Endless Mountains Blues Fest-The Bands

Emcee: "Plain Sam" WUSR FM Drivetime Blues DJ
Sound: Mike Wanca, Pa. Sound Reinforcement

Dealer In Wares
- Home-Grown talent, New Addition To The Blues Fest Scene! 1:30 pm

Introducing Friar's Point , a rising force on the tri-state music scene. This Pennsylvania-based band explores blues genre from classic to contemporary artists as well as the influence of blues music on Southern Rock, Classic Rock, Soul and R&B. Friar's Point formed in July of 2006 originally as the Long Rider Blues Band. In only a few short months, the Long Riders had national act exposure opening for Trent Tomlinson, Jackyl and closing for Robin Trower. In their first year, the band had also been selected as a performing act for The 2007 Lehigh River Blues Jam in Catasauqua, Pa. and The 2007 Mahoning River Blues Festival in Youngstown, Ohio. After several personnel changes during the summer of 2007 the band strengthened it's sound with different instrumentation and took on the name of Friar's Point.

The band takes it's name from a town in Mississippi that is home to Hirsberg's Drugstore, where many classic blues artists would play to passers-by from it's porch. It is said that it was here that Muddy Waters heard Robert Johnson playing, and was so intimidated by his talent, that he left town. It is this lore which has inspired the band to adopt the name of this legendary town.

Friar's Point band members have live performance experience which is unparalleled… Their individual resumes include performing on the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Nashville circuits, and date back as far as 1975.

Friar's Point features Mary Dunbar on lead vocals, and their rock solid rhythm section featuring:
Pat Powers (harmonica, guitar & vocals)
Matt Koch (keyboards & vocals)
Chris London (lead guitar & vocals)
Jim Baldwin (bass guitar)
Brian Berlanda (drums, percussion & vocals).

Singing since the age of three, with roots that stem from the Appalachian Mountains and a Southern way of life, she has an appreciation and love of the music, especially blues and rock n’ roll. She was inspired as a child by recordings of Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Elvis, Ray Charles, more recently Koko Taylor, Etta James, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan (to name a few) and sang throughout her childhood in church and at school, honing her skills as a vocalist and entertainer. For 25 years or so, she's been entertaining up and down the East Coast where road experience and living life to its fullest have helped to inspire the heartfelt lyrics for the band’s originals, showcased at every performance. Her powerful, sultry voice is complimented by the funk and dynamics of the band.

Steve has been playing guitar for over 24 years, so understandably he's been influenced by Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, and Jeff Beck. Known for his big guitar sound and his love of music, especially classic rock and blues rock, he always strives for that tasteful, unique style all his own. That impressive sound comes from a combination of high quality, hand made guitars (Thorn from California) and amps (Fuchs from New Jersey). He leads the solid, rockin' sound of the band in the writing, arranging, and performing of covers and originals that are foot stompin', boogie till you drop or slow, melt your heart tunes.

Brad's been a professional drummer for over 20 years and is experienced in many diverse styles, being happiest when playing classic rock and blues. His influences include BB King, John Mayall, and of course, Muddy Waters. He is an accomplished lead and harmony vocalist, is well known throughout the local area and in several states for his precision playing (sometimes called the "human metronome") and has an extremely entertaining stage persona.

Dealer In Wares

Dealer In Wares pictured with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer, Artimus Pyle, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Sarah Yzkanin - Vocals, Harmonica, Piano
Tim Beckage - Lead Guitar
Chris Price - Drums

Hailing from Olyphant, Pa., Dealer in Wares began as a blues/rock duo and was co-founded by Sarah Yzkanin and Tim Beckage. In November of 2007, they joined forces with an old friend and dedicated musician, Chris Price. Chris’s raw talent proved to be the perfect fit and his drumming completed their sound. After adding Chris to their lineup, they were awarded First Runner Up in the 2007 First Night Scranton Battle of the Bands. A few days later, they opened for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer of the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle & The Long Island Street Survivors, at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg.

Dealer In Wares' “Willow Song” placed number 14 in American Idol Underground’s top 50 rock songs in September of 2007. 'Pretense', another original, placed number 43 the next month and number 48 in January of 2008. In their first 9 months as a band they played at over 21 venues, appeared on local television, and received radio play from 102.3 FM - The Mountain, KCTV - King's College Radio, and IBIMW internet radio. Music critics agree that the band is a force to be reckoned with and they are determined to take this project as far as it can go.