The Spirit of Sheridan highlights local talented musicians

The Spirit of Sheridan Music Festival featuring Ebey & The Conversations Band and The Dugan Irby Band will be held Thursday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Whitney Center for the Arts at Sheridan College. 

Hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream will be free for ticket holders starting at 5:30 p.m. outside the Whitney Center for the Arts. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and veterans.

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, producers Paul DelRossi and Tony Forman talked about how the show began with a simple phone call from Ebenezer Eferobor to his mentor DelRossi. 

According to DelRossi, even while under the strict restrictions needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spirit of Sheridan was a success, which inspired the team. 

The event now raises funds to help students with the cost of college tuition. All ticket sales and donations to the Spirit of Sheridan Music Festival up to $5,000 will be matched by the Witzel Family Foundation. Proceeds from the Music Festival will benefit the Sheridan College Foundation and be used to fund music scholarships at Sheridan College. 

The bands will play an eclectic mix of jazz, classic rock, R&B and more and include songs by Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, and Ebey.

The Ebey and The Conversations Band is an 11-member band including Ebenezer Eferobor, Dr. Eric Richards, Eric Amadasun, Jake Hirschman, Max Marquis, Rod Jost, Rosborg Halldorsdottir, Tony Forman, Beck Bridger, Melissa Butcher and Paul Radzi. It’s a Sheridan College affair with five Sheridan College alumni, two instructors and a staff member as members. The Dugan Irby Band also has deep Sheridan College roots. Its members include Titus Brown, a Sheridan College alumnus, and Jost, a Sheridan College instructor, with Dugan Irby and Samuel Walker.

“This is a way to experience music the way it was supposed to be,” said Eferobor. “We invite everyone to enjoy this collaboration and support Sheridan College students.”

For more information about this event and to purchase tickets, go to www.sheridan.edu/arts.