A big thank you to the all-star lineup which played at the House of Blues for the First Waltz 2008:

Jack Fords:

The Jack Fords are the genuine article. Greasy American Rock N Roll that is delivered with a charismatic, confident swagger. There is a raw, honest, genuine, spontaneous approach to their live show that has made their listeners believers. They are most at home and their best tearing through four-hour sets in smoky dirty clubs and bars, with creaky floors, spilled beer, broken glass, and fantastic crowds. This was the momentum behind the Cleveland band being crowned 2007’s “Best Rock Band” by the Cleveland Free Times and their readers, less than a year of their debut live release, “Bent Outta Shape”. The Jack Fords are: Bobby Latina, Brent Kirby, Greg Campolieti, and Chris Hanna.

Disco Inferno:

Back by popular demand!! Often Imitated, Never Duplicated! Is the Number One disco tribute band in the Midwest. With over a 150 shows a year, Disco Inferno has been together since 1995 and can been seen at venues throughout Ohio as well as Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky and more…Whether it’s a nightclub, festival, wedding or corporate event, Disco Inferno will get the party started and get the people dancing with the hits of the 70’s and early 80’s Disco. Burn Baby Burn!

Jackson Rohm:

Jackson developed his talents through hard work and devotion to his listeners and clearly has a great time playing for his fans. While attending Miami University in Ohio, Rohm first realized his passion could become a career reality. Jackson adds, “I started playing out at bars in college in an effort to make a little cash while still being able to hang out with all my friends. Quickly, the venues started filling up and I was raking in some decent money. When I started getting a great response to my own music, I was hooked. I feel so lucky to have found that I’m able to make a living doing the thing that I love most: writing, recording and performing music.”

Sonic Tonsil:

Dave Pearce fronts Sonic Tonsil and grew up with Barry, Jack and all the good ole’ boys from Chagrin Falls. The band plays around the Charlotte, NC area and was happy to make the road trip up from the Confederacy to play your favorite cover tunes of Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stones, Clapton, and many more. Band members include Fred Levy on bass, Paul Bretzius on lead guitar, and John Anderson on drums. They truly capture that classic rock vibe! “As always, it’s a great honor and privilege to play for all of our friends on the Bright Side of the Road! I’m a true believer in the cause.”

Kristine Jackson:

Rock N Roll, Blues, Roots, Soul, whatever you call it the bottom line it’s a refreshing twist to all the above. From a traditional rock band line up, to the added edge of turntables KJ Blues is ‘not your average blues band. She likes to combine cover tunes from Robert Johnson to the Red Hot Chili Peppers with her own unique material to appeal to a broad audience of both younger and older crowds…. music is the common ground! She has a way of making you enjoy how she lays it down… This multi-talented girl plays and sings the blues with such emotion it is as if she has an old soul. Rounding off the band for the First Waltz, KJ vocals, guitar, and trumpet. Jim Wall on drums, Chris Hannah on key, Herb Pruitt on bass, and Michael Bay on guitar.

The Cleveland Blues All-Stars:

An amalgam of diverse veteran blues & rock musicians, uniting for this special one-off performance and dedicated to performing the classic blues and rock standards that have shaped the foundation of rock and roll. Primary members include Austin “Walkin’ Cane” Charanghat, arguably Cleveland’s best blues/slide guitarist/vocalist; award-winning harmonica player/vocalist Colin Dussault, whose name is synonymous with the blues in Northeast Ohio; veteran Cleveland musical icon Michael Stanley, shedding his solo & MSB persona for this excursion into the blues, as he does with his own blues/rock side project Midlife Chryslers; and Eroc Sosinski, bassist/vocalist for Wish You Were Here, Michael Stanley & The Resonators, and countless other Cleveland bands. Rounding out the All-Stars will be drummer Jon Darling of Wish You Were Here and The Kingbees, and keyboardist Gary Jones of Midlife Chryslers.

Bright Siders:

“With a little help from our friends.” To keep the night intimate we have asked a few friends to play short sets on the Cambridge Room stage. Mike Orazen and Jackson Rohm, Craig McConnell and Kevin Kruszenski, and the John Ellis trio will be living out their rock-and-roll fantasies as each group plays for about 20 minutes each. Don’t miss their performances. Their set lists are going to be as varied as their styles. Barry has ‘consulted’ with them on some special tunes that could include some acoustic Zeppelin, Queen and old-school Stones. This is bound to be one of the highlights of the night!!