Everything from blues to bluegrass will combine for a pleasing musical mix during the second annual AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival Friday through Aug. 8 at Festival Park, downtown Johnstown.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 8.

The new festival was held in late August last year, but plans are to continue with the first weekend in August, said Shelley Johansson, director of communications and marketing for Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

“We wanted to find a weekend that was not in conflict with other events,” she said.

“It’s important to have hotel rooms available. Some are coming for the first time from out of town. This is a better fit for college students who are going off to school at the end of August.”

Johansson said the scheduled musical programming should have an appeal to a lot of people, especially those who enjoy live music.

“We have an exceptional group of performers,” Johansson said.

“We’ve been getting a buzz and hearing happy noises about all of them.”

Friday night’s entertainment will kick off at 5:30 with local folksinger Tim Dabbs and Good Brother Earl, a band that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said had a full-bodied, triple-A rock sound.

In 2003, the group was selected as one of the Top 15 independent acts in the northeast by Billboard and TAXI, an independent artist and repertoire company.

The Billy Price Band of Pittsburgh will be onstage from 6:30 to 9 Friday.

Price is known as the East Coast blue-eyed soul man, and is an institution in his hometown of Pittsburgh.

Critics say Price is not an imitation of older, better singers, but the real thing. His voice has been described as liquid smoke wrapped in barbed wire.

“This is one you can’t miss,” Johansson said.

“He packed the house when he played at our festival in 2006.”

Los Lobos, the band known for “La Bamba,” plays from 9 to 11 Friday.

The L.A.-based band’s music is so eclectic, it’s almost impossible to categorize.

Rhythm and blues, Tex-Mex, country, pop rock, folk music, psychedelia, ballads and garage rock ’n’ roll are included in their repertoire.

“This is a familiar name,” Johansson said.

“They’ve been playing together for 30 years. Their new CD, “Tin Can Trust,” releases on Tuesday. That is generating excitement.”

Other Friday night acts are Americana and indie rock with Boca Chica; funk with Boogie Hustlers; and electric blues with the Eric Tessmer Band.

Tessmer also will perform Saturday afternoon.

“They’re a past favorite who played here in 2006,” Johansson.

“They’re from Texas and fronted by such guitar playing that few have ever seen. They were enormously popular the last time.”

Saturday afternoon will bring singer-songwriter Mark Dignam, a native of Ireland living in Pittsburgh; Dave DiStefano & the West Hills All Stars, veteran musicians from the Laural Highlands; and Rising Regina, an acoustic group blending rock, folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass and Celtic in tight harmonies.

The son of Allman Brothers Band co-founder Gregg Allman will perform with Devon Allman’s Honeytribe Saturday night.

Johansson said Allman’s guitar playing is all Allman.

“You can hear the genes,” she said.

“It’s a jam-band feel. We’ve been looking forward to getting them for years.”

The trio also includes bassist George Potsos and drummer Gabriel Strange.

Their debut album was released in 2006, and their newest release, “Space Age Blues,” came out in June.

Also onstage Saturday night will be Swedish-born singer-songwriter Anders Osborne, who has written hits for country star Tim McGraw and blues singer Keb Mo.

The New Orleans resident is known for his energetic and physical live performances and also will play Sunday afternoon.

Other Saturday night sets will feature  Galactic, bringing jazz and funk from New Orleans; singer-songwriter Eilen Jewell with folk, country, western swing,                rockabilly, jazz and early rock ’n’ roll; and Los StraitJackets, an instrumental group performing surfer rock in all-black clothes and Mexican masks.

“Galactic is incredibly popular with a much younger crowd,” Johansson said.

Special guests performing with Galactic will be singer Cyril Neville, the youngest of the Neville Brothers, and Corey Henry of the Rebirth Brass Band on trombone.

Sunday afternoon’s offerings will feature Celtic-Appalachian with The Weathered Road; blues-jazz with the Jimmy Adler Band; roots rock with The Bogarts; and bluegrass with the Mon River Ramblers.

“The Mon River Ramblers play in the classic bluegrass style, all crowded around one microphone, but they’re all in their 20s,” Johansson said.

“Bluegrass is the most fun seen live.”

Sunday night’s other performers will include electric blues with the Robert Cray Band; classic rock, country, Celtic, pop and world music with Corned Beef and Curry; and The Lee Boys, an African-American sacred steel ensemble that appeared in Johnstown in 2006.

“Robert Cray is popular in blues circles and as a crossover artist,” Johansson said.

“It’s difficult to be popular in both.”

Admission to the music fest is $5 for Friday and $10 each for Saturday and Aug. 8.

Johansson said tickets will be available at the Johns Street and Walnut Street entrances to the festival.

“There will be single-day tickets and weekend passes for $20,” Johansson said.

While there will be no shuttles, rides on the Inclined Plane will be free, and there will be parking available downtown.

Food vendors have been placed in one location for easy access.

“An event of this scale is a huge community effort,” Johansson said.

“We couldn’t do it without our volunteers.”

Anyone interested in being involved can check on the heritage association’s website at www.jaha.org.

If you go ...

What: Second annual AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival.

When: Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 8.

Where: Festival Park, downtown Johnstown.

Admission: $5 Friday, $10 Saturday and $10 Aug. 8.

Information: 539-1889 or www.jaha.org.

Entertainment schedule

The following is the schedule for the Ameri-Serv Flood City Music Festival:

Friday

Bud Light Von’s United Beverage Stage

6:30 to 8 p.m.: Billy Price Band, soul-blues.

9 to 11 p.m.: Los Lobos, rock.



Subaru Stage

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Tim Dabbs, folk.

8 to 9 p.m.: Boca Chica, Americana-indie.

11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.: Boogie Hustlers, funk.



Conemaugh Health System Stage

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Good Brother Earl, rock.

7:30 to 9 p.m.: Eric Tessmer Band, electric blues.

Saturday

Bud Light Von’s United Beverage Stage

6 to 7:30 p.m.: Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, jam band.

9 to 11 p.m.: Galactic, jazz-funk.



Subaru Stage

2 to 3 p.m.: Mark Dignam, singer-songwriter.

4 to 5:30 p.m.: Dave DiStefano & the West Hills All Stars, singer-songwriter.

7:30 to 9 p.m.: Eilen Jewell, roots.

11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.: Anders Osborne, singer-songwriter.



Conemaugh Health System Stage

1:30 to 3 p.m.: Rising Regina, roots.

4 to 5:30 p.m.: Eric Tessmer Band, electric blues.

6:30 to 8 p.m.: Los Straitjackets, surf rock.

Aug. 8

Bud Light Von’s United Beverage Stage

5 to 6:30 p.m.: Anders Osborne, singer-songwriter.

8 to 10 p.m.: Robert Cray Band, electric blues.



Subaru Stage

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: The Weathered Road, Celtic-Appalachian.

3:30 to 5 p.m.: Jimmy Adler Band, blues-jazz.

6:30 to 8 p.m.: Corned Beef and Curry, Celtic.



Conemaugh Health System Stage

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: The Bogarts, roots rock.

4:30 to 6 p.m.: Mon River Ramblers, bluegrass.

7 to 8:30 p.m.: The Lee Boys, sacred steel.