All Stars, RWB are returning for Woofstock 9
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All Stars don't need rehearsals.
Rajma McKenzie has led the Steel Valley All Star Band since the beginning of Steel Valley Woofstock, an event started to raise money for local animal care, from medications and vaccinations to spaying and neutering.
The previous eight events have raised more than $97,000 for those services, and the ninth edition is planned Aug. 8 at Packard Music Hall. When Dr. Sue Wilcox of Steel Valley Spay Neuter Clinic in Girard decided to start a music fundraiser, she called McKenzie.
"I'm an animal lover, and I've always had animals," McKenzie said. "I've always tried to give back in some way, and it was just a natural fit to help her with Woofstock."
This year's headliner is Red Wanting Blue, a Columbus-based band with a national following and local ties (drummer Dean Anshutz lives in Youngstown). RWB also headlined Woofstock in 2024 when it was at Tiffany Banquet Center in Brookfield.
While the headliner has changed over the years, the Steel Valley All Star Band has been a fixture, and McKenzie said it was started as a way to get other musicians involved.
"I could have had one of the bands that I was playing in in it, but I have a lot of friends who love animals too, and we just thought it would be a really fun idea to get different musicians from area local bands involved," he said.
Warren native Dennis Drummond, who competed on NBC's reality competition series "The Voice" and now is based in Nashville, was the headliner for the very first Woofstock, and he's continued to come back every year as a member of the All Stars.
The rest of the band will include Butch McCracken (who plays with McKenzie in Triple Threat) on bass, Ke'Von Gordon of Ke'Von & the Vybes joining Drummond and McKenzie on guitar and Bill Reed from 7% Superstar on drums.
McKenzie will trade messages with Drummond to see if there's anything he's interested in singing. The band usually does a couple of McKenzie's originals and then he'll come up with a list of possibilities, from blues favorites to rock standards familiar to most musicians.
"We never rehearse," McKenzie said. "I just send out a list of songs that we might play, and then we all just get together and just jam. It's amazing. The guys in the band are just amazing."
McKenzie released a new single, "Living for the Summer," in June, and it will be included on his next album, which he's recording with Michael Estok at Court Street Recording in Canfield.
"He's a musical genius -- can play every instrument, makes you feel very comfortable in the studio," McKenzie said. "It's just a super kind of collaborative and creative environment."
Drummond contributed a guitar solo to "Living for the Summer," which McKenzie intentionally released in mid June to kick off the season.
The strategy seems to be working. It's been played nearly 18,000 times by more than 3,000 unique listeners.
"That's the most interaction I've had in the first month of a release since I've been putting out original music," he said.
The goal is to have the full album completed by spring 2027.
In addition to the music, one of the attractions of Woofstock is a basket raffle.
"We have about $12,000 in baskets right now that will be raffled off," McKenzie said. "There will be concessions and a cash bar. We're going to open the doors at 6 (p.m.). We're gonna let people get their tickets and go get the baskets and then the bands will start at 7:30."
If you go …
WHAT: Steel Valley Woofstock 9 with Red Wanting Blue and the Steel Valley All Star Band
WHEN: Doors open at 6 p.m. Aug. 8 with music starting at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren
HOW MUCH: Tickets range from $28 to $49 and are available online at steelvalleywoofstock.org.