Award-Winning Blues Musician, Local Acts Added to Happy Valley Music Fest Lineup

An award-winning saxophonist, singer and songwriter as well as three local acts have been added to the lineup for the Happy Valley Music Fest on Sept. 3.

Back after a three-year hiatus, the festival moves to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and will be headlined by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, organizers announced earlier this month.

But the long-running New Orleans-based jazz/funk/soul brass band won’t be the only national touring act on hand. Three-time Blues Music Award-winner Vanessa Collier also joins the lineup, bringing a sound that blends blues, funk and rock with soulful vocals and powerful saxophone. Collier has released six albums, including 2022’s “Live at Power Station,” and has been hailed by Blues Blast magazine as “an important part of the future of blues.”

Also recently added to the festival are three popular local acts: rock bands Donny Burns & The 3rd Degree and Sidewinder and country/southern rock/blues group the Chris Bell Band.

Tickets are $20 and are available at StateCollegeSpikes.com. Parking is $5.50 in advance or $10 day of. The full slate of ballpark concessions and the Kids Zone will be open during the festival

Happy Valley Music Fest Schedule

12:30 p.m. Gates open

1:30-2:30 p.m. Sidewinder

3-4 p.m. Chris Bell Band

4:30-5:30 p.m. Donny Burns & The 3rd Degree

5:30-7 p.m. Vanessa Collier

7:30-9 p.m. Dirty Dozen Brass Band