Deveroe, a trio comprised of Christopher Ruffo, Steven Kochich and Eric Slocum, will perform at this year’s Strawberry Festival on June 20, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Ahwaga Park, located next to the Barleycorn on Front Street. Photo credit: Katina Ruffo Photography.
Owego’s Strawberry Festival will be taking place on Friday night, June 19, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. in downtown Owego with plenty of food, entertainment, and a variety of activities that will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display at approximately 9:45 p.m.
On Saturday, the festival parade will begin downtown at 10 a.m., and the streets will be filled with vendors galore, food options, and a variety of entertainers and activities for all until approximately 5 p.m.
Deveroe, a local band who has composed his own music and performs a variety of covers, is just one of ten bands performing throughout the two day event.
For a full list of entertainers and activities, to include a venue map, visit www.owegopennysaver.com for a Strawberry Festival link that will contain festival information to include parking, etc.
You can also “Like” the Owego Pennysaver on Facebook for photos, videos and updates, or keep up with the Pennysaver on scene by following them on Twitter – @OwegoNews.
As for Deveroe, a band that identifies themselves as a trio, is excited to bring their new sound to Owego, N.Y. during this year’s Strawberry Festival. Deveroe is a local band who plays both original and cover Americana rock songs. Their music is the type to entertain a diverse crowd.
Guitar player and vocalist Christopher Ruffo said, “We’ve never played at the Strawberry Festival before. We are very excited to be a part of such a long-standing great event. I’m personally excited about all that great food!’
Christopher Ruffo and Steven Kochich originally started the band in 2008 when Christopher won the “Binghamton Star” singing competition. He landed himself 12 free hours at Steven’s recording studio Monkey Tree Records in Johnson City, N.Y.
The two hit it off and began writing, recording, and eventually playing live together. They both are vocalists and guitar players, and primarily performed as a two-piece acoustic set.
The two of them turned to their music even when obstacles came their way. For instance, they once found themselves stranded on Cayuga Lake when their boat ran out of gas. They eventually were able to dock at Kidder’s Landing and decided to spend the evening playing acoustic jams on the bar’s lakeside deck.
After spending the night on the boat, they were able to return back to Binghamton for a show of theirs. They pulled in a crowd that enjoyed their music so much that the owner of Kidder’s, and also other venue owners who were on the deck listening that night offered them to play summer shows.
One of their biggest accomplishments was recording their debut album “one.” which accurately reflects their acoustic/electric sound mixed with original writing. The three current members plan on coming out with the next album.
It wasn’t until this spring that a third member joined the group, Eric Slocum. Slocum is a seasoned drummer and backup vocalist who formerly played hard rock in “Hindsight” and classic rock/outlaw country in “Gator Stu”. Currently he still remains in the local band “Blackout”. Bringing percussions into Deveroe’s set has brought a great new vibe to recent shows.
When playing cover songs, they prefer their influences – The Lumineers, The Avett Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, Stone Temple Pilots, and the Foo Fighters. You can hear them play on Saturday, June 20, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Ahwaga Park, located next to the Barleycorn on Front Street.
For upcoming shows and additional information, you can visit their website at www.DeveroeMusic.com. For booking, you can contact Christopher by email at ChristopherLRuffo@gmail.com or by phone at (607) 972-6359.
For a list of activities and entertainment, you can also view the Strawberry Festival Guide included in this week’s print publication.
