No one will need to take out a loan to attend the first 7 17 Credit Union Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival at the Warren Community Amphitheatre.

The day-long event features a lineup ranging from local favorites to national blues headliners, a BBQ cookoff, children’s activities and free ice cream for those ages 12 and younger. Admission is $10.

The event was conceived by Dorian Smith, senior vice president of business development for the credit union.

“One of the things, as we go about expanding our reach in the community, is how do we live out our mission more?,” Smith said. “And our mission has two parts, actually. One is to help people improve their lives financially, and two is to support the communities we serve … We wanted to do something to give back, to bring something to the city of Warren, where people would want to attend from all over the region, and to begin to bring something that we haven’t seen in a while, which is a huge blues festival.”

Concert promotion isn’t part of a credit union VP’s usual responsibilities, so he reached out to those with more experience — Sunrise Entertainment, which produces the River Rock at the Amp concert series at the Warren amphitheater, event promoter 2Deep Entertainment and Cornel Bogdan, who hosts the weekly radio show “Tangled Up in Blues” on WYFM (Y103 FM).

Bogdan will serve as host for the festivities, and headliner Shemekia Copeland is in heavy rotation on his radio show.

“There’s not a bigger name in popular blues right now than Shemekia Copeland,” Bogdan said. “She’s won every award, she’s been nominated for everything. And to be able to see her for 10 bucks?

“That’s where I give 7 17 Credit Union a lot of credit, pardon the pun. They’re picking up the entire bill for everything. They’re making sure that the four charities are taken care of. That organization is putting their money where their mouth is. You’re getting Shemekia Copeland and King Solomon Hick for 10 bucks. Take away all the openers on there. That’s crazy.”

Bogdan described Hicks as a smooth blues guitar player in the vein of Robert Cray, and they were able to land him with the help of another act on the bill, Pittsburgh-based blues rocker Norman Nardini, who played many area shows over the years. Nardini has been producing Hicks’ music, and they reached out to Hicks directly through Nardini instead of going through his agent.

The rest of the lineup will include Aaron McCoy and Friends, Jazz in the Park Allstars, Sacksville Rhythm & Blues, Backstreet Blues Band, Damian Knapp and the Warren Community Gospel Choir.

Bogdan said Sacksville leader Sonny Hrehovcik has been carrying the torch for the blues in the Mahoning Valley for as long as he can remember and, “I love Damian Knapp. He’s been doing it right for a long time.”

In addition to the music, Freddy’s No Sauce Ribs, Smokin’ T’s BBQ, Fat Freddies BBQ, Gbos Rib Shack, Ohio BBQ Crew and Levels of Flavor will compete in the BBQ Cookoff.

There will be judging in four categories — ribs, brisket, chicken and sausage.

Rib judges will be Erik and Stacey Hoover, owners of Cockeye BBQ; Mark Canzonetta, owner of Casa di Canzonetta, and former boxing champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. Attendees also can vote on the people’ choice award.

Additional food vendors also will be on site.

A Family Fun Zone will include face painting, a kids’ craft corner and inflatables/bounce houses.

“We wanted to create something that will encourage families to bring their kids, especially for early in the day,” Smith said.

Net proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit the United Way of Trumbull County, Game Changers Inc. and Great Warren-Youngstown Urban League. Smith said they hope to make it an annual event, and they will pick different charities every year.

If you go …

WHAT: 7 17 Credit Union Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival

WHEN: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday with gates open at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Warren Community Amphitheatre, 321 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren

HOW MUCH: Admission is $10. For tickets or more information, go to www.717cu.com/blues

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE: Warren Community Gospel Choir at noon, Damian Knapp at 1 p.m., Cleveland’s Backstreet Blues Band at 2 p.m., Sacksville Rhythm & Blues Band at 3 p.m., Jazz in the Park Allstars at 4 p.m., Norman Nardini at 5 p.m., Aaron McCoy and Friends at 6 p.m., King Solomon Hicks at 7 p.m. and Shemekia Copeland at 8 p.m.