CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — Music, art, and community will converge in downtown Cortland on August 2nd for Arts Off Main, a free public festival hosted by Cortland Arts Connect.

Local musician and organizer Monica Ryan, bassist of the Cortland-based band M3, has curated a full day of live performances to celebrate the region’s diverse music scene. “I would like people to know what a talented and diverse musical scene we have here in Cortland,” Ryan said.

The music portion of the festival will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the Cortland Beer Company stage on Court Street, featuring a wide range of genres including folk, jazz, rock, Americana, and performances for children.

Ryan, who began her musical journey playing piano, organ, and clarinet before picking up the bass in 2017, has previously performed at Arts Off Main. This year, she’s focused on showcasing others. “I love family-friendly events… It’s the best feeling in the world to see a kid stop what he is doing and stare at you. I love community events. That’s the best to perform out in.”

In addition to live music, the festival will feature artist and crafter booths, local authors, a caricature artist, a puppeteer, and an interactive chalk mural by Molly Reagan. Free art classes will also be available, making the event a comprehensive celebration of creativity.

The Arts Off Main music lineup is as follows:

  • 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.: Lynn Koch – Folk musician

  • 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.: LillySilly Puppet Theater – Puppeteer and singer Lily Gershon with classical guitarist Matthew Ocone

  • 12:00 p.m.: David Graybeard Band – Acoustic Americana, roots, and blues with David Graybeard, Joe Hillebrandt, Paul Semeraro

  • 1:00 p.m.: Ted Walsh Duo – Americana and jazz standards by Walsh and Ithaca violinist Eric Aceto

  • 2:00 p.m.: Rick Starmer – Keyboardist and singer with a broad professional background including NYC session work

  • 3:00 p.m.: Colleen Kattau and Jane Zell – Acoustic set of original music

  • 4:00 p.m.: The High Road – Closing act playing rock, Americana, and original songs featuring Kat Walters, Chris Hall, Tracy Thompson, and Gary McCracken

Kat Walters, also known as the host and producer of The Working Stiff Show on I-100 Iconic Rock, shared her enthusiasm about performing with The High Road.

“We love what we do, we love each other, and we love connecting with YOU,” she said. “We play music because it brings us joy, and for us, that’s what The High Road is all about. Our goal is simple: to do what we love on stage! We want to fill the streets of Arts Off Main with great music, some familiar favorites and a few original songs that we hope will strike a chord with the crowd.”

Ted Walsh, who will perform with Eric Aceto, said their set will include reworked jazz standards alongside original material. “I took a few of those old 20s and 30s jazz standards and added some lyrics, making them darker, and in some cases, I hope, humorous,” said Walsh, a former English teacher and administrator in Dryden.

A prolific songwriter, Walsh is currently working on two albums, one with his band GoGone, set to release by the end of the summer, and another solo project that includes some of the altered jazz standards.

While Ryan’s curated lineup highlights a rich variety of talent, she emphasized that it’s just a fraction of what Cortland has to offer. “It’s only a tiny sample of what we have here,” she said.

The full experience, music, art, and community is free and open to the public on Court Street in downtown Cortland.