HARMONIUM PROJECT — Marc and Maura Barnes of the Harmonium Project stand in front of the Berkman Amphitheater and what they call the “Half Hills of West Virginia.” The Harmonium Project has organized a three-day fall festival featuring a variety of music at four different locations in downtown Steubenville.

STEUBENVILLE –Marc Barnes fell in love with downtown Steubenville in 2013 as a Franciscan University of Steubenville sophomore, and he and several friends created the Harmonium Project to bridge the gap between the hilltop campus and the downtown business community.

The Charlottesville, Va. native said in a 2013 interview with the Herald-Star the project would attempt to “develop something in the downtown,” and, after he and his friends graduated, future university students would take on the leadership of the organization.

But that was before he fell in love with Maura McKeegan, a Steubenville native, and decided to stay in the city, continue his education at the university and start planning a three-day fall festival at four different sites in the downtown area.

“We started talking about organizing a fall festival in May and June. My brother, Terry McKeegan, used to be an assistant prosecutor in Jefferson County several years ago and he still has his heart in Steubenville. He is now the director of the Appaloosa Festival in Virginia. We visited their event and thought we could do something similar here. Looking back, we probably could have used more planning time, but we are pretty set for our Half Hills Music Festival on Oct. 6, 7 and 8,” explained Maura Barnes.

“It was tough to come up with a festival name,” said Marc Barnes. “But then we looked at the hillside across the river in West Virginia and how the hillside had been cut back but retained its beauty that shines when the sun is going down.”

The four stages for the music festival will include the Berkman Amphitheater at Historic Fort Steuben Park, South Third Street in front of City Hall, a night stage at Froehlich’s Classic Corner Restaurant and a local stage at the Spot Bar.

“This family-friendly festival will feature more than 15 musical acts with genres including rock, country, pop, folk, jazz/swing, bluegrass and singer-songwriters. Sponsored by Bookmarx Bookstore and Aardvark Productions, an outdoor beer garden on South Third Street will provide local brews from Hightower Brewing. Those attending the festival will be able to enjoy outdoor daytime shows, as well as ticketed “late-night jams” on Friday and Saturday. All proceeds will benefit the Harmonium Project,” said Marc Barnes.

“In addition to live music and craft beer, there will be numerous artisan and food vendors offering unique wares and on-site demonstrations. On Sunday at 3 p.m, there will be a street dance sponsored by Steubenville Young Preservationists to the live and lively music of the Boilermaker Jazz Band,” continued Marc Barnes.

“We are taking a three-tier approach, with local groups including Joe Zelek, Spinning Jenny and Rose Angelica; musicians from the Pittsburgh area, such as the Boilermaker Jazz Band, the Stapletons and Nevada Color; and national touring acts Saintseneca, Marie Miller, Six String Soldiers, Daniel in Stereo and the Connection. And, we will welcome back Franciscan alumni Ben-David Warner, Kevin Heider, the Kaschak Brothers and Dear Other,” Marc Barnes explained.

He said the inaugural festival is a small part of a much larger effort to bring about new events and energy to the downtown area.

“We are excited to have the Harmonium Project develop this new downtown event for the community, a celebration of music, food, dance and Autumn. The variety of activities should appeal to all, attract music lovers from around the area and add to the ongoing revitalization efforts of the city,” said Judy Bratten, executive director of Historic Fort Steuben.

“We have organized this to appeal to all ages. We are hoping to attract a wide range of people to downtown Steubenville during those three days to see there is life, businesses, restaurants and a lot to do and see in the downtown. We then hope to use the results to pursue more comprehensive economic development opportunities,” Marc Barnes said.

“This is Maura’s hometown, and this is now my home. We really want to be in Steubenville because we believe Steubenville has potential. We don’t want to just take from Steubenville, we want to give back to the town,” he continued.

“I grew up here and it always bothered me growing up to hear my friends say they wanted to get out of here. This is my home and I love the fact I can stay here. We are seeing a turning tide of young people who want to stay here. In the last couple of years, we are seeing so many friends coming back to make a life in Steubenville. They have seen us stay here and they thought they should try as well,” stated Maura Barnes.

“The Harmonium Project is trying to send a message of purpose with the Half Hills Festival. To be honest, we don’t know what to expect from the festival. This is new for us and new for the community. We have seen the crowds at the Historic Fort Steuben weekly summer concerts. Now, we are offering three days of music, events, refreshments and family fun and really hope we see the people come to downtown Steubenville to participate. We will have a family friendly area in the Historic Fort Steuben Park that will include a petting zoo, face painting, chalk art and a family-oriented atmosphere. There will be something for everyone at the festival,” Marc Barnes noted.

“Our success will depend on our community. I hope people will spend a day or evening or the entire weekend with us. A lot of people are waiting for Steubenville to become something different. But we can’t wait any more. We can make a difference in our own town. This is a chance to bring the city back to life. And, once we do, it will be unstoppable. Don’t wait to be a new city — be a new city,” added Maura Barnes.

Marc Barnes said vendors or sponsors are still needed for the festival, and information is available by visiting www.harmoniumproject.org and looking for the Half Hill Music Festival link.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)