Introduction:

E R I  Jams works to facilitate the works of established artists and to bring to light the talents of those artists who have yet to be discovered.

Every art organization has their own goals and purposes in mind and must work toward those goals and purposes. Each and every organization operates independently of the others.

One of our goals is to pull together all of the arts organizations in the Erie area for the greater good of the arts community.

We at E R I  Jams believe the members of the arts community should work as a family. When one organization has a performance or show, we all should pull our resources and help to promote that show, collectively, and finally creating not an arts industry, or even an arts community, but an arts FAMILY.

The arts are here to open minds to what can be achieved in a short time period and with even a small or 0 budget. The arts are not just for the wealthy, red carpet type of people, but also for the guy that lives next door to you with a wife and 5 kids and wakes up every morning to head off to the shop, plant, or the restaurant or store. These are the people that we try to introduce to the arts in general.

Our Mission:

Dedicated to presenting, promoting and preserving all of the culture of our city and the works of independent filmmakers, writers, artists and musicians in the Erie area.

Our Overview:

Founded in 2002 by Steven M. Opsanic, our group of local industry professionals use their experience and industry knowledge to create a different kind of promotional and artistic organization. 

We view our primary job as helping to bring a world of talent to Erie, while helping local independent filmmakers, writers, artists and musicians develop their careers with smart promotions and distribution services tailored to their needs and goals.

Our organization strives to accomplish our mission by publishing the first of its kind arts and entertainment magazine, recognizing outstanding filmmakers, artists, and musicians; conducting scriptwriting competitions, and hosting public shows and events.

 E R I  Jams Arts & Entertainment Magazine:

E R I  Jams Arts & Entertainment Magazine is dedicated to culturally representing the people of Erie, and to featuring the local arts and entertainment community. 

E R I  Jams Magazine is a free weekly online publication distributed throughout Erie County and the surrounding areas.

Our Magazine will put the spotlight on local Erie musicians, filmmakers and artists of all kinds. E R I  Jams Magazine will focus only on the amazing talent that the Erie area has to offer and the dedicated people that make it happen every day.

Music:

If there is anything as universal as time itself, it’s the music that makes up life’s soundtrack..

From founding the Great Lakes Music Video Festival to simply working with independent musicians helping to advance music as an art, E R I  Jams has worked with many local, national, and international musicians over the years. Matty B. & The Dirty Pickles; Phantasm; Trevor Huster; Karen Jeffries; Starfish; Lake Trout; Bedouin Soundclash; DJ Boogs; Hello Kitty Death Squad; DJ The Real Truth; Digital Database; The Dogs; The Killerinas; Duppy Conqueror; Chaka; One World Tribe; Hayden Sayers Band; Greg Ropp; The Void; 5 Empty Chambers; Telefonics: Canadian Friday: Mans Room Band; Black Rose Diary; Coffin Bangers; East Ave.; snmnmnm; Johnson Big Band: Joe Pops Weirdo Theater; GG Allin’s band, The Murder Junkies; Big Mac Blues Band; Rodger Montgomery Blues Band; Blue Fire; Orphean Son; Face Down In High Water; The Bryan Burton Band; The Trashed; Darth Johnzo; Singing For Supper; The Earthquakers; Dj Dollar Bill; Professor Small; Final Rest; Terry English of” Night Shift”; Sonic Medusa; The Sound City Saints; The Cryers; TERRY SYLVESTER formerly of "THE HOLLIES"; IAN MITCHELL of "THE BAY CITY ROLLERS"; The Laundromat ; Mala Sangre ; Brain Dead Happy ; Argent Heart; Pete Best, original drummer for The Beatles; Who Bleeds 1st ; Pangaea; Anti Atom; Ramming Speed; The Coffin Riders; Local 80; Otis Freak Tent; Dave Owns; Mystic Flotation Device; Midnight Jacks and Bad Habits to name only a few of the performers that we have worked with.

Our City:

One of the unique things about the E R I  Jams is our home, Erie, Pennsylvania. Our forty-mile slice of Lake Erie waterfront bears no resemblance to the major urban centers of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, being entirely low-rise and extremely leafy; indeed you hardly realize you are downtown until you find yourself in the shady park-like town square, on 6th Street between the main thoroughfares of Peach and State streets. There are several places of cultural interest in the city, all within walking distance of our festival, several museums devoted to history, art and science; among these, the Erie Maritime Museum has a fascinating display on the geological and ecological development of the Great Lakes and also focuses on warships of different periods; the elegant US Brig Niagara is usually moored outside and is part of the museum.

Undoubtedly, Erie's main attraction is the elongated comma-shaped peninsula of Presque Isle State Park, which bends east from its narrow neck three miles west of downtown until it almost touches the city's northernmost tip. The park is maintained as a nature preserve and has wide sandy beaches good for swimming, backed by thick woods offering a series of trails.

Erie is perfect with all of it’s historic and picturesque locations.