Gallo to host special live music events, welcome The Skatalites

Left of Center with Joshua Maloni

Lewiston restaurateur Michael Hibbard is teaming with music promoter Ray Barry to bring music and art to Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen this summer.

First up is Gallo Blues Fest, starting at 4 p.m. Saturday and featuring top local musicians Jamie Holka, The Junkyard Dogs, Maria Aurigema Band, Diane Kallay Band, and Ray Barry & the Del Lago School of Music. Entertainment and food will be plentiful outside the restaurant at 402 Center St.

“Ray approached me back a few months ago. He runs the Blues Festival in downtown Buffalo. He said he's always wanted to do something locally here in Lewiston,” Hibbard explained. “I said, ‘Well, let's try it at Gallo.’ He was able to round up these acts for that day, and it's going to be pretty much an all-day event.”

Barry said, “Michael and I have been discussing putting on some larger-scale events together for a while, so it is nice to see these events come to fruition.

“Gallo Blues Fest is just like it sounds: A day filled with great local talent playing blues/rock music on the Gallo patio. We have five bands playing from 4-10 p.m., and it’s all 100% free admission.

“One of our goals for these events was to do our best to make them free to enter. We share the same vision of being able to keep exciting, vibrant events like this happening in this area, that the community can enjoy.”

Then, on Saturday, July 20, Gallo will host “Rhythm & Roots.”

Hibbard said a third partner, Justin DeLuca, first pitched this idea.

“He's always wanted to do some type of a reggae festival in this area, and I said the same thing to him: ‘Let's do it at Gallo’s outdoor patio,’ ” Hibbard noted. “So, with a lot of his help, we went out and did complete fundraising for it. All the bands were from sponsorship money. And we're bringing in a national act called The Skatalites. They'll be the headliner. And we have four other bands. We'll have a DJ. There's multiple bands that are playing that day, which start at 2 o'clock.

“The Skatalites are pretty interesting. They're actually from the same area in Jamaica that Bob Marley is from. So, they've played with The Wailers in the past. We're excited about that. And they're doing a worldwide tour this summer, because it's their 60th anniversary. We're one of the stops for New York state. And that's a whole day of art and music.”

Buffalo-based Eat Off Art will lead live painting demonstrations, and the event will include glassblowing, too.

“ ‘Rhythm & Roots’ is going to be the first of its kind, in my opinion, in Lewiston,” Barry said. “This event is very exciting. Justin DeLuca, Michael Hibbard and myself have been working diligently on this event to make it a truly incredible, one-of-a-kind experience like nothing else you’ve seen in Lewiston. This event is also free!

“We are bringing in legendary reggae/ska group The Skatalites as a headliner here. Being able to see a band like this on a patio in Lewiston, for free, is unheard of.

“In addition to this, we have a stacked lineup of great bands all day, including Grub, Neville Francis & The Riddim Posse, Olmstead Dub System, Tonemah, deejays and more.

“There will be vendors, music, food, drinks, an after-party, a VIP section and much more. This one is not to be missed!”

For more information, visit https://www.gallocoalfirekitchen.com/events/.