Advance Ohio Live Music Stage
Relax with delicious food from our Vegan Food Court while you enjoy a variety of music from the Cleveland VegFest Music Stage.
Zach Freidhof
Peace & Love Eclectic Pop/Rock/Soul
Performance Time: 11:00am
Zach Freidhof is known as “The Troubadour of Peace”. In 2010, he started the Akron Peace Project, an organization working to educate and inspire nonviolence in the community. This project works with numerous organizations to increase compassion and peace in our daily lives. Recently named “Humanitarian of the Year” by Akron Life Magazine, he is also a yogi, Kingian Nonviolence Trainer, and a World Peace Diet Facilitator. In 2014 he helped to start the Big Love Fest, the Big Love Network, in 2015 the Yoga Summit, in 2016 the Summit of Faiths, and in 2017 the Heart Mela.
Yet, perhaps his most powerful impact is through his music. “Music is so powerful. It can touch a soul at such a level as nothing else can,” Zach says. Lending his music to compassionate causes and events, he performs across the US nearly 200 dates annually for everything from yoga classes and veggie and peace fests, to house concerts and music festivals.
Jason Patrick Meyers
Soulful Country/Americana
Performance Time: 12:00pm
With his gritty vocals and acoustic guitar stylings, Jason Patrick Meyers captures the spirit of the blue-collar worker in his music. Digging deep into what is real, he connects to his listeners with a well-crafted lyrical adventure of honesty lurking in every song. Jason Patrick Meyers is a true singer-songwriter who can capture real life moments and relay them into intelligent and heartfelt musical adventures.
Growing up on the southeast side of Cleveland, Jason was raised in a house full of songs. His mother is a piano teacher at the Cleveland Institute of Music and his father is a double bass player. Jason started his own musical journey on the piano at the age of two. While other kids played video games and watched MTV, he would watch footage of Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonius Monk as his father played along on his bass.
A 22 year veteran of the Cleveland music scene, Jason has played the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Convention Center, The House of Blues and all of the major venues in Northeast Ohio as well as many venues throughout the eastern half of the United States. Jason has shared the stage with such acts as Bret Michaels, Leon Russell, Will Hoge, Cross Canadian Ragweed, The Gaslight Anthem, Saving Jane, Marcy Playground, Seven Mary Three, and many others. In addition to performing, he can also be heard on the radio every Monday and Saturday night. He spins the bands and musicians from Northeast Ohio as host of NEORocks on WJCU 88.7 FM.
As an active member of the Cleveland music scene, Jason donates performances to non-profit causes and events throughout the year. He also works with the local nonprofit, Roots of American Music, as a teaching artist in schools throughout the greater Cleveland area. You can catch him at the CLE Urban Winery as host of CLE Uncorked, a pre-arranged performance event for poets and musicians, as well as Brent Kirby’s fill in host at the 10x3 at Brother’s Lounge.
Kombilesa Asé
Original compositions inspired by the African diaspora
Performance Time: 1:00pm
Kombilesa Asé will take you on a journey around the world!
Music is the common denominator for this group of eclectic Afro-descendant musicians from Colombia, Barbados, Canada and Africa.The band offers a unique musical experience with original compositions inspired by the African diaspora. A wide range of genres including jazz, hip hop and reggae are featured in an experimental mix with African and classical instruments incorporating technology. The band creates electroacoustic collaborative arrangements of traditional music from African descendant communities in the Americas.
Grey
Plant Based Drippin Vegan Rapper/Hip Hop
Performance Time: 2:00pm
Grey is one of the hottest emerging artists at the intersection between activism, urban style & hip hop. A growing Atlanta institution in his own right, Grey became one of the most talked about acts of 2016 after his Vegan Thanksgiving freestyle & music video took the internet by storm. His superb, cerebral and soulful flow ensured that his message went global, earning him 75k new followers and nods from Russell Simmons, DL Hughley, Ellie Goulding, Unilad, Worldstar, and Baller Alert. Notching a total of 30+ million views, he was catapulted from local stardom to the global stage. Even PETA and Whole Foods supported his release, proving the cross-marketability of Grey and his message. His music and clothing line, Plant Based Drippin, is creating a new energy in the Vegan community. A lyricist, activist, and social entrepreneur, Grey is nothing short of refreshing. With a clear, understandable, and sophisticated flow, Grey is an artist to watch in 2018. He, like vegan cooking, just might surprise you.
Diana Chittester
Folk/Rock Singer Acoustic Guitar
Performance Time: 3:00pm
Diana Chittester stands alone on stage with an arsenal of acoustic guitars. Her solo show is brought to life with signature percussive multi-part playing, mimicking a full band on a solo acoustic guitar, without the help of loopers or other technological tricks. Blending intelligent and articulate lyrics, Diana's personal stories and vulnerability shared on stage resonates with audiences.
Music Connection Magazine noted her “intelligent and articulate lyrics” on the review of her first full-length album, In This Skin (2012). Dubbed a “Guitar God” by Skinny Devil Magazine and “a complex guitar acrobat” by ArtVoice Magazine, in 2017 she was invited to perform on the "Cellar Sessions" series recorded live at City Winery in NYC. Diana tours regularly in the US and Canada including folk-rock venues such as The Ark, Music Box Supper Club, Rockwood Music Hall and Performing Art Centers across the MidWest. She's opened for many iconic songwriters like Colin Hay, Kim Richey, Melissa Ferrick, LP, Jennifer Batten, Chris Trapper (Push Stars) and Kelly Richey to name few.
In early 2017, Diana toured with Canadian Juno-nominated songwriter, Royal Wood, through 10 cities in 12 days performing at the most prestigious folk venues such as The Ark, Rockwood Music Hall, Club Passim, World Cafe Live, Ludlow Garage, Music Box Supper Club and more.
Currently, Diana is recording new music for her upcoming album titled Paradox due out May 2018 while also teaching educational workshops at high schools and colleges.
Jim Marconi
Original Vegan-Themed Compositions
Performance Time: 5:00pm
Jim Marconi, The Vegan Troubadour, has been eating plant-based for over 40 years and is a strong and outspoken advocate for a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. His transformation to the plant based lifestyle came about in 1976 when he overcame the adversity of a bad lifestyle and a history of issues reaped in the Standard American Diet. Jim is a singer songwriter and has been honing his craft since 1998. Many of his songs, such as “Where Do You Get Your Protein” and “Go Vegan”, have an upbeat vegan theme. He combines his smooth and savory crooning with a deeply impactful wellness message.
Jim is the host of The Vegan Troubadour Show, where all aspects of the vegan lifestyle are explored. Through his use of in depth interviews with well known authors like Will Tuttle and health advocate Steven Prousack, Jim brings many issues to the table. With the knowledge gained over the past 40 years and his many topical songs the Vegan Troubadour Show is both entertaining and educational. The Vegan Troubadour Show covers a vast array of information for anyone interested in the vegan lifestyle.
