Country music artist Kolby Oakley headlines concert to benefit Owego Moose Lodge

The Tioga County Fairgrounds will be the setting for live bluegrass, country, rock and Americana music on Friday, Sept. 15.  A benefit concert for the Owego Moose Lodge building renovations is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., with gates opening at 4 p.m.

Country music artist, Kolby Oakley, headlines the event, and will be joined by the The Git Down Boys and Country Swagg, along with musician Chris Ruffo.    

Advance tickets are $10. Gate admission on the day of the show is $12, and children under age 12 are free. Families with children are encouraged to come early to participate in children’s activities. Proceeds benefit the Moose Lodge roof replacement project.

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase to include soda, beer and wine. A clambake is set to start at 5 p.m., along with a menu of clam chowder, sausage, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, salt potatoes, chili and walking tacos.  

Entertainment kicks off in the pavilion at 5:30 p.m. with a performance by Owego’s own The Git Down Boys. The Boys, consisting of George “Zeb” Maffei (fiddle and guitar), Dave Tapia (stand-up bass), Drew Gildea (guitar and banjo), Pete Laba (guitar), and “Crash” Landon Mullen (banjo and fiddle) will perform bluegrass and old-time country music favorites.  

Taking the main stage at 7 p.m. is the Syracuse-based band Country Swagg. A state finalist at the 2012 Texaco Country Showdown, the band is working on a debut album and has won several other awards. Band members include Mike Johnson (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Tim Horst (lead guitar), Gabe Infantino (bass guitar), Rob Trout (drums) and Todd Stiles (guitar).

Southern Tier musician and local favorite Chris Ruffo, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Deveroe, is slated to perform at 8 p.m. An Endwell, N.Y. native, Ruffo’s musical roots go back to age 15 when he followed in the footsteps of his parents, both musicians, who played in folk and gospel bands during the 1970’s.

Up and coming country music artist, Kolby Oakley, takes the stage at 9 p.m. A Whitney Point, N.Y. native, Oakley now lives in Nashville and will be joined by his band, Kris Lewis (bass guitar), Mahlon Stoltz (rhythm guitar) and Taylor Hawkins (drums). 

Known for the singles, “Mud Bog” and “Kickin’ Back,” Oakley explained that nearly all of his songs incorporate themes about life in upstate New York, including the title track of his EP released this year, “Where Would I Be,” as well as the tune, “New York on My Mind.” 

Oakley commented, in addition to his own songs, “I will play cover tunes by Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels and Brooks and Dunn,” just to name a few.

Oakley grew up in home filled with music and learned to play multiple instruments. His father, Steve, sang in modern rock and blues bands and mother Kim, played bass guitar, and then Uncle Craig Oakley, a well-known jazz drummer, played with The Beach Boys.  

Oakley credits opening for major acts such as the Zac Brown Band, Florida Georgia Line, Montgomery Gentry, Parmalee and Easton Corbin, among others, as a significant boost to his career, adding, “It is such an honor. I’m thankful for the opportunities.”

Advance tickets for the Sept. 15 show are available at the Moose Lodge, Las Chicas Taqueria and kolbyoakley.com. Additional information can be found on the Kolby Oakley and Moose Lodge 1595 Owego Facebook pages.