Shindig Charity Music Festival brings New Orleans to Zelienople
One of Saturday’s headliners of The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople came all the way from the French Quarter of New Orleans to support charities for Parkinson’s disease and liver health.
Caitie B. & the Hand Me Downs, from New Orleans, took the stage at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, on the second day of the three-day festival, playing jazz and blues from the city that gave organizer Vince Gemma of My Preferred Insurance the inspiration for the festival.
Gemma said while visiting New Orleans with his wife, he was inspired by the atmosphere of live music and wanted to share it with Zelienople, where My Preferred Insurance recently opened a second location.
“We’re giving back to the community that helped put this on,” Gemma said. “I don’t know many people who don’t like music.”
The festival featured three bands Friday, and seven bands each on Saturday and Sunday playing country, rock, blues, dance, disco and acoustic music. Each band’s set was an hour and a half.
The list of bands can be found on the music festival’s website.
This was the first year the festival was held in Zelienople Community Park with food trucks and vendors.
The money raised from sponsors goes back into putting on next year’s festival, which is always the first weekend of August, and money raised from ticket sales goes to two charities: the Rock Steady Fitness Program at Legacy Fitness and the Community Liver Alliance.
The Rock Steady boxing program helps Parkinson’s disease patients push the limits of their mobility and is proven to help maintain a higher level of function over time, according to festival organizers. The program has been accredited by the Parkinson’s Foundation as an exercise education program. It’s owned by Scott Stoner, a recent inductee of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame.
The Community Liver Alliance based in Pittsburgh raises awareness and provides education, advocacy and research into liver disease.
For Gemma, the music festival is also a way to bring his family together. He said his sons Jeff and Jack play guitar and bass, respectively.
“It is somewhat of a family thing,” he said.
-
Seth Osche with Dinnerbell Road performs at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Jake Rubenstein performs at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Billy Blodgett with Dinnerbell Road performs at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Zach Cratsley performs during the transition between two other bands on the main stage at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Cook McKoy with Dinnerbell Road performs at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Dinnerbell Road performs at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Audience members listen to Dinnerbell Road perform during The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
at The Shindig Charity Music Festival in Zelienople, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Dinnerbell Road performs at a previous year's The Shindig in Zelienople. Submitted photo
