By Bryona Colyar / Jambar Contributor
It will soon be time to kick up the bass, pour the drinks and paint the town red and white for Penguin Productions’ 11th annual Federal Frenzy Music and Arts Festival.
For two days, April 25-26, Youngstown State University will host sponsors, local and national bands to provide entertainment to the Youngstown community. Since last year’s event garnered over 7,500 attendees, the Penguin Productions team expanded its duration from one to two days.
Abigail Gutowski, one of the event leads, said working in Penguin Productions is personally rewarding and a top priority for those involved despite their busy schedules. She also said the team wants to create memorable experiences with each event.
“It really means a lot to us to have the support from our fellow students and classmates. Also, the advisors, teachers, and just the Youngstown community as a whole,” Gutowski said.
The festival will rock down to Penguin City Brewing Co. at the corner of East Federal Street and Andrews Avenue on April 25. Day Two will take the festival to the corner of West Federal and Phelps streets.
For $5, visitors are able to park in the Wick Deck, while students can use their passes to park for free.
Brynn Brunton, PenPro operations lead, said finding parking elsewhere is easy, as many places in downtown Youngstown provide free parking.
“On Friday, there’ll be a shuttle running every fifteen minutes from Wick and there’ll be signage saying where to meet for the shuttle. Then, we’ll drop off at Penguin City directly. Then, on Saturday there’ll be a shuttle from Wick at the same entrance. It’ll go and drop off at the intersection on Phelps and Commerce [streets],” Brunton said. “There’ll be a map [for Friday and Saturday] to see where the dropoff is, but the shuttles will be running every 15 minutes.”
Tim Pappagallo, PenPro outreach lead, said the crew wants to give Youngstown a change in key. Like Nashville being known for its country music and venues, the team wants to expand the city’s recognition beyond the “Steel Valley.”
“We are not necessarily trying to put it on the map, but we want to show that there’s more than just an old city that used to make steel. Instead, we have a lot of talent that can be broadcasted musically and artistically,” Pappagallo said.
Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to the Valley’s own new and returning talent. Acts like Sedona and Fine Young Men are two of many groups that will receive a Federal Frenzy encore.
Sponsors such as the Paula and Anthony Rich Center for Autism, Student Activities, Student Government Association and the YSU Foundation partnered with Penguin Productions to orchestrate the event.
Federal Frenzy will be filled with a multitude of musical artists. Over 30 bands will grace the various stages, including the headliners — No Funk No Justice on Day One and Ultra Q on Day Two.
Josh Antal, PenPro talent lead, said the festival is a celebration of Youngstown and its local music scene.
“It’s one of those rare opportunities we have in Youngstown to just celebrate our city, to come together and have a huge festival. We have such a great music scene in Youngstown,” Antal said. “We had so many local bands apply to play this year, some of the most we’ve ever had.”
April 25 will run from 4-10:30 p.m., whereas April 26 will run from 2-11 p.m. Attendance is free of charge and open to the public. Food trucks, vendors and art will be available for sale to encourage community connection.
