Live shows are not part of this year’s 4th Fest. But local musicians will take part virtually

The musicians are doing it again.

This time, local musicians are binding together to celebrate Central Pennsylvania 4th Fest under the leadership of Sgt. Bob Timney, a musician who’s so patriotic he’s performed the national anthem at public events over 1,000 times. Timney is organizing a virtual montage of local performers for the event, set to air Saturday night as part of a re-imagined 4th Fest celebration.

“This year, for the very first time, 4th Fest will not have performers on stage physically performing in front of others,” Timney wrote in an email.

Virtual performers include notable local acts, including Cone of Silence, Donny Burns and the 3rd Degree, Hannah Bingman, Kristi Jean and Her Ne’er Do-Wells, Pure Cane Sugar, Ted and Molly, and The Band Junkies, among others. Each performer submitted at least one video to be considered for the montage.

“Everyone was really excited to do something together (musically),” said Steve Branstetter, guitarist for Kristi Jean and Her Ne’er Do-Wells.

The change in format is due to recent health restrictions, and, according to Timney, local musicians are as prepared as anyone to evolve with the times.

“We have had to adapt to COVID-19 with online performances, and it can be challenging,” Timney wrote.

It boils down to musicians being able to quickly learn new technologies that can capture their music and performances.

“We are mostly quite adept at our live performances, but making videos is a completely different skill set,” Timney wrote. “Some were already adept at it and had some nice videos, like Ted and Molly, and Luke Cimbala of the Band Junkies.”

Musicians have been scrambling to perform ever since early to mid-March, when countries all over the world implemented shelter in place restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like over 40 million Americans, many local musicians have been out of work or otherwise unemployed and have taken to hosting concerts streamed live on Facebook or other platforms. It seems like gigs were just about back, but resurgences in COVID-19 in numerous states has instilled a more cautious outlook.

According to Timney, musicians are as ready as ever to get to work.

“I, like many other performers, dealt with all the canceled gigs by performing live on Facebook or other online live streaming services,” Timney wrote. “There were basically two reasons for this. One was to keep our chops up, and the other was to reach out and provide entertainment for those who literally were not getting out.”

Whether or not to perform and to remain safe while doing so is a decision often left to the musician.

“Each establishment has its rules/thoughts and guidelines on how to transition back to where they can sustain their business,” Timney wrote, “which is their single first responsibility, and re-integrate entertainment. I know I feel pretty safe in playing these kinds of gigs as I get there, I carry my stuff, I set it up, tear it down and I’m pretty much not in anyone’s social-distance space.”

For Timney, it’s all about being conscientious.

“It can be done,” Timney wrote. “We just all have to act with knowledge, grace, and care. And most do.”

For more information on the virtual show and how to stream it online, visit https://www.centralpa4thfest.org/.