The Mid-Ohio Valley has long been home to a thriving local music scene and several downtown businesses are taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase local talent, and in some cases national acts, while also attracting customers.
Tony Styer took over operations of the Marietta Brewing Company in November and said that the period between owners was a little precarious. Customers and musicians alike were concerned for the state of live entertainment in Marietta.
"When the Brewery closed down (in November 2009), it was before the Adelphia opened. The local music scene pretty much died," he said.
Since Styer and his wife Dana took over, they have been eager to pick up where the former owner left off.
"I just think brewery (and) music - they pretty much go hand-in-hand," Styer said.
The Brewery has live music on a regular basis and primarily features local and regional acts.
Fact Box
Upcoming events
The Adelphia
203 Second St.
March 25
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. - Comedian Aaron-Michael Fox
9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. - Cadillac Lester
March 26
Noon to 11 p.m. - WV Music Hall of Fame's Mobile Museum and The Carpenter Ants
April 1
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Fletcher's Grove
April 12
7:30 p.m. - Marietta College Jazz Ensemble Concert
April 13
8 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Bill Kirchen
April 19
7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Ben Miller Band
April 30
9 p.m. - Jinx'd
June 3
9 p.m. to midnight - Southern Culture on the Skids
Marietta Brewing Company
167 Front St.
Open mic with Jason Feathers every Thursday at 9 p.m.
March 25 - Jason Canterbury
March 26 - Amp'd Up
April 1 - Jay Wiley
April 2 - The New Relics
April 8 - Nate DiRuzza & The Black Bourbon Devils
April 15 - Justin Arthur
April 16 - The Steve Hussey Band
April 22 - Jason Allwood
April 23 - Chemical Valley
April 29 - Steve Hussey (Acoustic solo)
April 30 - the Light Weight Slams
For more event information, visit www.mbcpub.com or www.facebook.com/mbcpub
And while the Brewery was one of the first to showcase musicians from around the region, The Adelphia Music Hall at The Galley has quickly become the place to catch acts from outside the area.
The Galley restaurant opened The Adelphia Music Hall in June 2010 at the former site of the Pastime Pizza Parlor. This was a natural expansion for The Galley, according to local musician John Walsh, who is also senior vice president for corporate development at Alliance Industries, Inc., which provides oversight for The Galley and The Adelphia.
"The vision for the expansion was always to create a unique, intimate entertainment venue for the Mid-Ohio Valley," Walsh said. "The Adelphia Music Hall has attracted customers and artists from a wide area to listen and play there. With professional-level musicians on staff, the ownership has had unique insight and access to both the local and national music scene.
Walsh said additionally, The Adelphia has forged a strong alliance with Todd Burge and his Songwriternight.com, The Colony Theatre project, and the Marietta College performance music program. National acts such as Lucy Kaplansky, Steve Forbert, Southern Culture on the Skids, and The Bob Thompson Unit have already graced The Adelphia stage.
Walsh and Styer both say feedback has been extremely positive, from customers and performers alike and Styer said there really isn't any competition, as far as he's concerned.
"The way I see it is that we are all working hand-in-hand," he said. "If we both have bands one night, that just means there are more people downtown."
Other businesses who have also incorporated live music include Over the Moon Pizzeria and the Marietta Wine Cellars.
"We've had some great jam sessions," said Michael "Moon" Mullen, owner of the pizzeria at 107 Front St. "One time we had about 12 pickers going at once. Acoustic instruments work better in our space but I definitely think any live music is a great way to bring in customers."
"We've got some great local musicians and some great venues and we do more toward becoming 'that' destination if people have different options," he said.
