brothers, Fifth & Aurora, Delinquency Jones, The Vindys, JD Eicher, Spirit of the Bear and Julia Cooper.

Along with music, there will be segments on local artists, vendors and venues.

One new tie-in is the Frenzy 8-Pack, that includes two beers each from Birdfish Brewing in Columbiana, Modern Methods in Warren and Noble Creature Cask House and Penguin City Beer in Youngstown. Participants have until Friday to order the brews from rivalry-brews.myshopify.com/pages/penguin-frenzy-8-pack.

The eight pack includes access to a Meet the Brewers Virtual Event on April 23, and orders will be delivered in time for the event.

YSU students can sign up for an edible cookie dough class hosted by One Hot Cookie at 7 p.m. April 21. Registered students will be able to pick up cookie kits on campus.

• April may be too early for an outdoor music festival, but organizers of WonderStruck are moving ahead with its plans for July 24 and 25 on the grounds of Lakeland Community College in Kirtland.

WonderStruck is produced by the Elevation Group and replaces its LaureLive festival at the Laurel School in Russell Township. WonderStruck was supposed to debut in 2020, but it was struck down by COVID-19.

Many of the acts announced for 2020 remain on the bill for 2021 — Walk the Moon and Third Eye Blind still are the two headliners for July 24 and Portugal. The Man remains top-billed for July 25 — but there are several changes.

I’ll miss Brittany Howard, Saint Motel and Of Monsters and Men, but AJR should be a huge draw, and I’m thrilled to get a chance to see Jade Bird live.

The lineup also boasts more women artists than ever before, and the Youngstown women-fronted act The Vindys will headline the third stage on July 25.

The festival features 28 acts over two days — Walk the Moon, Third Eye Blind, Lennon Stella, Tate McRae, JP Saxe, SHAED, Royal & the Serpent, Cobi, Londin Thompson, Rebounder, Brent Kirby, Jon Caryl, .wavrunner and Jack Harris on July 24 and Portugal. The Man, AJR, Trombone Shorty, Noah Cyrus, Dayglow, Jade Bird, Ricky Montgomery, The Collection, The Vindys, The Floorwalkers, The Hails, AJ Wander, Bonelang and Detention on July 25.

Tickets are $89 each day or $159 for a weekend pass and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at wonderstruckfest.com. VIP packages also are available.

Elevation Group has backup dates reserved in September, but Elevation Group President Denny Young said in the news release announcing the lineup that organizers “feel confident that by the end of July Ohio will largely be back to normal.”

Andy Gray is the entertainment editor of Ticket. Write to him at agray@tribtoday.com.

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