BLOG 1: THE EVENING SUN FESTIVAL 2

Mechanicsburg PA - We are So Excited for the Evening Sun Festival 2022. The Evevning Sun Festival is a branch off of the “Morning Star Festival” that ran 6 times beginning in 2008. Originally the festival was concieved and named after a song by the band Super Bob (at the time they were Called Bob). Nick (Ceo of 717 Entertainment) felt the band was ready for a full day festival based on thier incredible live show and top draw in the area after only a few shows in Central PA. The band based in VIrginia was already drawing better than 85% of bands from the area at the time. The Festival ran 10 years w/ 6 shows all featuring Bob (or Super Bob), some a day, some two days and one was even a Three day festival. When the band disbanded 717 Entertainment didn’t feel right carrying on w/ “The Morning Star Festival” w/out its namesake however wasn’t done w/ the Festival Format and felt that w/ the Morning Star already established instead of starting something from scratch we could build off that w/ a show “Based” on that festival. In 2019 we created the Evening Sun Festival another full day show that played off the name and kept it in the same family : in fact the idea is to have a Trilogy of Festivals all in the Realm of This topic.

2022 will be the first time we have held the Evening Sun Festival at Lovedraft’s in Mechanicsburg. W/ only one stage to work w/ we’ve packed this show all in one room on one stage and it will feature12 Bands beginning at 2:00PM in the afternoon so you can come out see some of the most incredilbe bands for only $20 on the day of the show. Lovedraft’s has some of the best variety of Beers, mixed drinks and absolutely amazing food for you to order. We’ll have suprises throughout the day as well as so many festivities at the venue. They have Pinball machines, old school arcade games and you’ll see a music lovers dream w/ 10+ merch tables featuring an array of merchandise from all the bands playing the festival. You’’ll get to interact w/ all the bands. Before we even include the crowd there will be a good 50+ band and Crew members for you to talk and mingle w/ all day into the night.

Lets dive headfirst into what you’ll see on March 26th. I’ll be extremely honest and say that 717 was feinding for a Festival. It’s been over a year since we’ve done one and what better one to do than this one? Here’s how it came about. We had the Lydia Can’t Breathe / City of the Weak tour booked for this date. We were then approached about the Reign of Z / Mantra of Morta Tour on the same date. It was at this point the wheels in Nick’s mind started really spinning. 4 Incredible Regional / National touring acts in one night. Lets see if Ignite The Fire is Available. Oh they are. Now we got 5 bands on One insane lineup. Why should we not include a few local friends to take part in this incredible show? We then confrimed w/ Relentless Souls, Number of The Sun and Coal State. Now we have 8 bands for one super sweet show. This is honestly when Evening Sun Festival started whispering in my ear and it was decided w/out a shadow of a doubt it’s time to do our First “Festival” at Lovedraft’s. We added a Headliner in Kore Rozzik and a few more important ingredients to the show and all the sudden The Evening Sun Festival was Reborn.

At the time we had 11 bands. The show was complete and promo could begin. But wait…. We recieve an email from a Representative from the band LYLVC out of North Carolina. They requested a slot on the show. After some back and forth through Email we decided they could be quick friends of 717 Entertainment and they were added to the bill. Now we had 12 bands. The flyer looked perfect, the set times made sense and the anticipation could officially begin. Naturally as w/ any 717 Entertainment show Nick would lead the charge of anticipation because he’s a music lover first and promoter second.

The show is going to Kick off w/ the incredible band called Coal State. These guys just played the West York Inn over this weekend and people including the staff and owner are raving about this band. The band is a high energy act that will get you out of your seat and up on the floor dancing. They are an absolute perfect band to kick the festivities off. We expect a full dance floor at 2:30 as these guys will deliver.

Number of the Sun will pick up exactly where Coal State left off w/ a high energy performance of Alternative Rock music that will get the entire place’s attention. The band is making a name for itself around the midstate w/ thier incredible live show and the bands Video for the bands first Single “Still the Air”. You are in for an amazing Treat when these guys hit the stage on March 26th.

If you are in or around the Central Pa region and have not had the pleasure of seeing or hearing Audiobox then you must have been living under a big Rock the last 10+ years. These guys will crank it up a notch in the heavy department when they take the stage. We aren’t talking metal but we are talking a bit more intensity, they are the perfect follow up to our first two bands.

Like a Roller Coaster it’ll be time to go down in a Valley a bit when Six Bar Break takes the stage and encourages sing alongs and good time rock n roll music. Looking around Lovedrafts if you see anyone not smiling while these guys are on stage then that person may not have a Soul as that’s exactly what these guys pertrude is Soul and heart. Lead Singer Ben Bollinger will put his incredible voice on display for everyone to hear as the band brings the good times to the Evening Sun Festival.

The show will start to really pick up when the hard rock of The Relentless Souls takes aim at the crowd. This band will be coming up from Baltimore and has already warmed up crowds for numerous National acts as well as headlined their own shows down in Baltimore. You are in for a real treat when the band graces the stage of Lovedraft’s at the Evening Sun Festival.

For fans of Linkin Park and Female fronted rock LYLVC will be a welcome addition to this musical escape. Lead by a male and Female Vocalist who have both been on big stages opening for National acts so they know what its like to get a crowd into the show. They’ll bring Everyone up front for the best time of thier lives when they hit the stage. The band is coming all the way from North Carolina so Central PA will need to show them some love and how we do things around these parts when they take the stage.

After LYLVC pleases the crowd this will be the portion of the show that the Pit opens up and the Metal heads have thier fun as Mantra Or Morta all the way from Michigan take the stage. This female lead heavy Metal act will be making thier first appearance in the midstate and we hope to see a full floor w/ pits and dancing while they are on stage to show them some love. The band is currently touring the states w/ buddies in Reign of Z who will be your next act.

Back in September of 2021 a band Called Reign of Z took the stage in Harrisburg opening for King 810 and Combichrist. The crowd fell in love so we felt it was only fitting that they come back and this time they’ll play a more main role in the show. We are featuring the band as they are one of the hottest rising Metal acts in the country currently. We expect to see a lot of action in front of that Stage when these guys are on Stage.

Ignite The Fire has spent years building a name for themselves in the midstate and surrounding areas and they’ve done a damn good job as they have become staples in the area. Everytime the band plays around these parts its an exciting time and w/ the bands rise in the scene appearances will become more and more scarce so this is the perfec oppurtunity to catch these guys before you see them on some Major tours playing Much bigger stages.

This will be the 3rd time we’ve hosted City of The Weak and each time they get more popular and people fall harder in love w/ them. There is no way to describe this band other than a hell of a good time. lead vocalist Stef will show you how a front woman should be w/ her interactive show backed by some incredible songs. You’ll be singing along by the 3rd song and asking for more when the band exits the Stage.

Lydia Can’t Breathe was an absolute Gem in our area. They came through on a 717 Show a few years ago and became beloved right away. W/ thier song that they throw PBJ’s out into the crowd along w/ the absolute crowd pleasing full set there is no way the fans at Lovedraft’s wont be asking fo them to come back as soon as humanly possible. These guys put on an incredible Live show that you will not soon forget.

Kore Rozzik will be headlining the event. This is to say the least a prestigious position to be in and the band intend to take full advantage. They’ve played w/ Nita Strauss and Liliac amongst others in Central Pa but this will be the first time at Lovedrafts in Mechanicsburg. The band will deliver a one of kind high octane headlining set that you cannot miss. They say the show only gets better as it goes and these guys aim to prove this w/ thier night closing performance.

Now that you’ve been given a quick run down of all the acts you’ll be able to see on this day I can’t think of any reason why you would’nt call 5-10 of your closest friends and head on over to Lovedraft’s on the 26th of March. Feel free to eat Dinner at the establishment as they have some of the best food in the Midstate. State of the art stage and sound system so you’ll feel like your at a concert and not in someones living room. Standing room, tables and of course Re Entry if you feel the need to head outside and grab a smoke or just chill in the parking lot (which is full of free parking) in between bands. The sky is truly the limit w/ this show as there is so much to do, so much to keep you occupied but lets not forget the reason you are there and that’s the bands who are traveling from all around to perform for you. Please visit all bands merch booths as it helps them get to the next show. Who knows you may see many of these bands playing Huge festivals or big national tours one day and you’ll be able to say you saw them in the beginning of thier careers right in Mechanicsburg PA at LoveDrafts…

Plan to tune into “Banded: The Podcast” on Sunday March 20th on Rabbit in the Red Radio network and join 717 Entertainment’s own Nick Meyers as he discusses the show and has guests from many of the artists you’ll see at the Evening Sun Festival. Tune in Sunday March 20th at 8:30PM on Rabbit in Red Radio Network….