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A variety of acts hitting the stage this weekend

By Douglass Huxley 4 min read

A wide variety of musical stylings will be entertaining crowds at the 2023 Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.

With a variety of music everyone will have something to enjoy during the festival which runs Friday through in Marietta.

"I think we will have a pretty good lineup for this year's Sternwheel Festival," said Entertainment Chairman Jeanne Wetz. "I think we have a good variety of music from country to rock."

Opening ceremonies will be Friday at 6 p.m. at the Ohio River Levee.

It has been a tradition for a number of years to have Steve & Beverly Pottmeyer kick off the performances for the festival at 7 p.m. Friday.

"They have done it for several years," Wetz said.

At 8 p.m. Friday, THW will perform.

The group was fan voted as the "Best Country Band" in Pittsburgh magazine's "Best of the 'Burgh 2013 Readers' Poll," according to the group's bio.

THW is Abby Abbondanza (vocals), Jeff Volek (bass), Junior Guthrie (guitar) and Keith Kleinhampl (drums). The group's deep rooted country grit sound has received praise by multiple local outlets, including being named one of the "Best Breakout Music Acts in Pittsburgh" by Pittsburgh's KDKA.

The group has released a couple of singles "Best Night of Our Lives," a party anthem, and "Damn I Just Wanna Kiss You."

At 9 p.m. Friday, TINA-tribute to the Queen of Rock & Roll starring Cookie Watkins will get underway at the main stage. The Tina Turner tribute artist performs a number of Turner's hits.

"I have seen her takes and she is really good," Wetz said. "She performs just like (Tina Turner)."

An international touring Tribute Artist, Watkins has entertained hundreds of thousands of Tina Turner fans around the world, according to her bio. Music has been her mainstay since Duke Ellington brought her onstage to warble out a few tunes at the ripe age of 14. Ellington gave Watkins a coming-out party at the Rainbow Room when she turned 18. She even warranted a special mention in his book "Music Is My Mistress."

Watkins studied opera and classical music. She performed on Broadway in hit stage musicals like "Guys & Dolls," "Sweet Charity," and "Hair" before touring with the original cast of "Beehive" and Marie Wilson.

The show features a high-energy professionally choreographed and costumed production featuring Turner's greatest hits. Watkins allows the audience to savor the saucy effects of Turner's "Higher" before a seamless transition to the throaty "Better Be Good to Me" followed by "What's Love Got To Do With It?".

On Saturday there will be a mix of local flare and more with performances by the Marietta High School Wall Of Sound at 12 p.m., the Marietta High School Choir – Vocal Point at 1 p.m.; the Bruce Haas Trio at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; the Generation Gap Blues Band at 3 p.m.; the Jake Binegar Band at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Division Street at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The headlining act Saturday night will be Highway 96 with performances at 9 p.m. and then at 10 p.m. following the fireworks.

Highway 96 of Nashville, Tenn., brings a unique blend of artsy, eclectic, and just plain good old-fashioned harmony singing to the table, according to their bio. They perform a wide range of music from 90's country to doo-wop, and from gospel to rock and roll.

"Highway 96 is on the scene and ready to take you on a musical road trip," their bio said. "Some of our favorite memories go hand in hand with summer road trips and weekends cruising.

"This will be a fun trip for the whole family"

On Sunday, Charlie Jean Brewer performs at 11 a.m., the Gypsy River Band performs at 12 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. following the Captain James E. Sands Memorial Races which start at 1 p.m.

Charlie Jean Brewer is a 10-year-old singer-songwriter and guitarist from Marietta. Her songwriting is influenced by Appalachian culture and writers like Brent Cobb, Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell. The festival will close out Sunday with CRUSH – Bon Jovi Experience tribute band at 2:30 p.m. Crush – Bon Jovi Experience has been wowing audiences with their live stage show and authentic musical renditions of Bon Jovi's greatest hits for the better part of a decade, according to their bio. They perform Bon Jovi's biggest hits including "Living on a Prayer," "It's My Life," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive" and more.

"At a Crush Bon Jovi Experience concert, you will witness a 100% full-on, no-holds-barred, exciting musical experience that has to be seen to be believed," their bio said.

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